SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 0006
OF 020415Z JANUARY 88
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
SECRET
©
111707
MDHIAN 2140
HRB 011/1
15 JAN 1988
TOP CODY
!
MY 4TH IPT: REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT : WHITE PAPER
CHAPTER IV
THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
31.
THE GREEN PAPER PRESENTED OPTIONS FOR CHANGES IN THE ROLE AND
COMPOSITION OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN URBAN
DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE URBAN COUNCIL: AND THE SIZE AND COMMITTEE
STRUCTURE OF THE URBAN COUNCIL.
ROLE AND COMPOSITION OF DISTRICT BOARDS
32. THE SURVEY OFFICE REPORTED THAT MOST SUBMISSIONS ON THIS
SUBJECT WERE NOT IN FAVOUR OF CHANGING THE ROLE OF DISTRICT BOARDS.
MANY ARGUED THAT THIS WOULD INVOLVE MAJOR CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE.
SOME FELT THAT IT COULD CONFUSE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE THREE
TIERS OF GOVERNMENT AND COMPLICATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TERRITORY-
WIDE POLICIES. MOST LEGISLATIVE AND MUNICIPAL COUNCILLORS WHO
SPOKE PUBLICLY ON THE MATTER SHARED THESE VIEWS ALTHOUGH MANY ALSO
FELT THAT THE DISTRICT BOARDS ADVISORY FUNCTION SHOULD BE ENHANCED.
DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS THEMSELVES WERE DIVIDED IN THEIR VIEWS.
PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS HOWEVER SHOWED A MEASURE OF PUBLIC SUPPORT
FOR GIVING DISTRICT BOARDS POWERS TO TAKE DECISIONS AND DIRECT
GOVERNMENT ACTION ON CERTAIN DISTRICT MATTERS.
33.
OPINION ON THE QUESTION OF THE COMPOSITION OF DISTRICT BOARDS
WAS GENERALLY AGAINST CHANGE IN 1988, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS SOME SUPPORT
FOR REDUCING THE NUMBER OF APPOINTED MEMBERS.
34. DISTRICT BOARDS HAVE PROVED THEMSELVES TO BE A VALUABLE PART
OF THE SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG. THERE
IS NO DEMAND FOR FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES TO THEIR PRESENT ROLE OR
COMPOSITION. THERE IS HOWEVER CLEAR SUPPORT FOR DEVELOPING THEIR
ADVISORY ROLE. THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO DO THIS BY REQUIRING GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TO CONSULT THE BOARDS ABOUT ALL DISTRICT
PAGE
SECRET