TNAG-2012-FCO40-2864-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1991-1990 — Page 22

For decision

on 6 March 1990

CONFIDENTIAL

HKB 012 1 G Blue Vol XXXX (14).

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

09 MAR 1990

XCC (90) 20 28.

Copy No

MEMORANDUM FOR THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

1991 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS : VOTING AGE, VOTING SYSTEM AND VOTING RIGHTS

15

1991

THE PROBLEM

We need to reach decisions on the voting age, voting system, and voting rights for the 1991 elections to the Legislative Council.

RECOMMENDATION AND ADVICE SOUGHT

2

It is recommended that

(a)

the voting age should

(paragraph 9);

remain at 21 years

3

(b) the "first past the post" voting system, requiring a simple majority, should be used in deciding the outcome of the direct elections

(paragraph 13);

(c)

흐

(d)

the preferential elimination voting system currently used for elections should be

and

registered electors

functional constituency retained (paragraph 17);

should be able to vote in

both geographical and, where qualified, functional constituencies (paragraph 25).

Members will be asked to advise whether this recommendation should be approved.

BACKGROUND AND ARGUMENT Background

4

The voting age for elections in Hong Kong has for some time been set at 21 years. This age limit was one of the qualifications for registration as an elector in the Urban Council elections before the 1980s. Public opinion expressed in the context of the 1980 Green Paper on District Administration favoured the retention of this age qualification, notwithstanding extensive community support for liberalising the franchise. The issue was raised again in the

CONFIDENTIAL