Seminars and Discussion Group

Regional Forum on Constitutional Development
(Hong Kong Island)
(21 July 2004)

Group Discussion Summaries
Group 1: Mr Hui Yung-chung

(Translation)

Method for Selecting the Chief Executive

The Number of Members of the Election Committee

• The majority of participants agreed that the number of Election Committee members should be increased. They proposed an increase up to 1 250 or 1 600.

• A participant considered that it might not be desirable if the Election Committee was too large.

• Another participant suggested that consideration should first be given to the composition of the Election Committee. If it were decided that the composition should be enlarged, then further consideration might be given to the increase in the number of members of the Election Committee.

The Composition of the Election Committee

• A participant thought that the number of subsectors of the Election Committee could be increased.

• Participants proposed the addition of new subsectors for the District Councils, District Committees, all Hong Kong Deputies to the National People's Congress and Hong Kong Members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and kai-fong organizations, and that there should be an increase of ten representatives for each of the eight universities.

• A participant said that a balance should be struck in deliberating the expansion of the Election Committee, so that it could fairly represent people of different political, economic, educational and social strata.

The Number of Members Required for Nominating Candidates

• The majority of participants were inclined to maintain the present requirement of 100 subscribers for nominating candidates.

• A participant, however, considered that the number should be reduced.

• Another participant suggested that a ratio could be set between the number of Election Committee members and the number required for nomination, for examples 20:1 or 16:1.

The Delineation and Size of the Electorate of the Election Committee

• A participant considered that the size of the electorate should be doubled.

• Another participant said that the Election Committee should be returned by universal suffrage.

Others

• A participant was of the view that the Chief Executive should maintain good communication with the Central Authorities.

• Another participant said that the Chief Executive should listen to the views of people of different sectors and professions.

Method for Forming the Legislative Council

The Number of Seats in the Legislative Council

• Many participants agreed that the number of seats in the Legislative Council should be increased.

• A participant proposed that the number of seats could be increased to 80, i.e. 40 for geographical constituencies and 40 for functional constituencies.

• A participant queried whether the existing ratio between the seats returned by geographical constituencies and functional constituencies should be maintained.

The Number of Seats Returned by Functional Constituencies

• A participant proposed to increase the number of functional constituency seats, of which there should be five to six additional seats for District Councils, one for higher education and three for other constituencies.

• Another participant suggested that the seat returned by District Councils should be deleted.

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

• Some participants considered that functional constituencies should cover various sectors and look after the interests of those strata.

Provisions regarding Nationality of Legislative Council Members

• A participant considered that the existing provision could be maintained, but there should be no increase in the number.

• A participant said that the number of Legislative Council Members who were allowed to have foreign nationality should be reduced.

Others

• Some participants considered that each voter should only have one vote in the Legislative Council election. Electors should decide whether they would cast vote in either geographical constituencies or functional constituencies, but not both.