Background Information of the Research Team on the Study of Referendums
 

 
(As of 4 December 2004)
 
1. Preamble
 
1.1. The purpose of this document is to document the establishment and subsequent operation of the independent "Research Team on the Study of Referendums" or "全民投票研究組" in Chinese, hereinafter referred to as "The Research Team".
 
1.2. Technically, the Research Team requires neither blessing nor endorsement from any person or organization. In reality, however, members of the Research Team would like to make the Research Team as transparent as possible to all walks of life.
 
2. Objectives
 
2.1. The objectives of the Research Team are
 
  1. to study and document the development and operation of referendums around the world, and
  2. to study the feasibility of introducing referendums to Hong Kong, whether official or civil, district or territory-wide.
 
2.2. The Research Team operates independently, and all team members serve entirely in their personal capacity. They do not represent any organization, including the universities they are working in. They may or may not share a common stand on specific issues related to the introduction of referendums to Hong Kong. The only material fact is that all of them are committed to conduct the study objectively and scientifically.
 
2.3. The Research Team expects to complete the study by the end of 2004, and then publishes the findings by means of a paper and on-line report. The title of the report is tentatively fixed as "Referendums Around the World and Lessons for Hong Kong".
 
3. Composition
 
3.1. The Research Team comprises independent academics working on a voluntary and unpaid basis. As of 4 December 2004, the Team comprises Drs Robert CHUNG Ting-yiu, Kenneth CHAN Ka-lok, Wilson WONG Wai-ho, and CHAN Kin-man, listed in order of their joining the Research Team.
 
3.2. Membership of the Research Team grows by snowballing, after the first two members self-appointed themselves into the Research Team. A new member would be admitted into the Research Team when the majority of incumbent members agreed to his/her admission. An incumbent member can withdraw from the Research Team at any time he/she wishes. In order to be efficient, the number of Research Team members is not expected to exceed 8 persons at any time.
 
3.3. The Research Team may appoint officials, spokespersons, support staff members and research assistants as the majority of members see fit, in order to facilitate and accomplish the study.
 
3.4. The Research Team may also appoint as the majority of members see fit any number of Honourary Advisors to comment on the Research Team's operation and the methodology of the study.
 
4. The Study
 
4.1. The study is expected to comprise the following aspects:
  1. historical development of referendums all over the world;
  2. different forms, categories, nomenclature of referendums as of today;
  3. theoretical discussions of direct democracy and referendums;
  4. legal considerations for the introduction of referendums to Hong Kong;
  5. practical considerations for the introduction of referendums to Hong Kong;
  6. suggestions for introducing formal and civil referendums to Hong Kong;
  7. criteria for appraising the success of civil referendums in Hong Kong.
 
4.2. The study is expected to generate the following output:
  1. a comprehensive bibliography of on-line and other form of references;
  2. an online resource centre for policy references and future studies;
  3. information sheets for public education purpose.
 
5. Activity Record
 
5.1. On 11 November 2004, the first two members of the Research Team, Robert CHUNG and Kenneth CHAN, attend a meeting convened by Legislative Councillors Emily LAU and CHEUNG Chiu Hung on the feasibility of introducing referendums to Hong Kong. After that meeting, CHUNG and CHAN discussed the possibility of conducting an academic study on the feasibility of introducing referendums in Hong Kong.
 
5.2. On 23 November 2004, CHUNG and CHAN attended another meeting convened by LAU, and presented a proposal to establish the Research Team, jointly written by CHUNG and CHAN earlier that day. Technically, the establishment of the Research Team requires no endorsement from any person or organization, and CHUNG and CHAN volunteered to form the Research Team on the same day.
 
5.3. When the Research Team was established, it was estimated that a budget of about $50k would be required to cover the expenditures to be incurred in the hiring of assistants to do the searching, writing, editing, translating, printing work, and so on. The Research Team started to solicit donation and sponsorship, in cash or in kind, from friends and organizations who support the study.
 
5.4. By 29 November 2004, about $38k have been raised, but only $3k have actually been received. Miss Cyd HO was the main person involved in soliciting donations. The Public Opinion Programme (POP) at the University of Hong Kong has agreed to keep the account, on the assumption that the account would be open to public scrutiny.
 
5.5. Also on 29 November 2004, a webpage was opened within the website of POP to facilitate the collection of public opinion, the advertising of Research Team activities, the archiving of reference material, and the publication of research reports. The copyright of all information published therewith is expected to be open to the world.
 
5.6. The Research Team will meet on 6 December 2004 to further discuss the research plan.
 
Compiled by Robert CHUNG on behalf of the Research Team on 4 December 2004