TNAG-1729-FCO40-2442-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 278

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In the meantime, the Bill makes it clear that the special dispensation namely the dispensation from prior registration on the General Electoral Roll - is only good for the 1988 Legislative Council elections.

Persons who benefit from this dispensation will have to be properly registered on the General Electoral Roll at the next opportunity, if they wish to remain on

Legislative the

Council Electoral Roll after

after the forthcoming September elections. Those concerned are therefore being advised and encouraged to submit applications for registration on the General Electoral Roll at the same time as they submit their applications for registration on the Legislative Council Electoral Roll.

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their

The second purpose of the Bill is to provide for the automatic acceptance of office by the Elected Members of the Legislative Council and to reduce from 30 days to Oseven days the period during which such Members may decide not to accept office.

The

three

•

of doing purpose

the so is to shorten election timetable, and to make it easier to meet the requirement in the Royal Instructions whereby the period between the last sitting of a session of the Legislative Council and the first sitting of the next session is not to exceed

to months. The proposed amendment, provide for automatic acceptance unless non-acceptance is notified to the Governor within seven days of publication of election results in the Gazette, will make it simpler. to keep to this timetable. Separate consideration will be given to whether similar arrangements should be introduced le for Municipal Councils and District Board elections.

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