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THE nine new functional constituencies, despite being criticised for amalgamating unrelated professions into one group, recorded a higher turnout rate than the geographical constituencies.

  According to final turnout figures, 39.2 per cent of electors in the nine new functional groups cast their votes - more than two percentage point higher than the rate for the geographical election.

  More than 410,000 voters in the nine new groups voted.

  The biggest electorate - Community, Social and Personal Services - recorded the highest turnout rate, 41.7 per cent.

  The Transport and Communication constituency came second with 41.4 per cent.

  City University lecturer Choy Chi-keung said the composition of the ninth new functional constituency was the key reason for its higher turnout.

  Of the 240,000 electors in the group, more than 110,000 were from the civil service and they were more likely to vote, said Mr Choy.

  He said senior officials had been encouraging civil servants to vote and many would do as they were told.

  'It is not a surprise civil servants support the Governor's electoral reform package,' he said.

  Mr Choy said civil servants, judging from past experience, also had a higher propensity to vote than people in other professions.

  The most apathetic constituency was Hotel and Catering with only 28.7 per cent.

  Mr Choy said tight work schedules and high mobility of restaurant workers were the main reasons for the poor performance.

  In the 20 old functional constituencies, the turnout rate was better than the figure in 1991.

  A total of 43,052 electors had cast their votes, giving a turnout rate of 57.3 per cent, compared to 47 per cent in 1991.

  The double-seat Labour constituency had the highest turnout - with more than 90 per cent.

  It was the first time an election had been held for the constituency since it was introduced in 1985.

  Health Services, mainly made up of by nurses, gave the poorest turnout of about 40 per cent.

  Governor Chris Patten, earlier in the day, indicated his satisfaction with the sharp increase in the total number of electors casting their votes in the functional constituencies.

  He said that in the 1991 Legco election, the total vote in all the contested functional constituencies was just over 20,000.

  'We're seeing a lot of people turning out,' said Mr Patten.

  'And there are obviously some ding-dong battles going on in those functional constituencies.' 



New groups top turnout