Elections are held in Hong Kong when certain offices in the government need to be filled. Every four years, the unicameral Legislative Council of Hong Kong's sixty seats are filled by the electorate. An election is a process in which a vote is held to choose amongst candidates to fill an office, or amongst political parties offering a slate of potential office holders for a house of representatives. ... Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or parliamentary chamber. ... Legislative Council Building The Legislative Council of Hong Kong (立法會, abbreviated LegCo) is the legislature of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China. ...

Hong Kong has a multi-party system, with numerous parties in which no one party often has the chance of gaining power alone. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is non-partisan, but has to work with several parties to form (de facto) coalition governments. A multi-party system is a type of party system. ... A political party is a political organization subscribing to a certain ideology or formed around very special issues with the aim to participate in power, usually by participating in elections. ... The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Chinese: 香港特別行政區行政長官 pinyin: Xiānggǎng Tèbié Xíngzhèngqū Xíngzhèng Zhangguān) is the head of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China, and represents the Region. ... Partisan may refer to: A member of a lightly-equipped irregular military force formed to oppose control of an area by a foreign power or by an army of occupation. ... A political party is a political organization subscribing to a certain ideology or formed around very special issues. ... A coalition government, or coalition cabinet, is a cabinet in parliamentary government in which several parties cooperate. ...

See election for a more comprehensive discussion and the List of democracy and elections-related topics for an overview on related topics. An election is a process in which a vote is held to choose amongst candidates to fill an office, or amongst political parties offering a slate of potential office holders for a house of representatives. ... Politics is the process and method of gaining or maintaining support for public or common action: the conduct of decision-making for groups. ...

Legislative Elections

Main article: Hong Kong legislative election Legislative elections are held in Hong Kong whenever the Legislative Council needs renewal. ...

The Legislative Council has 60 members, of whom 30 are elected by popular vote in geographical constituencies, and 30 elected from functional constituencies (businessmen and professionals). A constituency is any cohesive corporate unit or body bound by shared structures, goals or loyalty. ... A functional constituency, in Hong Kong politics, refers to professional and special interest groups involved in the electoral process. ...

In Hong Kong, legislative elections are held every four years, in years evenly divisible by four. The most recent election was held September 12, 2004. The next would presumably occur in September 2008. Chamber of the Estates-General, the Dutch legislature. ... Elections for the Legislative Council of Hong Kong (LegCo) were held on September 12, 2004. ... September 12 is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years). ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September is the ninth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four Gregorian months with the length of 30 days. ... 2008 is a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong currently holds a plurality of the seats with twelve in the legislature, but they form only twenty percent of the house. This again stresses the factor that coalitions are often necessary to form governments with legal mandates. Logo The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) (民主建港聯盟, 民建聯) is the largest pro-government political party in Hong Kong SAR of the Peoples Republic of China. ...

The Liberals hold ten seats, while the Democratic Party holds nine. Liberal Party (自由黨) is a political party in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Peoples Republic of China. ... The Democratic Party (民主黨) is a pro-democracy and liberal, political party in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China. ...

Electoral system

The 30 geographical seats of the Legislative Council are returned by proportional representation using the Largest remainder method in each of five constituencies. This system has the advantage of providing representative governments. Proportional representation (PR) is any election system which ensures a proportionally representative result of a democratic election, x% of votes should be represented by x% in the democratic institutions, parliament or congress. ... The largest remainder method is one way of allocating seats proportionally for representative assemblies with party list voting systems. ...

Twenty-three of the 28 functional constituencies use single-member district plurality to elect their members, one (Labour) applies the Block vote(with three seats to be filled), and four, dubbed special functional constituencies, use the preferential elimination system (aka Instant Runoff Voting). The First Past the Post electoral system, is a voting system for single-member districts. ... Bloc voting (or block voting) (also called Plurality-at-large) refers to a class of voting systems which can be used to elect several representatives from a single constituency. ... When the single transferable vote voting system is applied to a single-winner election it is sometimes called instant-runoff voting (IRV), as it is much like holding a series of runoff elections in which the lowest polling candidate is eliminated in each round until someone receives majority vote. ...

