ENG-2019 — Page 42

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Constitution and Administration

handle local issues on the management of public areas and environmental hygiene more effectively. As announced in the 2019 Policy Address, the annual recurrent provision will be increased to $80 million from 2020-21 onwards to further address long-standing problems and capitalise on opportunities in the districts.

There are 63 Area Committees, district-based advisory bodies which help organise community involvement activities, advise on local issues and promote public participation in district affairs. Their members are drawn from a wide spectrum of the community, including council members.

Twenty Home Affairs Enquiry Centres, attached to the district offices, provide a wide range of free services to the public, including answering general enquiries about government services, distributing government forms, disseminating information and administering declarations and oaths (including affirmations in lieu of oaths) for private use. Residents seeking legal advice can make appointments at the centres to see volunteer lawyers under a Free Legal Advice Scheme administered by the Duty Lawyer Service. Rating and Valuation Department representatives are also available at five designated centres on specified days to advise on tenancy matters.

The Electoral System

Electoral System for Legislative Council

Composition of first to sixth terms of Legislative Council

Membership

First term

Second term

Third and

fourth terms

Fifth and sixth

(1998-2000)

(2000-04)

(2004-08 and 2008-12)

terms (2012-16 and

2016-20)

Elected by geographical

20

24

30

35

constituencies through

direct elections

Elected by functional

30

30

30

35

constituencies

•

Elected by an election

10

6

committee

Total

Geographical Constituencies

18

21

60

60

60

70

All eligible persons aged 18 or above have the right to be registered as electors and to vote in geographical constituency elections, which are held on the basis of universal suffrage. There are 4.13 million registered electors.

The HKSAR is divided into five geographical constituencies, each returning five to nine seats in the sixth-term Legislative Council. Electors choose lists of candidates using the list voting system, which operates under the 'largest remainder' formula, a form of proportional representation.

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