III.
15.
CONFIDEN TIAL
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMEN T
For a number of years the
working to develop in Hong Kong
securely upon existing
institutions
both responsive to the needs of a
The following paragraphs
describe both the hisraical
barchfreund and the
Changer
made
an
Com
Result
1984
y the November
смітрара lting Kong colite Paper.
Hong Kong Government has been
a governmen't structure based
which at all levels would be
rapidly developing society and
appropriate for the main tenance of Hong Kong's stability and prosperity. Her Majesty's Government, who
was of course
remain ultimately
agreement
agreem.
responsible for the administration of Hong King, have throughout given their.
support to this process. I
16.
and District Boards
trial a
While a representative system of locally elected elders and
councils serving the indigenous population of the New Territories,
under the umbrella of the Heung Yee Kuk, had existed for many years,
the Hong Kong Government, in the late 1970s, s ought to introduce
more broadly based popular
in participation
government at the
district level, partly in order to fill the gap in consultation
between the government and the residents of the New Town 8.
Following
period with District Advisory
Advisory Boards in the 8
administrative districts in the New Territories, and City District
Committees in the 10 urban districts, District Boards in the New
Territories became statutory bodies in April 1982. Urban District
Boards became statutory six months later.
comprised members elected by constituencies,
members, government officials and either Urban Councillors or
chairmen of New Territories rural committees.
advisory role, with some responsibility
district affairs.
The Boards' membership
appointed unofficial
for
They had mainly an
the management of
17.
In 1984 the Hong
representative by increasing
1985 re turned
There
was
Kong Government
sta tus of the District Boards
the size of the elected element.
237 elected members, an increase
are now
369
unofficial members in
announced that the
to be strengthened
Elections in March
of 105 from 132.
District Boards; 19
each
Board elects its own Chairman; and there are no longer any official
members.
6 -
CONFIDEN TIAL