Medical (constituency) facts for kids

The Medical functional constituency was a special voting area in Hong Kong. It was part of the elections for the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. This constituency was first created in 1985. It allowed people working in the medical field to choose their own representative.

What is a Functional Constituency?

In Hong Kong, a functional constituency is a special way of voting. Instead of voting based on where you live, you vote based on your job or profession. This system helps different groups of people, like doctors or teachers, have a voice in the government. It makes sure their specific interests are heard.

Why Have Special Constituencies?

The idea behind functional constituencies is to give certain important professions a direct say. For example, people in the medical field have unique knowledge. They can help make laws about health care. This system aims to bring expert opinions into lawmaking.

The Legislative Council of Hong Kong

The Legislative Council of Hong Kong is like Hong Kong's parliament. It is often called the LegCo. Its main job is to make laws for Hong Kong. Members of the LegCo discuss new laws. They also approve the government's budget. They represent the people of Hong Kong.

How LegCo Members Are Chosen

Members of the LegCo are chosen in different ways. Some are elected by everyone in a certain area. Others, like those from functional constituencies, are elected by specific groups. This mix helps ensure many different voices are heard in the government.

History of the Medical Constituency

The Medical functional constituency was set up in 1985. It was created to give medical professionals a direct representative. This constituency existed for many years. It played a role in Hong Kong's elections. However, it was later removed in 2021.

When Was It Established?

The Medical constituency began in 1985. This was a time when Hong Kong's political system was changing. Creating this constituency was part of those changes. It aimed to include more professional groups in the government.

When Was It Disestablished?

The Medical constituency stopped existing in 2021. This change was part of a larger reform. The government decided to change how some LegCo members are elected. This meant some functional constituencies were removed or changed.

Who Could Vote in the Medical Constituency?

Only certain people could vote in the Medical constituency. These were mainly people working in the medical field. This included all medical practitioners. It also included dentists. They had to be registered professionals.

Medical Practitioners

"Medical practitioners" means doctors. These are people who have studied medicine. They are officially registered to practice. They work in hospitals, clinics, or other health services. They could vote in this constituency.

Dentists

Dentists are also health professionals. They specialize in teeth and oral health. Like doctors, they must be registered. Dentists were also part of the group that could vote. This made sure their views were represented.

Size of the Medical Constituency

The Medical constituency had a significant number of voters. It was the second largest functional constituency. This was based on the number of people who could vote in it. Only the Education constituency had more voters.

Comparing Voter Numbers

Having many voters meant the Medical constituency was important. It represented a large group of professionals. The Education constituency represented teachers and educators. These two groups had the most voters among the functional constituencies.