II(B) The District Management Committee
C
and
Only one District Management Committee has so far been establi this is in Kwun Tong. Its terms of reference, which follow, will be copied for other Committees to be established in other urban districts:
General
To advise Heads of Departments through their representatives on the Committee on measures required to advance the interests of residents and improve conditions in the district and to initiate direct action within defined limits to achieve the same objectives;
Particular
(a) to identify district needs and ensure adequate district services and
facilities to be met through Government programmes;
(b) to establish priorities between district needs in a district programme; (c) to advise Government Departments so as to ensure that their pro-
grammes meet district needs;
(d) to ensure coordination of the activities of Departments within the
district;
(e) to advise on the use of public funds allocated to the district for local
public works and community activities;
(f) to advise on the temporary use of unallocated land; and
(g) to consult residents and other members of the public in the district in the process of identifying district needs and devising the district pro- gramme and on other matters of more general interest.
The District Management Committee is chaired by the City District Com- missioner and its members are drawn from the Home Affairs Department, the Police, Public Works, Housing, Urban Services, Social Welfare, Transport, Education, Labour and Fire Services and Medical and Health Departments and the Recreation and Sports Service.
M(C) The Urban Council
The ban Council was reconstituted in 1973 under the Urban Council Ordinance. It is made up of 12 elected members and 12 members appointed by the Governor. The term of office for all members is four years, though elections and appointments are staggered so that the terms of office of 6 mem- bers expire each year. The elected members are chosen by means of a ballot based on a limited franchise and on the basis of one constituency covering both the urban area and the New Territories, although the powers of the Urban Council extend only to the urban area. Councillors at present operate a limited ward system. The main functions of the Urban Council fall in the following three categories:
(a) Environmental public health;
(b) Recreation and amenities; and
(c) Provision of cultural services.
In addition the Council also has responsibility for liquor licensing and the licensing of places of public entertainment. The Council has control of its own finances, with its main revenue derived from its share of the yield from rates in the urban area.
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