I(A) Heung Yee Kuk
in
The Heung Yee Kuk was established in 1926 and made a statutory 1960. Its functions are to advise the Secretary for the New Territories on matters affecting the well-being of the people of the New Territories and, within the New Territories, to promote cooperation and understanding between the Government and the people and to maintain appropriate tradition, usage and
customs.
The Full Council of the Kuk comprises:
Chairman
Two Vice-Chairmen
elected by the Council
The Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the 27 Rural Committees
The Unofficial New Territories Justices of the Peace
21 Special Councillors.
The electoral process commences at the village level with the election by all adult males of one or more Village Representatives depending on the size of the village. Villagers are grouped under 27 Rural Committees each of which has an executive committee which is chosen by the Village Representatives normally by secret ballot every two years. The Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of the Rural Committee are chosen by their fellow members and sit ex-officio on the Kuk.
IB) The District Advisory Board
The of the District Advisory Boards was established in Tsuen Wan in 1977. There are now eight, one in each of the New Territories districts, and their terms of reference are:
(a) to advise on matters affecting the well-being of the inhabitants of the
district;
(b) to advise on the provision and the use of public facilities within the
district, in particular:
(i) on the adequacy and priorities of the Public Works Programme for
the district;
(ii) on the use of funds available for expenditure within the district in
the Local Public Works Vote;
(c) to undertake, using the public funds made available for the purpose:
(i) minor environmental improvements within the district;
(ii) the promotion of recreation and cultural activities within the district. The composition and size of the District Advisory Boards varies from district to district reflecting the different make-up of the local communities. However, in general terms, they comprise a balance of unofficial representatives appointed from the local community, the Rural Committee Chairmen of each district as ex-officio members and senior Government officers of the district under the chairmanship of the District Officer. The Boards control funds for minor environmental improvements and for recreational and cultural activities. These totalled $6,148,000 in the financial year 1980/81.
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