Hong Kong's new Legislative Council formed

HONG KONG - The fifth Legislative Council (LegCo) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has been formed, as its 70 seats were successfully filled with the smooth completion of the 2012 Legislative Council Election, the Registration & Electoral Office announced Monday.

According to the results, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong continues to be the largest party in the new LegCo by securing 13 seats.

Speaking to the media after the election, Electoral Affairs Commission Chairman Justice Barnabas Fung said about 1.83 million geographical constituencies ballots were counted, with the turnout rate of 53 percent.

Around 1.67 million District Council (second) functional constituency ballots were accounted, with the turnout rate of 51.9 percent. For the rest functional constituencies, about 150,000 ballots were counted, with the turnout rate of 69.6 percent.

According to the Hong Kong Registration and Electoral Office, the final turnout rate is still in calculating. But the rate is expected to be higher than 45.2 percent recorded in last LegCo election.

Fung said he is satisfied with the smooth voting and counting process, fulfilling the poll's open, fair and honest principle.

He said a report will be submitted to Hong Kong Chief Executive within three months, reviewing the electoral procedure and arrangements.

Chief Executive CY Leung Monday congratulated the winners of the 2012 Legislative Council Election, and called for sincere co- operation between them and the SAR government.

"I am very pleased with the smooth completion of the Legislative Council Election, in which more than 1.83 million registered electors cast their votes. On behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the elected members," Leung said.

"The Government and I hope for sincere co-operation with the council members of the new term, in areas such as people's livelihood, the economy, and constitutional development. With one heart and one vision, we shall strive for the well-being of the community and serve the people of Hong Kong," he continued.

Leung thanked outgoing LegCo members for their contributions in the council's previous term.

Among the total of 70 LegCo members, 35 are directly elected members from the five geographical constituencies, namely Hong Kong island, Kowloon East, Kowloon west, New Territories East and New Territories West. The rest 35 members are from functional constituencies.

The number of seats in the new LegCo term, spanning from 2012 to 2016, increased by ten, with five contested in the five geographical constituencies, while the other five elected directly in the functional constituency for district councils, which was dubbed as "super seats," treating Hong Kong as a single constituency.

With the introduction of the new functional constituency for district councils, of about 3.46 million registered electors, some 3.22 million can cast one ballot each in their respective geographical constituency and "super seats", and about 218,000 registered electors of the 14 contested functional constituencies can vote for their respective functional constituency while casting another vote in their respective geographical constituency.

The LegCo is the legislature of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR). Under the Basic Law, the SAR is vested with legislative power and the LegCo is the legislature of the region.

The main functions of the LegCo are to enact laws, control public expenditure, and monitor the work of the government. The LegCo is also given the power to endorse the appointment and removal of the judges of the Court of Final Appeal and the Chief Judge of the High Court, as well as the power to impeach the Chief Executive.