APPENDIX IV
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN REPRESENTATIVE BODIES
The Executive Council
The Executive Council is presided over by the Governor and consists of 4 ex-officio members and 12 appointed members (10 of them are unofficials). Its function is to advise the Governor, who is required by the Royal Instructions to consult the Council on all important matters of policy before they are introduced into the Legislative Council.
The Legislative Council
2. The Legislative Council is constituted by virtue of the Letters Patent and its primary function is the enactment of legislation including the appro- priation of public funds. Other business of the Council includes debates on government policies. At present the Council is composed of the Governor (as president), 3 ex-officio members, 30 unofficial members and 13 official members.
The Urban Council
3. The Urban Council is a statutory and financially autonomous body responsible for providing municipal services as well as cultural and recrea- tional facilities throughout the urban areas. It comprises 30 councillors, 15 of them are appointed by the Governor and 15 directly elected on a constituency basis. The elected members automatically have seats on the urban District Boards in whose area their constituency lies and the appointed members are also allocated seats on District Boards. All councillors have individual or collective ward offices to deal with complaints and give assis- tance to the public on a wide variety of matters.
District Boards
4. District Boards were set up in 1982 as statutory bodies on a geographical basis covering each of Hong Kong's 18 districts. The Boards provide a forum for public consultation and participation at the district level. They have a mainly advisory rôle with a substantial influence over district affairs and are also allocated public funds for local recreational and cultural activities and for minor environmental improvement works.
5. Each District Board is composed of elected members (through elections based on a electoral roll on which all residents aged 21 or above who have been in Hong Kong for seven or more years are eligible to be registered); official and appointed unofficial members and Urban Council members or Rural Committee Chairmen. Most District Boards operate a "meet the public scheme to receive views from the residents of the district on matters affecting their general well-being. District Board unofficial members generally have a close liaison with local residents through the various local network such as Area Committees, Mutual Aid Committees,
etc.
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