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The Fifth Report of the
Constitutional Development Task Force :
Package of Proposals for the
Methods for Selecting the Chief Executive
in 2007 and for Forming the Legislative Council in 2008
Highlights
Background
- Since its establishment in January 2004, the Constitutional Development Task Force has consulted different sectors of the community through a wide range of channels on possible amendments to the methods for selecting the Chief Executive in 2007 and for forming the Legislative Council in 2008.
- The Task Force has now formulated a package of proposals.
Principles
- Consistent with the relevant provisions of the Basic Law and the Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of 26 April 2004.
- Move substantively towards the ultimate aim of universal suffrage.
- Provide more room and opportunities for the public to participate in the elections for the Chief Executive and the Legislative Council.
- Acceptable to the Central Authorities, the Chief Executive, the Legislative Council and different sectors of the community.
Method for Selecting the Chief Executive in 2007
- The number of members of the Election Committee to be increased from 800 to 1 600.
- The number of members of the First Sector (Industrial, commercial and financial sectors), the Second Sector (The professions) and the Third Sector (Labour, social services, religious and other sectors) of the Election Committee to be increased, respectively, from 200 to 300.
- The number of members of the Fourth Sector (members of Legislative Council, members of District Councils, representatives of the Heung Yee Kuk, Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress, and representatives of Hong Kong members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference) of the Election Committee to be increased
from 200 to 700, with the inclusion of all District Council members.
- Maintain the number of Election Committee members required for nominating Chief Executive candidates at the ratio of one-eighth of the total membership, i.e. 200 members.
- Consider establishing an appropriate mechanism whereby, where only one candidate is validly nominated, election proceedings shall continue.
- Maintain the existing requirement that the Chief Executive should not have any political affiliation.
Method for Forming the Legislative Council in 2008
- The number of seats in the Legislative Council to be increased from 60 to 70.
- The number of seats to be returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections to be increased from 30 to 35.
- The number of seats to be returned by functional constituencies to be increased from 30 to 35, with the number of seats returned by the District Council Functional Constituency to be increased from 1 to 6.
Copies of the Task Force's Fifth Report are available at the District Offices. The Report has also been uploaded onto the Constitutional Development Website.
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