TNAG-2718-FCO40-3924-Hong-Kong-electoral-provisions-and-arrangements-1993 — Page 233

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REGISTRY Action Taken

HONG KONG: THE ELECTORAL TIMETABLE

1. This note considers hypothetically how late decisions could be left if it is not possible to enact legislation by July. We have not consulted Hong Kong, and our estimates may be wrong.

2.

3.

A

There are three sets of elections involved:

for the District Boards (in September 1994);

- for the Municipal Councils (in March 1995); and

for the Legislative Council (in September 1995).

Two of the most controversial proposals:

-

for the Election Committee;

- for the new functional constituencies

are relevant only for the LegCo elections. For these final decisions could probably be taken at the very latest in autumn

1994. (Arrangements for the Sept 1991 elections were only

passed to LegCo in autumn 1990).

4. The proposals which require more urgent decision, to be in time for District Board elections, concern:

- the drawing up of boundaries: would need to be completed

before electoral registers can be published and to give

-

candidates time to nurse their constituencies by July 1993;

the voting system by Spring 1994 at latest;

composition of the District Board (eg whether to retain appointed members; whether NPC deputies may stand)

-

-

by

timetable.KS

Spring 1994.

5. It looks as if July 1993 is a practical deadline for only

the Boundary and Election Commission, which has already been separated from the package. Draft legislation for this was put to LegCo in early February this year.

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