members of the Legislative Council as members of the first SAR Legislature.
58. The British side's view is that there would be no point in agreeing detailed arrangements for the 1995 Legislative Council elections with the Chinese side, unless there could also be agreement on clear and objective criteria for the
through train, and an assurance from the Chinese authorities that the NPC Standing Committee would direct the Preparatory Committee to have regard to these in 1996-1997.
Voting Method in Directly-elected Seats
59.
The Governor proposed in October 1992 that there should be 20 members directly elected from 20 geographical constituencies, and that the voting method in these constituencies should be single seat, single vote (ie first past the post).
60. The single seat, single vote method is simple and
preserves a clear link between the electorate in each
constituency and their elected representative. The Hong Kong electorate is accustomed to this system of voting in local
elections.
61. The Chinese side proposed in Round 9 of the talks that there should be 20 members directly elected from the existing nine geographical constituencies using the multi-seat, single
vote method.
62.
In the view of Her Majesty's Government and the Hong Kong Government, this would not provide a fair and open system. It would artificially freeze the constituencies as they were demarcated in 1991, taking no account of demographic trends in Hong Kong. It also appears to be designed to ensure seats go to parties winning small percentages of the vote.
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