ENG-1989 — Page 49

CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

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Council separately form electoral college constituencies, each returning one member to the Legislative Council.

Electoral System for the Urban Council, Regional Council and District Boards Elections to the Urban Council, Regional Council and district boards are on a geo- graphical constituency basis and through a broad franchise. Practically everyone who is 21 years of age or over and who is a Hong Kong permanent resident, or has been resident in Hong Kong for the preceding seven years, is eligible to apply for registration as an elector in the constituency in which he lives. Registration is conducted on a voluntary basis annually in August and September although applications for registration can be made. at any time of the year. At the end of 1989, the electoral roll carried 1 597 567 names, representing 43.6 per cent of an estimated total potential electorate of 3.66 million. Of these electors, 1 013 759 are entitled to vote at Urban Council elections and at district board elections in the Urban Council area. The remaining 583 808 are entitled to vote at Regional Council elections and at district board elections in the Regional Council area.

There are 157 constituencies for district board elections, comprising 87 in the 10 districts in the Urban Council area and 70 constituencies in the nine districts in the Regional Council area. For Urban Council elections, there are 15 constituencies, each being a single-seat constituency made up of a number of district board constituencies in the Urban Council area. The Regional Council has 12 single-seat constituencies, each made up of a - number of district board constituencies in the Regional Council area. There are altogether - 264 elected district board members, 15 elected Urban Councillors and 12 elected Regional

Councillors.

An elector may vote only in the constituency in which he has been registered. He may, however, stand for election to the Urban Council, the Regional Council or a district board in any constituency, provided he has been resident in Hong Kong for the preceding 10 or more years and his nomination is supported by 10 electors in that constituency. Voting is by simple majority.

At the Urban Council elections held on March 9, 1989, 30 candidates stood for election in the 15 constituencies. Four were elected unopposed and the remaining 26 candidates contested the other 11 seats. Of the 747 005 electors in the contested constituencies, 105 826 cast their votes, giving a turnout of 14.2 per cent. The Regional Council elections were held concurrently with the Urban Council elections. A total of 23 candidates were nominated in the 12 constituencies. Three were elected unopposed and the other 20 candidates contested the remaining nine seats. Of the 464 104 electors in the contested constituencies, 107 526 cast their votes, giving a turnout of 23.2 per cent.

Electoral System for the Legislative Council

The system for indirect election to the Legislative Council, first introduced in 1985, involves an electoral college and nine functional constituencies. The electoral college comprises two special constituencies, that is, the Urban Council and the Regional Council, and 10 district board constituencies, each returning one member to the Legislative Council. The functional constituencies, covering the commercial, industrial, financial, labour, social services, accountancy, medical, health care, legal, teaching, and engineering and associated professions sectors, return a total of 14 members.

The franchise for Legislative Council elections is prescribed as follows: for the electoral college, an elector must be a member of the Urban Council, the Regional Council or a district board making up the respective special constituencies and district board constit-