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MR. HU:
Sir,
DiLi
The Electoral Provisions (Amendment) Bill 1988 seeks to
enable a person to serve both as an elected member of the Urban
Council and as an elected District Board member in the Urban Council area. It stems from the Administration's proposal to stop the existing cross membership arrangement between the Urban
Council and the District Boards.
The Bill has been discussed by the Constitutional,
this Council
Л
l Affairs Panel of OMELCO as well as the Lego Ad Hoc Group set up
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to study it.
The Ad Hoc Group met representatives of the Urban
Council and chairmen of District Boards in the urban area to hear
their views on the changes proposed.
In general, this Bill is resented and opposed by the Urban Council, while the response from the District Boards is more
favourable. The Urban Council representatives complained that the
Bill was introduced hastily, and without sufficient prior
consultation.
The proposal contained in the Bill was announced late last year, leaving little time for Urban Councillors who wished to
maintain a link with their local districts to prepare for the
le. District Board elections to be held on 10 March... lc
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Counter-proposals have been made by Urban Councillors.
They wish to see the proposed changes aborted or deferred. At least, they would like elected Urban Councillors to be allowed to stay on the-District Boards, so that a link between the two bodies
can be preserved. We share many of the Urban Councillors'
concerns and sympathise with those members who wish to run in the coming District Board elections.