ENG-2001 — Page 48

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CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

general enquiries on government services; distributing government forms and information; administering oaths and declarations; and referring cases under the District Council members' meet-the-public scheme, the Free Legal Advice Scheme and Rent Officer Scheme. The Public Enquiry Service Centres and the Central Telephone Enquiry Centre served a total of 2.62 million clients in 2001.

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 second term Legislative Council election was held successfully on September 10, 2000. A total of 155 validly nominated candidates contested the 60 Legislative Council seats. Over 1.33 million registered electors cast their votes on the polling day, representing a turnout rate of 43.6 per cent. The election was conducted fairly, openly and honestly under the supervision of the Electoral Affairs Commission.

The Basic Law provides that changes to the method for the formation of the Legislative Council after 2007 may be made by a two-thirds majority of all the 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 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 aged 18 or above have the right to be registered as electors and to vote in the elections. There are currently about three million registered electors.