Public
Consultation on Geographical Constituency Boundaries
The delineation and names
of the existing five geographical constituencies may remain
the same in the Legislative Council election in September
2000, except having minor adjustments to the boundaries of
four constituencies in Kowloon and the New Territories as
a result of district developments.
This is a provisional recommendation made by the Electoral
Affairs Commission. The public is welcome to express their
views on the proposal within a month before the Commission
puts forward its final recommendations to the Chief Executive
by the end of October 1999.
Summary of the provisional recommendations may be downloaded
from here. (It may take several
minutes to download)
Proposed boundary maps for various constituencies (in PDF
format) are available for on-screen
viewing. (It may take over 15 minutes to download)
Under the Legislative Council (Amendment) Ordinance 1999,
the number of members to be returned for the geographical
constituencies increases by four to 24 and each constituency
is to elect between four and six members.
The Commission proposes that Hong Kong Island and New Territories
East constituencies will each have five seats, Kowloon West
and Kowloon East will each have four seats, and New Territories
West six seats.
Hong Kong Island is composed of Central and Western, Wan Chai,
Eastern and Southern Districts. Kowloon West covers Yau Tsim
Mong, Sham Shui Po and Kowloon City. Kowloon East comprises
Wong Tai Sin and Kwun Tong. New Territories West consists
of Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Kwai Tsing and Islands.
New Territories East is formed by North, Tai Po, Sha Tin and
Sai Kung.
Launching the public consultation exercise at a press conference,
the Commission Chairman, Mr Justice Woo Kwok-hing, said the
Commission must observe several statutory criteria for making
the recommendations.
The population of each constituency is a primary consideration,
he said. In addition, each constituency is to be formed by
two or more contiguous whole District Council constituencies.
The Commission shall have regard to the existing boundaries
of Districts, the existing boundaries of the Municipal Council
areas, community identities, the preservation of local ties
and physical features of the relevant area.
According to Government forecasts, Hong Kong will have a population
of 6,736,900 by the end of March 2000. It follows that each
of the 24 seats will cater for 280,704 people, which is the
population quota.
Under the Electoral Affairs Commission Ordinance, each constituency's
population shall not exceed or fall short of the resulting
number (the population quota being multiplied by the number
of elected seats in that constituency) by more than 15 per
cent.
The population deviations of the five proposed constituencies
on the basis of the existing boundaries are:
| |
No. of seats |
Population |
Deviation from resulting no. |
| Hong Kong Island |
5 |
1,343,400 |
-4.28% |
| Kowloon West |
4 |
1,029,000 |
-8.36% |
| Kowloon East |
4 |
1,016,100 |
-9.50% |
| NT West |
6 |
1,804,900 |
+7.17% |
| NT East |
5 |
1,543,500 |
+9.97% |
"We consider it proper to maintain the existing boundaries and names because electors have got used to them. It is inappropriate to make changes every time if that can be avoided," Mr Justice Woo said.
"Our recommendations are drawn up with an objective and fair method and fully meet all the statutory criteria. Political influence or advantage plays no part at all in our decisions," he said.
Maps of the proposed constituencies and a summary of the provisional recommendations are also available for public inspection at the Registration and Electoral Office (10/F Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai); District Offices, post offices, public housing estate offices, public libraries, the Government Publications Centre (Queensway Government Offices, Low Block, Ground Floor).
Written representations should reach the Commission, 10/F Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, by the end of September. Views may be sent via fax - 2511 1682 or e-mail - eacenq@eac.gcn.gov.hk.
The Commission will meet the public at a public forum on September
27 to listen to their views. The forum will start at 2 pm in
the Conference Room of the Registration and Electoral Office,
10/F Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai. Members of the
public may call 2827 1269 to reserve a seat.
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