Extra seats: Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam proposes to increase the number of elected seats on the Islands and Sai Kung District Councils.

The Constitutional Affairs Bureau wants to increase the number of elected seats on the Islands and Sai Kung District Councils due to population growth.

Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Stephen Lam said today the Islands District Council's elected seats should rise from eight to 10 while Sai Kung District Council's seats should increase from 20 to 23.

According to projections, Hong Kong's overall population growth will be about 3% between 2003 and 2007. Among the 18 districts, Islands and Sai Kung will see the highest growth rates of 32% and 12%.

New towns

Mr Lam said the rapid population growth is mainly due to the development of Tung Chung and Tseung Kwan O.

If additional seats are not provided, the population-to-seat ratio in Tung Chung will be over 40,000 in 2007, 130% above the population quota of 17,483. Meanwhile, the ratio for Tseung Kwan O will be 22,600 in 2007, 29% over the population quota.

The secretary said the proposal will provide the Electoral Affairs Committee with the necessary scope to redraw the District Council constituency areas in Tung Chung and Tseung Kwan O to bring the population-to-seat ratio to within 25% of the population quota without causing substantial changes to the boundaries of other constituency areas.

The bureau will consult the Legislative Council and concerned District Councils and will put forth legislative amendments later.

He hoped the legislative amendment can be completed by July, so the newly added seats can be taken into account by the committee in its demarcation of constituency areas for the 2007 District Councils Election.