THE election of Guangdong deputies to the eighth National People's Congress (NPC) is set to be more competitive this year, according to a Hongkong-based deputy, Miss Liu Yiu-chu. More candidates would take part in a differential voting system, under which a small number of candidates would be knocked out, Miss Liu said after meeting New China News Agency (NCNA) Hongkong branch officials yesterday. ''It is a good development because it shows that people are taking the election of NPC deputies more seriously,'' she added. Miss Liu believes the new Guangdong deputies will be elected on January 30 at the latest. Hongkong-based deputies, chosen by the NCNA and relevant Chinese authorities dealing with Hongkong affairs, will also be endorsed at the forthcoming conference of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress. NCNA officials disclosed yesterday that more young Hongkong residents would be appointed to sit on the NPC, joining the current 18. Incumbent local deputies want the total number of Hongkong and Macau deputies increased to 30, to meet the minimum requirement for proposing a motion, but NCNA officials yesterday failed to provide a satisfactory reply to the request. Under the Basic Law, Hongkong-based NPC deputies and members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference are entitled to take part in the formation of the first special administrative region government. Hongkong-based deputies also discussed with NCNA officials proposed amendments to the Chinese constitution to enshrine the spirit of reform and the open door policy.