Seminars and Discussion Group

Regional Forum on Constitutional Development
(New Territories West)
(14 July 2004)
Group Discussion Summaries
Group 2: Mr Au Yeung Sung-fan

(Translation)

Method for Selecting the Chief Executive

The Number of Members of the Election Committee

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

• With regard to specific numbers, some suggested to increase the size by one fourth or one fifth, while some suggested increasing it from 800 to 1200. Many participants did not provide any specific suggestions. Overall speaking, participants were of view that the number should be increased in a gradual and orderly manner and based on a set of fair criteria.

The Composition of the Election Committee

• A participant pointed out that at present the Religious subsector had six members representing Muslims, but they did not necessarily represent Muslims of ethnic minorities. He therefore suggested that three of those six seats should be allocated to the representatives of Muslims of ethnic minorities. Alternatively, additional seats could be added to the Religious subsector for Muslims of ethnic minorities.
  
  

• A participant proposed to include non-official Justice of the Peace, ex-Advisers on Hong Kong Affairs, members of Heung Yee Kuk, all District Council members and Area Committee members in the Election Committee.
  
  

• A participant suggested that representatives of pre-primary education workers should be included in the Education subsector.
  
  

• There was a view that the composition of Election Committee should have regard to the representativeness of different sectors.

The Number of Members Required for Nominating Candidates

• A participant opined that regardless of the number of Election Committee members, the required number of subscribers should remain at one-eighth of the total number of Election Committee members.

The Delineation and Size of the Electorate of the Election Committee

• A participant was of the opinion that the existing delineation of the subsectors should be reviewed.
  
  

• It was proposed that corporate voting should be abolished because the nature of each corporate body was different, as was the number of people they represented.

Others

• A participant opined that if everything went smoothly and with sufficient time for preparation, he wished to see the election of the Chief Executive by universal suffrage in 2017.
  
  

• A participant suggest that national education should be strengthened to lay down the foundation for universal suffrage.

Method for Forming the Legislative Council

The Number of Seats in the Legislative Council

• There was a view that any increase in the number of seats must be in accordance with the actual operational requirement of the Council.

The Number of Seats Returned by Geographical Constituencies

• A participant proposed that the number of seats returned by geographical constituencies through direct election could be increased having regard to the increase in population of individual districts.
  
  

• A participant suggested that the delineation of geographical constituencies be reviewed. For example, additional seats could be allocated to remote areas so that the views of the residents there could be reflected in the legislature.
  
  

• A participant opined that an increase in the number of seats returned by geographical constituencies should be matched by the same increase in those returned by functional constituencies in order to maintain balanced representation.

The Number of Seats Returned by Functional Constituencies

• A participant thought that the delineation of functional constituencies deserved careful consideration and review. For example, if a functional constituency were specifically established for housewives, there might be a need to consider whether to similarly introduce seats for retired persons as well as other sectors.

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

• A participant suggested that corporate voting should be abolished.

Provisions Regarding Nationality of Legislative Council Members

• Participants basically agreed with the existing nationality requirements stipulated in the Basic Law for Legislative Council Members.
  
  

• Some participants opined that the practice of allowing people of foreign nationality to run in Legislative Council election should be gradually abolished. However, another view was that as long as the Legislative Council Members lived in Hong Kong and were willing to serve Hong Kong people, there was no need to stipulate any restriction on their nationality.