TNAG-2738-FCO40-3951-Hong-Kong-Letters-Patent-1993-1993 — Page 81

Background

3.

Amendments set out in the draft Letters Patent and

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Additional Instructions are required to the principal Letters

Patent and Royal Instructions to the Governor of Hong Kong in

order to implement proposals for constitutional change relating

to elections to be held in 1995 which were made by the Governor

in October 1992. The changes, which will have effect on a day

to be appointed for the holding of an election in 1995 to elect

the Members of the Legislative Council, provide for:

a)

an increase in the number of elected Members of the

Legislative Council to 60 (20 returned by

geographical constituencies, 30 Members returned by

functional constituencies and 10 Members returned by

an election committee);

b)

the abolition of all appointed and ex officio seats

in Legco;

c)

the right of electors in functional constituencies or

the election committee also to vote in the

geographical constituency elections to the

Legislative Council.

The changes are necessary to permit the enactment of the Hong

Kong Electoral Provisions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 1993

the gazettal of which took place on 12 March upon the failure

of the procedural discussions about constitutional talks with

the Chinese this month.