Seminars and Discussion Group

Constitutional Development : Focus Group for Young People
(11 August 2004)

Group Discussion Summaries
Green Group: Dr Philemon Choi

(Translation)

Method for Selecting the Chief Executive

The Number of Members of the Election Committee

• Participants were of the view that the number of members of the Election Committee should be increased to enhance the representativeness of the Election Committee.

The Composition of the Election Committee

• A participant suggested that Hong Kong be divided into 40 districts and 10 members be elected from each district, so that the representativeness of the Election Committee could be enhanced.
  
  

• A participant suggested that some of the Election Committee members should be returned by a random draw among eligible voters. This would achieve the aim of general participation; and the members so returned would not incline towards any particular sector.

The Number of Members Required for Nominating Candidates

• A participant suggested having two separate groups for nomination and voting respectively, and that both groups should have broad representation.

The Delineation and Size of the Electorate of the Election Committee

• Participants supported replacing corporate voting by individual voting.

Others

• The consensus of the group was that progress should be made towards the goal of universal suffrage through one-person one-vote.

Method for Forming the Legislative Council

The Number of Seats Returned by Functional Constituencies

• A participant was of the view that functional constituencies should not exist; and that they should be abolished as soon as possible. The reason was that functional constituencies were only concerned with the interests of their respective constituencies.
  
  

• Another participant opined that professional views were needed in the Council and therefore functional constituencies should not be abolished too early; but neither should their number be increased.
  
  

• Participants opposed adding new functional constituencies, as this was considered incompatible with the goal of progression towards universal suffrage.

The Delineation and Size of the Electorate of Legislative Council Functional Constituencies

• Some participants were of the view that under the principle of fair and equal participation, all voters should have two votes each given that some were enjoying this right.
  
  

• A participant suggested to reorganise, sub-divide, or introduce certain new constituencies, so as to allow each eligible voter to have one vote based on his or her work, status or functional capacity, such as student capacity, and another vote based on his residence.
  
  

• A participant suggested that the Sports, performing arts, culture and publication functional constituency should be subdivided, as the interests of the four subsectors could not be represented by one single Member.
  
  

• A participant suggested that functional constituencies for women and youth should be considered.

Others

• The consensus of the group was that progress should be made towards the goal of universal suffrage through one-person one-vote.

A participant considered that the Chief Executive needed to have political support during his term. Consideration should therefore be given to the development of party politics to enable the Chief Executive to deal with the relationship between the executive and the legislature. Consideration should also be given to the issues of convergence, political climate and communication.