Public consultation on proposed constituency boundaries for 2011 District Council Election (with photos)
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The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:

     The Electoral Affairs Commission today (December 3) released its provisional recommendations on the boundaries and names of the 412 constituencies for the 2011 District Council (DC) Election for public consultation.

     "The consultation runs from today until January 3, 2011.  People are invited to express their views on the proposed constituency boundaries," Commission Chairman Mr Justice Barnabas Fung Wah said.

     In delineating the proposed constituencies, the Commission has followed the statutory demarcation criteria stipulated under the Electoral Affairs Commission Ordinance to ensure that the population in each constituency is as near the population quota as practicable.  The Commission has also taken into account community identities, the preservation of local ties and physical features such as the size, shape, accessibility and developments in the relevant area.

     The population quota for the 2011 DC Election is 17,282 people per constituency.  This is calculated by dividing the total population of Hong Kong (projected at 7,120,229 as at June 30, 2011) by the 412 elected seats in the election - one in each constituency.

     "As a 25% deviation above or below the population quota is legally acceptable, the population in a constituency can vary within the range between 12,962 and 21,603 people," Mr Justice Fung said.

     It has been proposed that the boundaries of 107 constituencies should be modified to meet the population quota requirement, and that another six constituencies should be slightly adjusted in the light of geographical or development factors.

     "The Commission will not consider any political factors," Mr Justice Fung said.

     Proposed names for the constituencies were formulated with reference to the major features, roads or residential settlements in the constituency concerned, as well as the views of the relevant District Officers.

     The Commission will submit its final recommendations, which will take into account representations received during the consultation period, to the Chief Executive by March next year.

     Written representations on the proposed boundaries and names can be submitted by post to the Commission's Secretariat (10/F, Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai), by fax (2511 1682) or email (eacenq@reo.gov.hk) by January 3, 2011.  Late submissions will not be considered.

     Individuals can also express their views at the public forums.  The forums for districts in the New Territories East and West will take place on December 14 at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, 1 Man Lam Road, Sha Tin.  The forums for districts on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon will be held on December 17 at the Quarry Bay Community Hall, 1 Greig Road, Quarry Bay.

     Maps showing the proposed constituency boundaries and names and a document containing the descriptions of the proposed boundaries are available for public inspection at the Registration and Electoral Office, District Offices, post offices, management offices of public housing estates, and major and district public libraries. They can also be viewed at the Commission's website (www.eac.gov.hk).  For enquiries, please call 2827 1269.

Ends/Friday, December 3, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:18

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