(2) In making such recommendations the Commission shall ensure that each proposed geographical constituency is constituted by 2 or more contiguous whole declared areas.
(3) In making such recommendations the Commission shall have regard to—
- (a) community identities and the preservation of local ties; and
- (b) physical features such as size, shape, accessibility and development of the relevant area or any part thereof.
(4) In making such recommendations the Commission shall have regard to—
- (a) existing boundaries of Districts; and
- (b) existing boundaries of the Urban Council Area and the Regional Council Area.
(5) The Commission may depart from the strict application of subsection (1)(a) or (b) only where it appears that a consideration referred to in subsection (3) renders such a departure necessary or desirable.
(6) The Commission shall, for the purposes of subsection (1)—
- (a) endeavour to estimate the total population of Hong Kong or any proposed constituency, as the case may be, in the year in which the election to which the recommendations relate, is to be held; and
- (b) if it is not practicable to comply with paragraph (a), estimate the population of Hong Kong or the geographical constituency, as the case may be, having regard to the available information which is the best possible in the circumstances for the purpose of making recommendations.
(7) In this section— “declared area” (已宣布區域) means an area delineated in the Schedule to the order entitled “Declaration of Constituencies (Districts) Order 1994” and published in the Gazette as L.N. 93 of 1994 on 18 February 1994;
“District” (地區) has the meaning assigned to it by the Provisional District Boards Ordinance (Cap. 366);
“Regional Council Area” (區域市政局轄區) has the meaning assigned to it by the Provisional Regional Council Ordinance (Cap. 385);
“Urban Council Area” (市政局轄區) has the meaning assigned to it by the Provisional Urban Council Ordinance (Cap. 101).
21. Consideration of report
A report or maps received by the Chief Executive under section 18 or 22(2) shall be considered by the Chief Executive in Council as soon as practicable after such receipt.
