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autonomous
bodies
with
a
range
The Urban and Regional Councils are financially
of statutory
responsibilities for the provision of municipal services
such as public cleansing, licensing restaurants and
markets and the provision and management of recreational,
cultural and sporting facilities. The Urban Council's
authority extends over Hong Kong and Kowloon; that of the
Regional Council, which was formally constituted on 1
April 1986, through the New Territories.
Both Councils
To maintain close
regional levels of
include elected and appointed members.
connections between district and
representative government, members of
sit as members of District Boards,
Territories District Boards elect members
to sit on the Regional Council.
the Urban Council
whilst the New
The principal
functions of the
Council are to enact legislation and
Legislative
control the
expenditure of public funds. The Council questions the
Administration on matters of public interest and debates
Until 1985 the
its proposals in regard to policy.
Council consisted of appointed members only. Following
the principles laid down in the 1984 White Paper on the
Further Development of Representative Government in Hong
of the 46 non-official members of the Council
Kong,
24