ENG-2002 — Page 37

CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

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

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 must 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.

The HKSAR is divided into five geographical constituencies, each having four to six seats. The List Voting System operating under the Largest Remainder formula, which is a form of proportional representation voting, is adopted. Under this system, candidates contest the election in the form of lists. Each list may consist of any number of candidates up to the number of seats in the relevant constituency. An elector is entitled to cast one vote for a list. The seats for the constituency will be distributed among the lists according to the number of votes obtained by the respective 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 or she 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.

9