The system for geographical constituencies has evolved over time. The first popular election in 1991 used a dual-seat constituency dual vote system with two seats to be filled in each constituency, and responding to criticism, new election methods were explored, and the possibility of electoral reform was almost certain, with single non-transferable vote and party-list proportional representation being strongly considered. However, responding to public dissatisfication with the details, the electoral reform movement started losing popularity and, in the end, the government prescribed simple plurality as a last resort. Bloc voting (or block voting) (also called Plurality-at-large) refers to a class of voting systems which can be used to elect several representatives from a single constituency. ... The Single Non-Transferable Vote or SNTV is an electoral system used in multi-member constituency elections. ... Party-list proportional representation systems are a family of voting systems used in multiple-winner elections (e. ... The first-past-the-post electoral system is a voting system for single-member districts, variously called first-past-the-post (FPTP or FPP), winner-take-all, plurality voting, or relative majority. ...

The problems of this system were quickly realized when the DAB obtained one-quarter of the vote and received only two out of 18 directly elected seats. The artificial majority of the democratic camp received harsh criticism from the pro-Beijing camp and the Chinese government. The same two options from the last session were brought back to the agenda, and when the new Chief Executive was chosen, he selected proportional representation over SNTV as the new system. The effectiveness of the system has been proven and has been retained since without substantial change.

District Council elections

Main article: Hong Kong District Council election District Councils (DC) are regional division of local government in Hong Kong. ...

There are eighteen districts, and thus eighteen district councils in Hong Kong, each being a city council for its district. There is one constituency for, on average, every 17 000 residents, as there are 400 constituencies and 6.8 million residents in Hong Kong. A member is elected from each constituency by simple plurality. Since one councillor is elected from each district, there are 400 legislators in the 18 district councils. The Chief Executive can appoint a maximum of 102 members to the councils, and the chairpersons of the 27 rural committees are ex officio members of the councils. The District Councils (formerly District Boards) are district organizations in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). ... A city council is the most common style of legislative government in a city or town. ... The first-past-the-post electoral system is a voting system for single-member districts, variously called first-past-the-post (FPTP or FPP), winner-take-all, plurality voting, or relative majority. ... This page includes English translations of several Latin phrases and abbreviations such as . ...

Chief Executive elections

According to Article 46 of the constitution (the Basic Law of Hong Kong), elections for the Chief Executive are held every five years. The last was held in 2002, and with the resignation of Tung Chee Hwa an election would have been called on July 10, had the election been contested. A controversial decision by the National People's Congress stated that a resignation did not end a term, so that Donald Tsang would serve only until 2007, rather than 2010 had a term been deemed to begin with each resignation. ( See Hong Kong Basic Law Article 46.) The 800 members of the Election Committee hold a vote on a day specified by the sitting Chief Executive sometime during the six months of the year prior to Inauguration Day, July 1. An absolute majority of the votes (four hundred and one) are required to be elected; if necessary, a runoff is held between the two top candidates(in terms of electoral votes) on a later date. The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China serves as the constitutional document of Hong Kong. ... July 10 is the 191st day (192nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 174 days remaining. ... The Great Hall of the People, where the NPC convenes The National Peoples Congress (全国人民代表大会 in Pinyin: Quánguó Rénmín Dàibiǎo Dàhuì, literally Pan-Nation Congress of the Peoples Representatives), abbreviated PNCOTPR, is the highest legislative body in the Peoples Republic of China. ... Article 46 of the Hong Kong Basic Law states: The term of office of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be five years. ... This page discusses the college of electors in Hong Kong politics. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... Absolute majority is a supermajoritarian voting requirement which is stricter than a simple majority. ... Run-off or runoff may refer to one of the following. ...

In 1997, Tung Chee-Hwa was elected with eighty percent of the electoral votes in a four-candidate race. In 2002, Tung was re-elected uncontested, as he had received 713 signatures of support in the Electoral Committee, and 100 are required for nomination.(Annex I, Section 4, Basic Law) Tung Chee-hwa (Traditional Chinese: 董建華 Simplified Chinese: 董建华 Pinyin: Dǒng Jiànhuá) (born July 7, 1937, or the 29th day of the fifth month in the Chinese calendar) is the first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ... 2002 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The 2005 election provided a sense of déjà vu for many, as Donald Tsang cruised to victory with 674 nomination signatures out of a possible 796 (four seats were vacant).

