G.F. 316
Sir,
SECRET SE*
高度機密
ANNEX TO XCS(84)7
STATEMENT BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY
IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY 15 FEBRUARY 1984
The Green Paper on A Pattern of District Administration in Hong Kong which was published in June 1980, described the reasons why it was considered to be necessary to introduce certain changes and improvements in the system of district- administration in existence then. In particular, it drew attention to the various systems of administration that had developed in different parts of Hong Kong, to increased prosperity, better education, higher aspirations and the need to build cohesive communities. Specific proposals to produce a more coherent framework were then published in the White Paper on District Administration in Hong Kong in January 1981. These led to the formation in 1982 of District Boards, with an elected element, in each district of Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories.
2
During their short existence the District Boards have demonstrated their value as an organisation for "contact, discussion, stimulus and advice between the communities in each` district and the Government agencies responsible for their management and improvement"
3
•
In your address at the opening of the present session of this Council you said, Sir, that we must ensure that the district administration scheme "remains suited to Hong Kong's changing needs and circumstances" and added that you had called for an examination of "the existing arrangements for local administration and the organisation of Government departments to give effect to the decisions of the Urban Council and the advice of the District Boards".
4
During the course. of this review the District Boards themselves, at a series of recent meetings, have been given an opportunity to express their own views and ideas for the further development of district administration. As a result of the review the Government has now come to certain conclusions.
5
The next District Board elections are due to be held in March 1985 and the Government's first conclusion is that the representative status of the Boards should then be strengthened by increasing the size of the elected element. In districts where the population level is relatively stable, it is proposed that the number of elected members should be double that of appointed members. But in districts where the size of the popu- lation is still on the increase (for example, the new town of Shatin) this ratio of elected members to appointed members would be best achieved progressively as the population increases.
SECRET 高度機密