Functional Constituencies – A Unique Feature of the Hong Kong Legislative Council

Christine Loh stepped down from the Hong Kong Legislative Council in 2000 in order to co-found Civic Exchange, a non-profit public policy think tank. Christine Loh's work on public policy is well-known in Hong Kong and she writes extensively for local and international publications. More information about Civic Exchange is available at www.civic-exchange.org.

The functional constituencies for all their perceived shortcomings are deeply embedded in the Hong Kong system of representative government. A proper understanding of them, their value and shortcomings is essential to examining how a broadly representative system of government is to be further developed. These chapters are a truly invaluable source of information and assistance to anyone formulating proposals for the next 'gradual and orderly' steps towards the ultimate goal of universal suffrage, myself included. -- Sir David Akers-Jones