2023-05-01 20:31:55
The term of office of the current District Council will expire at the end of the year, and the answer to where to go will be as soon as today. According to sources, the overall number of seats in the new District Council is similar to the current 480 seats, but the seats will be changed to a mixed model of “direct election, appointment, and indirect election”. The proportion of directly elected seats is expected to be greatly reduced to regarding 20%. An eligibility review system will be introduced to ensure that candidates meet the Patriot Principles.
It is reported that the government held a meeting yesterday to brief the members of the Executive Council on the new plan for forming district councils. The overall number of seats in the new District Council is similar to the current 480 seats, but the majority of the seats will be changed from direct elections to a mixed model of “direct elections, appointments, and indirect elections”. The proportion of directly elected seats is expected to be greatly reduced. About two percent. If this ratio is calculated, the number of directly elected seats in the district councils of Hong Kong will be reduced to less than 100.
The material plan will be officially announced today at the soonest
The authorities also plan to increase the entry threshold, and district councilors must pass a qualification review. According to sources, candidates must be nominated by members of the zoning committee, regional fire prevention and crime committee. It is understood that the Executive Council will meet today to discuss the plan, which is expected to be announced on the same day at the earliest.
If the plan is passed, the district council will introduce the “indirect election” system for the first time, and at the same time, since the fourth district council in 2012, the system of appointing district councilors will be re-established.
Guo Weiqiang: Patriots governing Hong Kong
Guo Weiqiang, a member of the Legislative Council of the Federation of Trade Unions who is also a member of the Eastern District, believes that in order to implement patriots to govern Hong Kong and maintain national security, it is imperative to reform the district councils, and the reform direction must ensure that anti-government forces cannot grow through the district councils. He admits that the reduction of directly elected seats may affect district work, but he believes that no matter how district councilors are elected, they will actively and actively participate in district affairs and contact the public. “I think this is a positive change.”
Yuan Haiwen: Great Regression of Democracy
Yuan Haiwen, a member of the Sham Shui Po district of the Democratic Party, described the reform as a major retrogression of democracy. He pointed out that when the government abolished the district council appointment system in 10 years, the officials at that time said that they responded to the demands of the society as a whole and that democracy was moving forward. “How can you convince the public? , a significant reduction in directly elected seats, can it help the overall and democratic development?”
He pointed out that he had decided to focus on taking care of his family in the middle of last year and would not run for election in the next term. However, he believed that some democrats might be accommodated in the new system in the future, while some “may not even be nominated” and failed to participate. select. At the same time, he is worried that in the future, directly elected district councilors will face more voters, but the resources they will receive are similar to those of indirectly elected and appointed councilors. After so much hard work, there are so many stops.”
Originally published on AM730 https://www.am730.com.hk/Local/The composition of the new District Council adopts a mixed model-news-directly elected seats have been greatly reduced to 20%/374415?utm_source=yahoorss&utm_medium=referral
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