ENG-2019 — Page 44

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Constitution and Administration

• 106 ex-officio members who are Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) and members of the Legislative Council under the NPC subsector and the Legislative Council subsector respectively; and

60 members under the religious subsector who are nominated by six designated bodies.

Method for Selecting Chief Executive by Universal Suffrage

Article 45 of the Basic Law stipulates the ultimate aim of selecting the Chief Executive by universal suffrage. According to the Basic Law and the relevant Interpretation and Decisions of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC), universal suffrage for the Chief Executive can be attained only with the support of a two-thirds majority of all the members of the Legislative Council, the consent of the Chief Executive, and the approval of the NPCSC. To achieve this aim, the community needs to engage in dialogue, premised on the legal basis and under a peaceful atmosphere with mutual trust, with a view to narrowing differences and attaining a consensus agreeable to all sides. The HKSAR Government will assess the situation carefully and take forward constitutional development in accordance with the Basic Law and the relevant NPCSC Interpretation and Decisions.

Electoral System for District Councils

The District Council elections adopt a simple majority voting system. Each District Council constituency returns one elected member. The election for the sixth-term councils (2020-23) was held on 24 November 2019 with 452 constituencies. Close to three million registered electors cast their votes, representing a turnout rate of 71.2 per cent.

Electoral Affairs Commission

The Electoral Affairs Commission is an independent statutory body that ensures elections in the HKSAR are conducted in an open, fair and honest manner and in accordance with the law. Headed by a High Court judge, the commission comprises three politically neutral members, including the Chairman, all appointed by the Chief Executive. It 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.

Structure of Administration

The Chief Executive is the head of the HKSAR Government. The Chief Secretary for Administration, the Financial Secretary or the Secretary for Justice deputises for the Chief Executive during any temporary absence.

The Chief Secretary for Administration and the Financial Secretary together supervise the work of 13 policy bureaus, each headed by a Director of Bureau, usually referred to as the bureau's 'Secretary' Together, they form the Government Secretariat. There are 56 departments. The Audit Commission reports to the Chief Executive, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority reports

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