administration.
from a wide
outside the
Unofficial members are selected by the Governor
spectrum of society and they hold more than 300 seats,
>
two councils on various committees and boards dealing
with public and community affairs.
7.
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. The most recent elections were held, for the first time
on a constituency basis, in March 1983 and
next will be held in
1986. 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.
During 1985, a provisional Regional Council will be established with
the same powers and functions in the New Territories as the Urban
Council has in the urban area.
8.
District Boards (and associated District Management Committees)
were established in 1982 in 18 districts, 10 in the urban area and 8
in the New Territories. The Boards provide advice on matters
affecting the well-being of the people at a district level. Two
thirds of their present membership are elected on a constituency
basis with adult suffrage (there are 1.4 million registered
electors), and one third is appointed. Elections were held for the
first time in the New Territories in March 1982, and in the urban
areas in September 1982. The second elections were held in March
1985, when the number of Boards was increased to 19.
9. A White
Paper on the further development of representative
government was published in November 1984. The main proposal in
this was that some Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council
should be elected by specified functional constituencies and others.
by members of the Urban Council, the new Regional Council and the
District Boards. The number of official and appointed Unofficial
members will be reduced. The se arrangements will be introduced in
September 1985. A review of progress towards representative
government will be carried out in 1987. This review will consider