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1.9 The only body participating in the Government of Hong Kong
that consists entirely of members of the public is the Urban Council
(URBCO). 15 of its 30 members are elected; the remainder are
appointed by the Governor from among prominent members of the
community. Elections were held, for the first time on a
constituency basis, in March. URBCO's responsibilities are limited
to the urban areas of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Kowloon
(where, altogether, about three-quarters of the population live).
Its main duties are public hygiene, and the control of recreational
and cultural facilities.
1.10 District Boards (and associated District Management
Committees) have recently been established in 18 districts, 10 in
the urban area and 8 in the New Territories. One third of the
membership of these Boards is elected on a constituency basis with
adult suffrage (there are 900,000 registered electors), one third is
appointed and one third consists of Government Officials. The
Boards provide advice on matters affecting the well-being of the
people at a district level. Elections were held for the first time
in the New Territories in March 1982, and in the urban areas in September 1982. The Government is currently reviewing 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 District Boards.
Two
1.11 There are few organised political groups in Hong Kong. small, quasi-political organisations contest URBCO and District Board elections, but they are really no more than pressure groups and their membership is limited to a small number of mainly middle-class Chinese and expatriates of no particular ideological background.
1.12
By far the most significant political presence in Hong Kong is
that of the Communist Chinese. There are a number of overt
Communist organisations, including businesses, banks, trade unions and schools. They are tightly disciplined and controlled by the local party organisation appointed by Peking (headed by the Director of the local Office of the New China News Agency). These organisations have not attempted to play a direct role in
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