ENG-1998 — Page 48

16

CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

role in advising on food and environmental hygiene services and organising and subsidising cultural and recreational activities at the district level will be enhanced. Elections to the District Councils are scheduled for late 1999,

The Electoral System

Electoral System for the Legislative Council

In accordance with the Basic Law, the Legislative Council of the HKSAR is constituted by elections, and the method for its formation is to be specified in the light of the actual situation in the HKSAR in accordance with the principle of gradual and orderly progress.

The composition of the first three terms of the Legislative Council as set out in the Basic Law is as follows:

Membership

(a) elected by geographical

constituencies through

direct elections

First term (1998-2000)

Second term (2000-2004)

Third term (2004-2008)

20

24

30

(b) elected by functional

30

30

30

constituencies

(c) elected by an election committee

10

6

60

60

60

The Basic Law provides that changes to the formation of the Legislative Council after 2007 may be made by a two-thirds majority of all members of the Legislative Council and with the consent of the Chief Executive. Any such changes are to be reported to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for the record. The Basic Law also provides that the ultimate aim is the election of all the members of the Legislative Council by universal suffrage.

(a) Geographical Constituency

Geographical constituency elections are held on the basis of universal suffrage. All eligible persons who are 18 or above have the right to register as electors and to vote in the elections. The 1998 Final Register contained 2.8 million registered electors.

The HKSAR is divided into five geographical constituencies, each having three to five seats. The List Voting System operating under the Largest Remainder formula, which is a form of proportional representation voting system, is adopted. Candidates contest the election in the form of lists. Any permanent resident of the HKSAR who is a Chinese citizen with no right of abode in any foreign country may stand for election in any geographical constituency, provided that he is a registered elector on the Final Register, has attained the age of 21, and has ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for the preceding three years. Electors may vote only in the constituency in which they are registered.

(b) Functional Constituency

Each functional constituency represents an economic, social, or professional group which is of substantial size and importance in the HKSAR. These are: (1) Urban