The Election Committee

An 800-member electoral college called the Election Committee is elected by the businessmen and professionals (those eligible for functional constituencies, with less than 180 000 eligible voters), with each of the twenty-eight sectors of the economy receiving a set number of electoral votes. The eligible voters in each sector vote directly for the electors, who in turn cast ballots for Chief Executive. An electoral college is a set of electors who are empowered as a deliberative body to elect someone to a particular office. ... This page discusses the college of electors in Hong Kong politics. ...

Before 2004, the Electoral College also selected certain members of LegCo by block vote, but this practice has been abolished, in accordance with Ann. 2, Sect. 1, of the Basic Law, and all seats are elected either by universal suffrage or the business elite. Bloc voting (or block voting) (also called Plurality-at-large) refers to a class of voting systems which can be used to elect several representatives from a single constituency. ... Universal suffrage (also general suffrage or common suffrage) consists of the extension of suffrage, or the right to vote, to all adults, without distinction as to race, sex, belief or social status. ...

The EC elections are quite irregular. They were held in 1998 and 2000, but none (except for the 2002 by-election) have been held since. The claim in Ann. 1, Sect. 2, of the Basic Law, saying that the Election Committee must be renewed at least once every five years, exposed an interesting flaw in the system that was averted when Tsang was the only candidate nominated. 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... 2000 is a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A by-election or bye-election is a special election held to fill a political office when the incumbent has died or resigned. ...

The problem was that the timing is crucial for the new Chief Executive election after Tung Chee Hwa's resignation on March 12, 2005. Since electoral law states that an election must be held 120 days after the vacancy, an election would be held on the tenth of July. It was unclear as to the exact time period separating the election and the date of taking of office for this Election Committee. If the new EC convened prior to the Chief Executive election, it would be applied to select the next Chief Executive, but otherwise the old Election Committee dating from 2000 would have to complete the task. See Hong Kong Chief Executive election, 2005 for more information on the topic. The second round produces a further dispute, if the term of the old EC ended after the first round of voting but before the second. It would be rather unsensible to use different electors for the two rounds; the same one would probably would have to be prescribed. Tung Chee Hwa, the first Chief Executive of Hong Kong, announced the submission of his resignation to the Central Peoples Government (CPG) of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) on March 10, 2005. ... March 12 is the 71st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (72nd in Leap years). ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and is the current year. ... July 10 is the 191st day (192nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 174 days remaining. ... The Hong Kong Chief Executive election of 2005 is an election to fill the vacancy of the territorys top office. ...

Elections of the delegates to the National People's Congress of the PRC

to be added

Recent elections

• Hong Kong Chief Executive election, 2005
• Hong Kong legislative election, 2004
• Hong Kong district councils election, 2003

The Hong Kong Chief Executive election of 2005 is an election to fill the vacancy of the territorys top office. ... Elections for the Legislative Council of Hong Kong (LegCo) were held on September 12, 2004. ...

Past HKSAR elections

• Hong Kong Chief Executive election, 2002
• Hong Kong legislative election, 2000
• Hong Kong district councils election, 1999
• Hong Kong legislative election, 1998

Elections in the transitional era

• Hong Kong chief executive election, 1996
• Hong Kong election of the provisional legislature, 1996

Elections in the colonial era

• Hong Kong leglislative election, 1995
• Hong Kong urban council and regional council election, 1995
• Hong Kong district councils election, 1994
• Hong Kong leglislative election, 1991
• Hong Kong urban council and region council election, 1991
• Hong Kong district councils election, 1991
• Hong Kong urban council and regional council election, 1989
• Hong Kong legislative election, 1988
• Hong Kong district councils election, 1988
• Hong Kong urban council and regional council election, 1986
• Hong Kong legislative election, 1985
• Hong Kong district councils election, 1985
• Hong Kong urban council election, 1983
• Hong Kong district councils election, 1982

Future elections

• Hong Kong Chief Executive election, 2007
• Hong Kong District Council election, 2007
• Hong Kong Legislative Election, 2008

See also

• Electoral calendar
• Politics of Hong Kong
• Election

This electoral calendar lists the national/federal direct elections in the countries listed in the list of countries. ... On July 1, 1997, the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) resumed its exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, ending more than 150 years of British colonial control. ... An election is a process in which a vote is held to choose amongst candidates to fill an office, or amongst political parties offering a slate of potential office holders for a house of representatives. ...

External links

• Adam Carr's Election Archive
• Previous election results by Lingnan University
• Official site for the 2004 LegCo elections
• Web Site of the Electoral Affairs Commission