ENG-2016 — Page 36

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Constitution and Administration

Chief Executive on 26 March 2017. The term of office of the fifth-term Chief Executive will begin on 1 July 2017.

Method for Selecting Chief Executive by Universal Suffrage

To attain the ultimate aim of selecting the Chief Executive by universal suffrage provided for in Article 45 of the Basic Law, the HKSAR Government conducted two rounds of extensive and systematic public consultation which lasted for a total of seven months. Following the consultation, the government put forward a package of proposals on the method for selecting the Chief Executive by universal suffrage that were in compliance with the Basic Law and the Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Issues Relating to the Selection of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by Universal Suffrage and on the Method for Forming the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region adopted on 31 August 2014. However, the proposals were voted down at a Legislative Council meeting on 18 June 2015. Therefore, according to the Decision, the method for selecting the fourth-term Chief Executive in 2012 will continue to be adopted to select the fifth-term Chief Executive in 2017, that is, the Chief Executive is to be elected by a 1,200-member Election Committee.

Electoral System for District Councils

The 18 District Councils advise the government on district affairs, and promote recreational and cultural activities and environmental improvements within the districts. A District Council used to comprise elected members, appointed members and, in the case of the New Territories, the chairmen of rural committees as ex-officio members. With effect from the start of the fifth-term District Councils on 1 January 2016, the system of appointed members has been abolished and the number of elected seats has been increased by 19 to 431.

The District Council elections adopt a simple majority voting system. Each District Council constituency returns one elected member. More than 1.46 million registered electors cast their votes at the election for the fifth-term District Councils on 22 November 2015, representing a turnout of 47 per cent.

Electoral Affairs Commission

The Electoral Affairs Commission is an independent statutory body responsible for ensuring elections in the HKSAR are conducted in an open, fair and honest manner and in accordance with the law. It comprises three politically neutral people appointed by the Chief Executive. Headed by a High Court Judge, the commission makes recommendations to the Chief Executive on the delineation of Legislative Council geographical constituencies and District Council constituencies, makes regulations on practical arrangements for the Chief Executive election, Legislative Council election, District Council election and Rural Representative election, and handles 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.

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