THE first SAR legislative council election is likely to adopt a multi-seat single-vote system for its 20 geographical seats, according to co-convenor of a Preparatory Committee sub-group on the election, Professor Lau Siu-kai.
This is despite the division within the pro-China camp over the choice between it and proportional representation.
During the month-long consultation exercise which closes tomorrow, over 700 submissions have been collected by the Preparatory Committee secretariat, mostly from pro-China groupings.
The two leading parties in the provisional legislature, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong and the Liberal Party, have thrown their backing behind proportional representation, which sees seats allocated according to the proportion of votes political parties gained.
Other groups such as the Hong Kong Progressive Alliance backed the mutli-seat single-vote system advocated by Xinhua (the New China News Agency).
Professor Lau said although he personally preferred the proportional representation system, it would likely be rejected for it provoked party politics and put independent candidates at a disadvantage.
The complexity of the vote-counting also mean considerable obstacles in gaining support and recognition by voters.