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minimum residence in Hong Kong of 3 years. Voters must be
21 years old and may qualify under a large number of categories which include, broadly speaking: tax payers, rate payers, holders
of school certificates, civil servants, teachers, and members
of various specified professions. Qualified electors must
register before they can vote. Since many people qualify
under several categories, the total number of qualified
voters can be estimated only roughly, but it is obviously
many times more than the 34,000 or so who registered to
vote in the elctions held in March 1975.
Councillors are appointed or elected to serve a
4-year term and are eligible for re-appointment or re-election.
Elections are held every second year, the cycle being maintained
by six members falling out each year, and being elected or
appointed alternately.
The Council's responsibilities extend as far as
the urban boundaries. The Council has, therefore, a wide
range of responsibilities which directly affect the everyday
lives of about 3.4 million people. It is responsible for
environmental health; for parks, public gardens and beaches; it promotes recreation; maintains a museum and public libraries; sponsors a variety of public entertainment, sporting and cultural activities; controls hygiene and food premises and
directs the cleansing service of the city. To meet these
responsibilities the Council controls a budget of over
HK$330 million.
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