ENG-2007 — Page 44

12 | Constitution and Administration

405 elected seats. The election for the third-term councils was held on November 18, 2007. Over 1.14 million registered electors cast their votes on the polling day, representing a turnout rate of 38.83 per cent.

Electoral Affairs Commission

The Electoral Affairs Commission, an independent statutory body, is responsible for ensuring that elections in the HKSAR are conducted openly, honestly, fairly and in accordance with the law. 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.

In 2007, representatives of the HKSAR Government, as members of the PRC delegation, took part in over 100 international conferences limited to states, including those organised by the World Intellectual Property Organisation, the World Health Organisation and the International Civil Aviation Organisation. The HKSAR also took part in about 820 inter-governmental conferences not limited to states in the capacity of 'Hong Kong, China', including those organised by the World Trade Organisation, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the World Customs Organisation.

In accordance with Article 151 of the Basic Law, the HKSAR concluded 16 agreements with foreign states in 2007 on matters such as postal cooperation, customs cooperation as well as maritime technical cooperation. With the authorisation of the Central People's Government, the HKSAR also concluded two bilateral agreements with foreign states on mutual legal assistance and surrender of fugitive offenders matters in the year. Pursuant to the CPG's decision after seeking the views of the HKSAR Government, six multilateral conventions became applicable to the HKSAR in 2007.

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Active participation in international activities and close liaison with Hong Kong's international partners has enabled the HKSAR to maintain its status international financial, trade, civil aviation and shipping centre.

There is a large foreign representation in the HKSAR, including 57 consulates- general, 57 honorary consuls and five officially recognised international bodies.