Elections

Public Consultation

The 2015 District Council ("DC") Election will be held in late 2015. The Electoral Affairs Commission ("EAC") has drawn up the provisional recommendations on the boundaries and names of the 431 District Council Constituency Areas ("DCCAs") in the 18 districts for the 2015 DC Election. We invite your views on these provisional recommendations.


Background

In accordance with sections 4(a) and 18 of the Electoral Affairs Commission Ordinance, the EAC has to review the existing boundaries of DC constituencies and submit a report to the Chief Executive by 5 November 2014 on its recommendations concerning the boundaries and names of DC constituencies to be adopted in the 2015 DC Election. The provisional recommendations on the boundaries and names of DCCAs for the 2015 DC Election have now been drawn up by the EAC. In delineating the constituencies, we have adopted a set of statutory criteria and working principles. To minimise any possible inconvenience to electors due to change of boundaries, it is the established practice of the EAC to maintain the boundaries of existing DCCAs as long as the estimated population falls within the statutory permissible range. For DCCAs with the estimated population exceeding the permissible range, the EAC has proposed adjustments to their boundaries and that of the adjacent ones (if required) with a view to keeping their estimated population within the permissible limits as far as practicable. Taking into account an increase of 19 elected seats for nine districts in the 2015 DC Election as approved by the Legislative Council, the EAC has correspondingly proposed the delineation of 19 new DCCAs in relevant districts. Where there are valid justifications, the EAC has recommended to allow some DCCAs to depart from the permissible range having regard to the community identities, preservation of local ties and physical features of the concerned areas.

Under the EAC’s provisional recommendations, 19 new DCCAs would be demarcated and the boundaries of 111 existing DCCAs would be adjusted. The proposed boundaries and names of the DCCAs requiring adjustments and those allowed to exceed the permissible limits as well as the EAC’s relevant considerations, together with a brief summary of the EAC’s provisional recommendations listing out the codes, names and estimated population of all the 431 proposed DCCAs in the 18 districts for the 2015 DC Election can be viewed by clicking here.

In accordance with section 19 of the EAC Ordinance, maps showing the boundaries and names of all the proposed DCCAs and a document containing the provisional constituency area boundary descriptions will be made available for public consultation for 30 days from 26 June 2014 to 25 July 2014, both dates inclusive. The maps and the proposed constituency areas boundary descriptions are available at this website for on-screen viewing or downloading. Copies of these maps and documents are also available for public inspection during ordinary business / opening hours at the Registration and Electoral Office, all District Offices, all post offices, all management offices of public housing estates and all major and district public libraries of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.


Public Consultation

Please send your written representations on the provisional recommendations to the EAC Secretariat the latest by 25 July 2014 through any of the following means -

By post:	Electoral Affairs Commission Secretariat, 10th Floor, Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
By fax:	2511 1682
By e-mail:	eacenq@eac.hk

Late representations will not be considered.

You may also make oral representations to us at the public forums to be held on 7 July 2014, 9 July 2014 and 11 July 2014 at the Quarry Bay Community Hall, the Lai Chi Kok Community Hall and the Lung Hang Estate Community Centre respectively. Details of the forums can be viewed by clicking here.

The EAC is committed to making every endeavour to ensure that all public elections are held in an open, fair and honest manner. The delineation of constituencies is an important element of the arrangements for the 2015 DC Election. No doubt those who have opposing views and suggestions will make representations to us. However, it is important that supporting views should also be made known to us, otherwise it may be said that no one supports or agrees with our provisional recommendations.

Views received will be published in their entirety in future for public information. Please indicate clearly in your submission if you wish your names or views to be kept confidential. All responses will be treated as public information unless otherwise specified.

For enquiries, please contact the EAC Secretariat at 3847 7891.

Electoral Affairs Commission
June 2014