ENG-2004 — Page 38

12 | Constitution and Administration

Law, the appointment of Mr Tung Chee Hwa as the Chief Executive for a second term of five years.

Electoral System for the District Councils

Eighteen District Councils (DCs) are established in the HKSAR to advise the Government on district affairs and to promote recreational and cultural activities, and environmental improvements within the districts. A District Council is composed of elected members, appointed members, and, in the case of District Councils in rural areas, the chairmen of Rural Committees as ex officio members. The simple majority voting system is adopted for DC elections. For the first term DCs, the HKSAR was divided into 390 constituencies, each represented by one elected member. Having regard to the significant increase in population in certain districts, 10 elected seats. were added for the second term DCs, thus making a total of 400 seats. The election for the second term DCs was held on November 23, 2003. Over 1.06 million registered electors cast their votes on the polling day, representing a turnout rate of 44.10 per cent. The second term DCs began their four-year term on January 1, 2004.

Electoral Affairs Commission

The Electoral Affairs Commission, an independent statutory body, is responsible for ensuring that elections in the HKSAR are conducted openly, honestly and fairly. It comprises three politically neutral persons appointed by the Chief Executive and is headed by a High Court judge. The commission is responsible for making recommendations to the Chief Executive on the delineation of geographical constituencies and District Council constituencies, making regulations on practical arrangements for the Chief Executive election, the Legislative Council election, the District Council election and rural elections, and handling complaints relating to these elections. The Registration and Electoral Office, a government department headed by the Chief Electoral Officer, works under the commission's direction and carries out its decisions.

HKSAR's External Affairs

The HKSAR continues to play an active role in the international arena and maintains close contact with its international partners.

Since July 1, 1997, the HKSAR Government has, on its own, concluded more than 10 international agreements with foreign states and regions on matters such as customs cooperation, cooperation in information technology, and avoidance of double taxation in accordance with Article 151 of the Basic Law. Separately with the CPG's authorisation, the HKSAR Government has concluded 79 bilateral agreements with foreign states in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Basic Law, comprising 37 on air services, 13 on visa abolition, three on readmission of persons, 24 on reciprocal juridical assistance, one on investment promotion and protection, and one on avoidance of double taxation. More than 200 multilateral conventions are applicable to the HKSAR, about 75 of which do not apply to the Mainland.

In 2004, representatives of the HKSAR Government participated as members of delegations of the PRC more than 100 times in international conferences limited to