SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN TODAY!

HKGCC and the 2004
Legco Elections

Many of our Chamber members are eligible to vote in the September 12 Legco elections in the geographic constituency in which they live. The Chamber certainly hopes that for the sake of community involvement, as many of those who are eligible to vote as possible will exercise their right to do so.

But the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce also possesses, under the current constitutional arrangement, a functional constituency -- Commercial First -- seat in Legco.  All of you know the incumbent for our position in Legco, the Honourable James Tien.  He has served our Chamber extremely ably for the past six years, and now he has decided to forego running for the Chamber seat in order to run in the New Territories East geographical constituency.  

As The Bulletin went to press, it was unclear how many candidates planned to declare formally with the Hong Kong Government that they were interested in taking over James Tien's role of representing the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce in Legco.  Whether a person wants to run for this position is his/her personal choice and not decided by the Chamber or its leadership.  In the event there is more than one candidate registered to run for the Chamber Legco seat, the determination of the winner is by Chamber members who have registered with the government.  The winner is not decided by the Chamber General Committee, nor by any "back room dealing."  The Chamber Secretariat plays a strictly neutral role if the seat is contested, and the General Committee will not endorse any candidate. Individual GC members, and individual members, make up their own mind and support whichever candidate they prefer. 

Candidates are, of course, free to use different fair tactics -- as long as they follow the strict campaign and election rules laid down by the Hong Kong Government -- to campaign to try to win votes. They should also present their own policy positions to members. But the final result will be decided by registered voters of the Chamber casting their ballot on September 12. In the coming weeks, candidates will be campaigning to represent the Chamber in Legco. Members who have not registered are not eligible to vote this time, but I urge you to register your company for future elections in the Chamber constituency.  If more than one candidate decides to run for the seat, we will organise townhall forums to debate issues. 

Of course, there is always the possibility that only one person puts his or her hat into the ring for our Legco seat.  In such an event, that one candidate will be the winner by default.   However, we will still organise a townhall forum for that person so that you can express your views so that the future Legco rep can represent you better.

Elections are a crucial part of democracy, on which road we are gradually heading.  People should be encouraged to run, and people must be encouraged to vote.  Let us treasure the right to vote!

Eden Woon
CEO
HKGCC