The boundaries of more than a quarter of constituencies may be redrawn ahead of next year's district elections, the results of which will have an unusually big impact on 2012's legislative poll.
The elections are on course to be the most hotly contested ever, since district councillors will contest an extra five seats in the Legislative Council poll.
One leading pan-democrat, citing previous boundary redraws, fears the exercise will be carried out in a way that benefits the government's political allies.
'The commission relies on advice from the district officers, who in turn consult district leaders. And who are they? Mostly government supporters and the DAB,' the Democratic Party member said.
Ip Kwok-him, of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, dismissed suggestions of gerrymandering.
The Electoral Affairs Commission, which yesterday announced proposals to redraw the boundaries of 113 of 412 constituencies, denied its recommendations were the result of political pressure. The commission is an independent body but received advice from government district officers in drawing up its proposals.
