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1 1 (October 18, 2019)

handle is hein.crs/govbblh0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Hong Congressional Research Service I fo rg the legislative debate s nce 1914 Hong Kong's Legislative Council (Legco) The United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 (22 U.S.C. 5701, P.L. 102-383) states, Support for democratization is a fundamental principle of United States foreign policy. The development of Hong Kong's Legislative Council, or Legco, has been a fundamental part of Hong Kong's complex and incomplete process of democratization, and as such has become a key concern of some U.S. policymakers. As currently constituted, some of Legco's members are elected via a democratic process, and others are selected by a restricted mandate. Under the 1990 Chinese law establishing the governance system for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), known as the Basic Law, the ultimate aim is the election of all the members of the Legislative Council (as well as the Chief Executive) by universal suffrage in accordance with the principle of gradual and orderly progress. As a result, Legco plays a critical role in both an assessment of democratization in Hong Kong, as well as progress toward democratization. Brief History of Legco Legco has a history going back over 170 years marked by some progress-and some setbacks-in democratization. The first Legco met in 1844, when the city was a British colony. All Legco members were appointed by Hong Kong's Governor until 1985, when 24 of the 57 members were selected by limited suffrage. In 1995, the last Legco under British rule consisted of 30 members selected by 29 functional constituencies representing social and economic sectors, 20 members elected by universal suffrage in 20 geographical constituencies, and 10 members selected by an Election Committee. Every registered voter could vote in one geographical and one functional constituency. The PRC government objected to the manner by which the 1995 Legco was selected, and appointed a 60-member Provisional Legco on December 21, 1996, which assumed office on July 1, 1997, the day on which the United Kingdom transferred sovereignty over Hong Kong to China. On May 24, 1998, the first Legco under Chinese sovereignty was chosen, consisting of 60 members: 20 elected by universal suffrage, 30 selected by limited suffrage through 28 functional constituencies, and 10 appointed by the Election Committee. The electors in the 28 functional constituencies included individuals, corporations, and organizations. Between 1998 and 2004, the number of Legco members selected by the Election Committee was gradually reduced to zero, with the seats being reallocated to the five geographical constituencies. Legco now has 70 members, with 35 elected by universal suffrage in 5 geographical constituencies, 30 chosen through limited suffrage in 28 functional constituencies, Updated October 18, 2019 and 5 District Council members elected by voters ineligible to vote in the functional constituencies, the so-called super seats (see Table 1). Elections are held every four years. Many analysts maintain that the system gives certain groups disproportionate influence in Legco. For instance, the financial sector seat is chosen by 125 financial institutions, while the five district council (second) seats are elected by nearly 3.5 million people. Table I. Legco's Geographical and Functional Constituencies in 2016 (Number of seats and number of registered electors in 2016) Constituency Seats Electors Geographical Constituencies: Hong Kong Island 6 627,804 Kowloon East 6 601,566 Kowloon West 5 488,129 New Territories East 9 975,071 New Territories West 9 1,086,515 Functional Constituencies: Accountancy I 26,008 Agriculture and Fisheries I 152 Architectural, Surveying, Planning, I 7,371 and Landscape Catering I 5,485 Commercial (First) I 1,045 Commercial (Second) I 1,491 District Council (First) I 431 District Council (Second) 5 3,473,792 Education I 88,185 Engineering I 9,406 Finance I 125 Financial Services I 622 Health Services I 37,423 Heung Yee Kuk I 147 Import and Export I 1,400 Industrial (First) I 544 Industrial (Second) I 769 Information Technology I 12,115 Insurance I 134 Labour 3 668 Legal I 6,773 Medical I 11,191 Real Estate and Construction I 714 Social Welfare I 13,824 Sports, Performing Arts, Culture, 1 2,920 and Publications Textiles and Garments I 2,332 Tourism I 1,426 Transport I 195 Wholesale and Retail I 6,727 Source: Hong Kong Electoral Affairs Commission. Note: Figures in italics include both individual and corporate/organizational electors. htps://crsreportscorg ressgo

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