Worksheet 5 Residents of the HKSAR exercising their rights
and responsibilities (2)
1. The following tables show the number of voter turnout rates1 for the 1st and 2nd
Legislative Council elections held in the HKSAR in 1998 and 2000.
1998
Total number of voters voted in
geographical constituencies2 – 1,489,705
(53.29% of the registered voters3)
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
voter turnout rates 投票率
geographical constituencies 地方選區
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registered voters 登記選民
1
2
1
(i)
Suggest two reasons to explain why registered voters number less than
50% of the total population.
non-permanent residents do not have the right to vote; many people do
not bother to register as voters; many people think that LegCo elections
are not their businesses / important to their daily life
(ii)
Suggest one reason why the voter turnout rate was better in 1998 than in
2000.
in 1998, it was the first LegCo elections held in the HKSAR and it was a
memorable / an historic event; to show their support to the idea of “One
Country, Two Systems”; to express their views to the government through
their choices in the elections
(iii)
Do you think that the voter turnout rate is good? Why?
[Either reasonable answers for “yes” or “no” can be accepted. Students
may also suggest that more information would be necessary to answer the
question, e.g. past turnout rate in HK, turnout rate in other places, etc.]
(iv)
Some people believed that registered voters should take up their
responsibilities to vote. If they do not vote in elections, they should be
fined4.
Do you agree with this suggestion? Give one reason in support of your
answer.
Yes. People should vote in elections in order to let the government know
what they want. / If people are forced to vote, they will become more
concerned about public affairs.
No. Voting is a right and not a responsibility. / People should have the
freedom to decide whether they want to vote or not. / People can choose
not to vote to show their discontent with the government / People can
choose not to vote because they are very satisfied with the government.
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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
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2.
Read the following information.
Source A
In Hong Kong, there is a widespread feeling among both journalists5 and the
public that it is wise to engage in a degree of self-censorship6. The pressures on
journalists are subtle7 – 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 demonstrators8 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 State10, 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-General11 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.
the need for special care toward topics of particular concern to China; editors
expect those reporting on China to be particularly certain of their facts and
careful in their wording; 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
(ii)
From source B, give two examples which show that there is freedom of the
press in the HKSAR.
there are articles and editorials criticizing the Hong Kong Government, its
policies and officials in the newspapers; there are voices criticizing the
government on the radio; television images recording public criticisms of the
government and the public officials as well as its policies
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?
there have been over 1000 public demonstrations in eight months
(v)
From source A, give two examples which show that the government of the
HKSAR was trying to limit the freedom of demonstrators.
demonstrations are limited to “designated areas” where they receive little
public attention; police sometimes outnumber demonstrators; demonstrators
are charged for using a megaphone; the police played classical music over
loudspeakers to drown out the shouts 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?
e.g. Good. It shows that there is freedom of demonstration there. / The city is
free and stable since people can enjoy their rights without fear of punishment
Bad. It shows that there are problems with government policies. / The people
do not support the government / agree with the government
What have you learnt?
You are able to
1.
2.
3.
know how residents of the HKSAR exercise their rights and responsibilities;
realize that there are different views on how to ensure people exercise their
rights and responsibilities;
realize that there are different
views on how far residents
should exercise their rights in
the HKSAR.
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