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Abstract

A ferroelectric liquid crystal composition comprising smectic liquid crystal composition(s) and optically active compounds and having a spontaneous polarization value of 20 nC cm.sup.-2 or less and nevertheless having high rate response properties, and a light-switching element are provided, which composition comprises the following components (A), (B), (C) and (D), in 76-95, 2-10, 1-6 and 2-8 wt.%, respectively, based on the total quantity of the 4 components: (A): at least one compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same or different, being 1-18C alkyl, or the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are the same or different, being 1-18C alkyl or alkoxy and having smectic C phase: (B): an optically active compound of the formula ##STR3## wherein R.sup.5 is 1-18C alkyl or alkoxy, X is ##STR4## Y is halogen or H and * is asymmetric C atom; (C): at least one optically active compound of the formulas ##STR5## wherein R.sup.6 and R.sup.8 are 1-18C alkyl or alkoxy, R.sup.7 and R.sup.9 are 2-18C alkyl or alkoxy and * is an asymmetric C atom; and (D): at least on optically active compound formula ##STR6## wherein R.sup.10 is 1-18 C alkyl or alkoxy, Z is H or halogen and * is an asymmetric C atom.

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