TNAG-2718-FCO40-3924-Hong-Kong-electoral-provisions-and-arrangements-1993 — Page 132

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JUN 1393

DESK OF INDEX

REASTRY

aken Actin

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION BILL

SUMMARY

LEGCO PASSED THE BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION (BEC) BILL YESTERDAY (26 MAY) WILL OVERWHELMING SUPPORT. 41 VOTES FOR AND 2 VOTES AGAINST (FROM TWO PRO-CHINA MEMBERS : TAM YIU-CHUNG AND PHILIP WONG). PRO-CHINA NEWSPAPERS HAVE CRITICISED THE ENACTMENT

OF THE BILL AS PUTTING OBSTACLES TO THE SINO-BRITISH

NEGOTIATIONS.

DETAIL

2. AT THE SECOND READING DEBATE, MR TAM YIU-CHUNG SAID THAT ALL BILLS RELATING TO THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS SHOULD ONLY BE ENACTED

AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF TALKS BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS. THE ENACTMENT OF THE BEC BILL WAS THEREFORE UNTIMELY. HE QUERIED THE NEED FOR THE BEC BILL TO MAKE CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE DISTRICT BOARDS (DB) ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR AN INCREASE OF ELECTED DB MEMBERS TO 338 FOR THE

NEXT TERM. IT WOULD PRE-EMPT DISCUSSION ON THE FUTURE OF THE APPOINTED DB MEMBERSHIP. MR PHILIP WONG MADE SIMILAR VIEW AGAINST

ENACTMENT OF THE BILL WHILE SINO-BRITISH NEGOTIATIONS WERE

CONTINUING.

3. AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE, MARTIN LEE ATTEMPTED TO AMEND CLAUSE 21 OF THE BILL SO THAT THE PERMISSIBLE MARGIN OF DEVIATION FROM

THE POPULATION QUOTA SHOULD BE 15PERCENT INSTEAD OF 25 PERCENT AS

PROPOSED BY THE ADMINISTRATION. SCA'S PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CLAUSE 21 (INCLUDING THE 25 PERCENT MARGIN RULE) WAS SUPPORTED BY 27 VOTES FOR: 16 VOTES AGAINST (MAINLY FROM THE UDHK, ADPL AND SOME LIBERAL INDEPENDENTS) AND ONE ABSTENTION.

4. AT THE THIRD READING, MR PHILIP WONG ASKED FOR A DIVISION. THE VOTING RESULT WAS : 41 VOTES FOR AND 2 VOTES AGAINST 9AND NO ABSTENTION). THE RESULT INDICATE WIDE SUPPORT IN LEGCO AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE FOR THE SETTING UP OF THE BEC.

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