TNAG-1727-FCO40-2440-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 169

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The new arrangements in the White Paper represent a rationalisation of the three-tier structure by providing for representatives of District Boards to be elected to the Municipal Councils, and for representatives of the Municipal Councils to be elected to the Legislative Council. The present district-based electoral college

in the Legislative Council

in will, seats

1991, be

replaced by directly elected seats.

This change from the system of indirect to

direct elections based on geographical constituencies is a

also natural and progressive development. It is a major step

Λ forward towards a more democratic system. For the first

time, electors in district board constituencies will vote

their own candidate into the central council of government.

It is against this background that the suggestion to retain the geographical electoral college

seats has been considered. But, there is little

advantage, and possible disadvantage,

and possible disadvantage, in having members

elected on a geographical basis

basis by both

both direct and indirect methods in the central council of Government. The abolition of geographical electoral college seats in

по way affects the role and

of District

White Paper contains commitments to

le le Boards.

strengthening

The

their

importance of

advisory role and to increase

lc.