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REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
15. For a number of years the Hong Kong Government has been working to develop in Hong Kong a government structure based securely upon existing institutions which at all levels would be both responsive to the needs of a rapidly developing society and appropriate for the maintenance of Hong Kong's stability and prosperity. Her Majesty's Government, who of course remain ultimately responsible for the administration of Hong Kong, have throughout given their agreement and support to this process. The following paragraphs describe both the historical background and the changes made as a result of the November 1984 Hong Kong White Paper.
(a) District Boards
16. 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, sought to introduce more broadly based popular participation in government at the district level, partly in order to fill the gap in consultation between the government and the residents of the New Towns. Following a trial period with District Advisory Boards in the eight 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. The Boards' membership comprised members elected by constituencies, appointed unofficial members, government officials and either Urban Councillors or chairmen of New Territories Rural Committees. They had mainly an advisory role, with some responsibility for the management of district affairs.
17. In 1984 the Hong Kong Government announced that the representative status of the District Boards was to be strengthened by increasing the size of the elected element. Elections in March 1985 returned 237 elected members, an increase of 105 from 132. There are now 369 unofficial members in 19 District Boards; each Board elects its own Chairman; and there are no longer any official members.
18. At the beginning of 1985 the electoral roll carried over 1.4 million names, representing 49 per cent of an estimated total potential electorate of 2.9 million. Of those registered, over 995,000 were resident in the urban areas and thus entitled to vote at Urban Council elections and at District Board elections for urban area constituencies; over 426,000 were resident in the New Territories and entitled to vote at District Board elections in the New Territories and at elections for the new Regional Council to be held in March 1986.
(b) Urban Council
19. The Urban Council which has had elected members since soon after its inception in the 1880s as the Sanitary Board, had its elected membership increased to 12 members in 1973 when it was reconstituted as a statutory body with financial autonomy. It became the only government body which both exercised executive powers and included elected members. In 1983 the franchise was widened and rearranged on a constituency basis, and the Urban Council's membership was increased from 24 to 30. Fifteen of its members are elected, and 15 are appointed by the Governor.
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