Seminars and Discussion Group

Regional Forum on Constitutional Development
(Kowloon)
(19 July 2004)

Group Discussion Summaries
Group 2: Mr Lai Wing-fat, Joseph

(Translation)

Method for Selecting the Chief Executive

The Number of Members of the Election Committee

• All participants agreed that the number of Election Committee members should be increased. They said that the increase should progress in a gradual and orderly manner and on a balanced basis. They also considered that the representativeness of the Election Committee should be enhanced, especially in respect of the grassroot sector.

The Composition of the Election Committee

• The majority of participants agreed that new subsectors should be introduced, in particular for the professionals and the middle-class.
  
  

• A participant suggested that new sub-sectors for Chinese medicine and the beauty industry should be introduced.
  
  

• A participant objected to the suggestion of including District Council members in the Election Committee automatically.

The Number of Members Required for Nominating Candidates

• Participants had different views on the minimum number of subscribers required for nominating candidates. Some proposed to increase it, some suggested a decrease, but the majority agreed to maintaining status quo. Despite their diverged views, all participants hoped to see more candidates take part in the election. They also expected the candidates to possess the necessary qualities.

The Delineation and Size of the Electorate of the Election Committee

• All participants considered that the existing electorate size of 160 000 people too small. They would like the size to be enlarged. However, no concrete proposal or figure was put up.

Method for Forming the Legislative Council

The Number of Seats in the Legislative Council

• The majority of participants agreed that the number of seats in the Legislative Council should be increased in a gradual and orderly manner. Radical changes should be avoided.

The Number of Seats Returned by Geographical Constituencies

• A participant suggested that the number of seats returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections should be increased.

The Number of Seats Returned by Functional Constituencies

• A participant was of the view that the number of seats returned by functional constituencies should be maintained or increased, and that functional constituency seats for the middle-class, the grassroot and the professionals should be added.

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

• All participants agreed that the electorate of functional constituencies should be enlarged.
  
  

• A participant thought that new functional constituencies for the professionals and the retailing industry should be introduced.
  
  

• Participants had different views on whether corporate voting should be retained.

Provisions regarding Nationality of Legislative Council Members

• All participants agreed that only people of Chinese nationality could become Legislative Council Members.

Other Views

Votes

• Some participants said that consideration should be given to allowing people who paid more tax to cast more than one vote.