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HKB 011/2
15 DEC 1987
033420
MDHIAN 9537
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Redacted under FOI exemption section 27(1).
MIPT: 1987 REVIEW: THE WHITE PAPER: DISTRICT BOARDS AND MUNICIPAL
COUNCILS: DRAFT SPEAKING NOTE
·
2. HKG HAS NOW DECIDED THAT, AS FROM MARCH/APRIL 1989, UC MEMBERS SHOULD CEASE TO BE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS OF DB'S, INSTEAD, EACH DB SHOULD ELECT ONE REPRESENTATIVE MEMBER TO UC. IN ORDER TO GIVE EXISTING UC MEMBERS (AND OTHERS WHO MAY BE SIMILARLY INTERESTED) ADVANCE WARNING OF THIS CHANGE, SO THAT THEY MAY DECIDE WHETHER THEY WISH TO STAND FOR THE DB ELECTIONS ALREADY SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 1988 SO THAT THEY COULD CONTINUE TO SERVE ON DB'S BEYOND 1989, IT IS NECESSARY TO ANNOUNCE THE DECISION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IT CHANGE NOT ANNOUNCED UNTIL PUBLICATION OF WHITE PAPER, THOSE CONCERNED WILL HAVE MISSED OPPORTUNITY OF CONTESTING 1988 DB ELECTIONS. THIS WOULD GIVE RISE TO LEGITIMATE COMPLAINTS.
3. HKG WILL IN ANY CASE HAVE TO ANNOUNCE SHORTLY NUMBERS OF ELECTED
AND APPOINTED MEMBERS FOR EACH DB FOR TERM BEGINNING 1 APRIL 1988.
4. HKG THEREFORE PROPOSE TO MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS ON UC/DB CROSS- MEMBERSHIP ARRANGEMENTS AND NUMBERS OF DB SEATS ON 17 DECEMBER. IN VIEW OF HOLIDAYS ETC. AND NEED TO GIVE PEOPLE REASONABLE NOTICE, THIS WOULD BE LATEST POSSIBLE DATE FOR ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE NOMINATIONS FOR 1988 DB ELECTIONS ARE OPENED ON 8 JANUARY NEXT YEAR. THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS WILL IN NO WAY TOUCH ON QUESTION OF COMPOSITION OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OR ON THE CENTRAL ISSUE OF DIRECT ELECTIONS
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