2000 Legislative Council elections
The second Legislative Council elections of the Hong Kong SAR were held on September 10, 2000. More than 1.33 million people voted for a turnout rate of 43.57%, compared to a turnout rate of 53.29% in the 1998 elections.
Under the Basic Law, all 60 members
of the Legislative Council were returned
by elections.
For the 2000 polls, the number of Legislative Councillors returned in geographical constituencies increased from 20 to 24, while the number returned by an Election Committee decreased from 10 to six. The number of functional constituency seats remained at 30.
The voter turnout rate in the functional constituencies was 56.5%, compared to 63.5% in 1998, while it was 95.53% for the Election Committee, compared to 98.75% in 1998.
A total of 155 candidates, representing a wide-cross section of political persuasions, contested the elections. The election campaign was hotly contested, with livelihood matters and the economy dominating the issues.
The entire electoral process was conducted in an open and fair manner under the supervision of the Electoral Affairs Commission headed by a High Court judge appointed by the Chief Executive. The election was held in accordance with the relevant provisions in the Basic Law and the legal framework set out in the electoral law enacted in July 1999. The term of the second LegCo is four years from October 2000.
After the elections, the breakdown of Legislative Council members was (figures for 1998 elections in brackets):
 |
|
| Democratic Party |
12 (13)
|
 |
|
| Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong |
10 (10)
|
|
|
| Liberal party |
8 (10)
|
|
|
| The Frontier |
4 (4)
|
|
|
| Hong Kong Progressive Alliance |
4 (5)
|
|
|
| Association for Democracy And People's Livelihood |
1 (0)
|
|
|
| Independents/Non-affiliated |
21 (18)
|
At the next Legislative Council elections in 2004 the number of directly-elected legislators in geographical constituencies will increase to 30, while no members will be returned through the Election Committee.
After 2007, the people of Hong Kong can decide on their own whether to change the method of forming the Legislative Council. The ultimate aim is to have all Legislative Council members elected by universal suffrage.
Election of the Chief Executive in 2002
The term of office for the first Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, will expire on June 30, 2002. In May, the government proposed that the second election for the Chief Executive's position be held on March 24, 2002.
Legislation concerning the 2002 election, and subsequent elections, of the Chief Executive was introduced into the Legislative Council on March 14, 2001.
Under the proposed legislation, and in accordance with the Basic Law, the Chief Executive will be elected by an Election Committee of 800 people representing a wide cross-section of the community, namely: industrial, commercial and financial sectors; the professions; labour, social services, religious and other sectors; serving political figures.
The majority of the Election Committee members were elected in sub-sector elections prior to the 2000 Legislative Council polls. The Election Committee subsequently elected six members to sit on the current Legislative Council.
The term of office for the Chief Executive is five years and he or she may serve for not more than two consecutive terms.
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