1. The following tables show the number of voter turnout rates 1 for the 1 st
and 2 nd
Legislative Council elections held in the HKSAR in 1998 and 2000.
1998
Total number of voters voted in geographical constituencies 2 – 1,489,705
(53.29% of the registered voters 3 )
Total number of registered voters –
2,795,000 (about 41% of the total population)
Total population of HK (at the end of 1998) –
6,805,600
2000
Total number of voters voted in geographical constituencies – 1,331,080
(43.57% of the registered voters)
Total number of registered voters – 3,055,378
(about 43.8% of the total population)
Total population of HK (at the end of 1999) –
6,975,000
1 voter turnout rates 投票率
2 geographical constituencies 地方選區
3 registered voters 登記選民
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(i) Suggest two reasons to explain why registered voters number less than
50% of the total population.
(ii) Suggest one reason why the voter turnout rate was better in 1998 than in
2000.
(iii) Do you think that the voter turnout rate is good? Why?
(iv) Some people believed that registered voters should take up their responsibilities to vote. If they do not vote in elections, they should be fined 4 .
Do you agree with this suggestion? Give one reason in support of your answer.
4 fined 罰款
2

For your information
Despite the rain, record numbers turned out on May 24 to vote for the first
Legislative Council of the HKSAR.
Source: Hong Kong 1998
3

2. Read the following information.
Source A
In Hong Kong, there is a widespread feeling among both journalists 5 and the public that it is wise to engage in a degree of self-censorship 6 . The pressures on journalists are subtle 7 – there are no direct orders to avoid writing, but there is an idea of a need for special care toward topics of particular concern to China: …
Chinese-language journalists report a common, if unstated, understanding that editors expect those reporting on China to be particularly certain of their facts and careful in their wording. Another source of pressure comes from the belief by some publishers and editors that advertising incomes or their business interests in
China could suffer if they were seen to be too unfriendly to China or powerful local interests.
Some demonstrators
8
complain that demonstrations often are limited to
“designated areas” 9
where they receive little public attention, and that police sometimes outnumber demonstrators. In March two demonstrators were charged for using a megaphone during a strike. In another case, the police played classical music over loudspeakers to drown out the shouts of demonstrators.
Source: U.S. Department of State 10 , February 1999
5 journalists 新聞工作者
6 self-censorship 自我審查
7 subtle 隱晦的
8 demonstrators 示威者
9 designated areas 指定示威區
10 U.S. Department of State 美國國務院
4

Source B
From 1 July 1997 to 28 February 1998, there were over 1,000 public demonstrations in Hong Kong but only 12 arrests.
Every morning, when we wake up in Hong Kong and pick up our morning papers to read over breakfast, we are greeted by articles, editorials … criticising
Hong Kong Government, our policies and individual officials from the Chief
Executive through the various Policy Secretaries downwards. Throughout our waking hours, from the time we drive to work to the time we go home, we hear over the radio similar views and criticisms. Every evening before we go to bed, we lie down with television images recording public criticisms of the government and public officials as well as its policies.
Source: Mr. Daniel R. Fung, then Solicitor-General 11 of the HKSAR,
18 March 1998 [HKSAR Government homepage]
(i) From source A, give two reasons for the rise of self-censorship in the HKSAR.
(ii) From source B, give two examples which show that there is freedom of the press in the HKSAR.
11 then Solicitor-General 當時的法律政策專員
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(iii) Which source better describes the current situation in the HKSAR? Give reason to support your answer.
(iv) How does source B explain that there is freedom of demonstration in the
HKSAR?
(v) From source A, give two examples which show that the government of the
HKSAR was trying to limit the freedom of demonstrators.
(vi) If there is a large number of demonstrations in a city, do you think that it is a good thing or a bad thing? Why?
Y o u a r r e a b l l e t t o
1.
know how residents of the HKSAR exercise their rights and responsibilities;
2.
realize that there are different views on how to ensure people exercise their rights and responsibilities;
3.
realize that there are different views on how far residents should exercise their rights in the HKSAR.
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