Seminars and Discussion Group

Regional Forum on Constitutional Development
(Kowloon)
(19 July 2004)
Group Discussion Summaries
Group 7: Mr Hui Yung-chung

(Translation)

Method for Selecting the Chief Executive

The Number of Members of the Election Committee

• Participants proposed to increase the number of members of the Election Committee to 1 600, 2 000 or 2 400. A participant even suggested that all Hong Kong citizens be included as Election Committee members.

The Composition of the Election Committee

• A participant suggested that if the number of members of the Election Committee were to be 2 000, 400 should be allocated to the Third and Fourth sectors.
  
  

• The participant proposing to increase the number of members of the Election Committee to 2 400 suggested that, based on District Council election constituencies, three to four people should be elected from each constituency as Election Committee members.
  
  

• A participant proposed to maintain the status quo, i.e. maintain the existing four sectors but the electorate size of individual sector might be varied.
  
  

• A participant suggested that the Election Committee should include District Council members and Area Committee members.

The Number of Members Required for Nominating Candidates

• Suggestions put forward by participants included: maintaining the current ratio, and setting the number of subscribers required for nomination at 50 and 100.
  
  

• A participant suggested that the required number of subscribers be 1% of the total number of members of the Election Committee.
  
  

• A participant was of the view that it was acceptable for the required number of subscribers to be 100 if the total number of members of the Election Committee were 1 600 to 2 000. But if the membership size of the Election Committee was only 800, the required number of subscribers should be reduced to 50.

The Delineation and Size of the Electorate of the Election Committee

• A participant was of the opinion that the electorate should include all eligible citizens.

Method for Forming the Legislative Council

The Number of Seats in the Legislative Council

• Many participants supported increasing the number of seats of the Legislative Council. This was because Hong Kong people had the quality and capability to elect more Members. Some other participants considered that more new Members could bring more new ideas to the Legislative Council.
  
  

• Specific figures put forth by participants included an increase to 70, 80, 100 and even 200.
  
  

• A participant opined that the number of seats should remain unchanged.

The Number of Seats Returned by Geographical Constituencies

• A participant proposed to double the number of geographical constituency seats but freeze the number of functional constituency seats. However, this proposal was incompatible with the decision of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples' Congress.

The Number of Seats Returned by Functional Constituencies

• Some participants were of the opinion that the number of seats returned by functional constituencies should not be increased. However, some other participants suggested an increase in functional constituency seats, particularly for those sectors which had larger electorate sizes.
  
  

• A participant proposed to set aside 10 to 15 seats from functional constituencies for allocation to political parties in proportion to the number of votes they received in direct election.

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

• A participant proposed the addition of newly emerged businesses. Another participant suggested the addition of civic organizations, such as kaifong associations.

Provisions regarding Nationality of Legislative Council Members

• A participant supported the current requirement, but another participant considered it unnecessary to impose any restriction.

Other Views

• A participant suggested that corporate voting be replaced by individual voting.

Pace for Democracy

• A participant was of the view that, as a model of "One Country, Two System", the pace for democracy in Hong Kong should be accelerated. Another participant considered that the quality of Hong Kong people was not inferior to people in other parts of Asia, the pace of democracy therefore could be speeded up. However, a participant took the view that constitutional development should progress in a gradual and orderly manner and in the light of the actual situation of Hong Kong. The concerns of the Central Authorities should also be taken into consideration.

One-person-two-votes

• A participant was of the view that a voter should not have two votes.