TNAG-2010-FCO40-2862-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-General-Election-Com-1990 — Page 40

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ELECTIONS.

3"

THE ASPECTS ON WHICH WE BELIEVE AGREEMENT WOULD BE NECESSARY

ARE:-

(A) THE SIZE AND COMPOSITION OF THE GEC/ELECTION COMMITTEE, INCLUDING HOW EACH CATEGORY OF MEMBER SHOULD BE DELINEATED AND HOW INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS FROM EACH CATEGORY SHOULD BE SELECTED SEMI COLON

AND

(B) PROCEDURES FOR THE NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF CANDIDATES TO THE LEGISLATURE.

IN CONSIDERING THESE ASPECTS IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO BEAR IN MIND THAT THE GEC/ELECTION COMMITTEE SYSTEM OF ELECTION TO THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE ENTIRELY NEW AND THAT THERE IS NO PRECEDENT FOR SUCH A BODY IN HONG KONG'S PRESENT SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT. IT WILL THEREFORE BE MOST IMPORTANT THAT THE ROLE, COMPOSITION AND WORKING PROCEDURES OF THE GEC/ELECTION COMMITTEE ARE CLEARLY ESTABLISHED IN ADVANCE AND THAT, IN DUE COURSE, THEY ARE STIPULATED IN THE ELECTORAL LAWS OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION.

4. THE BRITISH SIDE BELIEVES THAT THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES COULD BEST FORM THE FRAMEWORK FOR CREATING A GEC/ELECTION COMMITTEE SYSTEM FOR THE LEGISLATURE:

(A) SINCE THE OBJECTIVE OF THE GEC IS TO RETURN A PORTION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, IT SHOULD NOT ITSELF BE AN INSTITUTION OF GOVERNMENT SEMI COLON IT SHOULD CEASE TO FUNCTION ONCE ITS MAIN TASK OF RETURNING THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. A FRESH ELECTORAL ROLL WOULD HAVE TO BE COMPILED FOR EACH NEW ELECTION SEMI COLON

(B) THE COMPOSITION OF THE GEC SHOULD BE DESIGNED, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, TO AVOID DIRECT DUPLICATION WITH THE MEMBERSHIP OF OTHER CONSTITUENCIES RETURNING MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, AND SHOULD BE AS REPRESENTATIVE AS POSSIBLE SEMI COLON

(C) THE PROCEDURE FOR THE NOMINATION BY THE GEC OF CANDIDATES TO THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE SIMPLE, OPEN AND PRESCRIBED IN THE ELECTORAL LAW SEMI COLON AND

(D)

VOTING SHOULD BE BY SECRET BALLOT.

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