Functional Constituency (Hong Kong) - History

History

The concept of functional constituencies in Hong Kong was first developed in the release of "Green Paper: A Pattern of District Administration in Hong Kong" on 18 July 1984. The paper suggested Legislative Council to create 24 seats with 12 seats from different professional interest groups including Urban Council, Regional Council, and District Council. The first functional constituency was not created until 1991 with 14 seats consist of Heung Yee Kuk, Urban Council, Regional, and 11 types of industry.

The 14 functional constituencies in 1991:

• Heung Yee Kuk
• Urban Council
• Regional Council
• Labour
• Commercial (First)
• Commercial (Second)
• Industrial (First)
• Industrial (Second)
• Architectural, Surveying and Planning
• Teaching
• Legal
• Social Welfare
• Medical
• Finance

In 1992, Chris Patten suggested additional political reform by adding nine additional functional constituencies with much extended voter base to the existing system. The changes were implemented in the 1995 legislative election.

The 9 additional functional constituency in 1995:

• Agriculture, Fisheries, Mining, Energy and Construction
• Textiles and Garment
• Manufacturing
• Import and Export
• Hotel and Catering
• Transport and Communication
• Financial, Insurance and Real Estate Services
• Public, Social and Personal Services

After transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, the functional constituencies were increased in 30 seats consist of the following:

• Heung Yee Kuk
• Agriculture and Fisheries
• Insurance
• Transport
• Education
• Legal
• Accountancy
• Medical
• Health Services
• Engineering
• Architectural, Surveying and Planning
• Labour
• Social Welfare
• Real Estate and Construction
• Tourism
• Commercial (First)
• Commercial (Second)
• Industrial (First)
• Industrial (Second)
• Finance
• Financial Services
• Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publication
• Import and Export
• Textiles and Garment
• Wholesale and Retail
• Information Technology
• Urban Council*
• Regional Council*

The Labour constituency will return 3 seats and the others with one.

By 2000, the seat held by Urban Council and Regional Council were dissolved by Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa, the two seats were replaced by Catering and District Council. The District Council would be renamed to District Council(First) by 2012, as a result of addition of a special Functional Constituenciy which also having candidates from District Council but a different range of electors, named District Council (Second).