Election and voting systems: Perspectives on democratic governance in Hong Kong

This paper addresses the issue of elections and voting systems as a key component of the debate on general political reform in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). The central theme of the paper is the importance of democratic governance for the development of a viable and effective voting system in Hong Kong, bearing in mind its particular constitutional and political realities. The paper attempts to do the following: first, introduce the topic of elections and voting systems in Hong Kong by providing some background information; second, analyse various electoral systems and consider their advantages, disadvantages and suitability for a particular society; third, provide an account of Hong Kong's past elections and voting systems; fourth, provide a critical analysis of Hong Kong's elections and voting systems and consider the need for alternatives; fifth, explore the argument that democracy promotes transparency in governance and accountability of the government; and sixth, emphasise the need for a deepening of democracy in Hong Kong from a developmental perspective with a view to allaying various fears from certain sections of populace that greater democracy results in poor governance. The paper concludes that the task of reforming the electoral process needs to be approached with the aim of creating an election and voting system that maintains the social, economic and political stability of Hong Kong. At the same time, such a system must also protect the rule of law and human rights and should help in the process of the deepening of democracy. © 2003 by Hong Kong University Press, HKU. All rights reserved.