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through
by which the district matters can be responded to. No expansion of District Board's executive and administrative power means that it cannot develop
fully into an efficient and independent body in
tackling problems.
Sir, now I would like to turn
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8 my attention to the working of functional constituencies
in the Legislative Council. The White Paper affirms
the value of having functional constituencies' representatives
the Registating Council, in begde thus strengthening their role in the political
system.
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lo
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Unlike the #lectoral folleges, the number
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of seats returned by functional constituencies increased
from 12 to 14. In the light of this, it is even
more startling that the Heung Yee Kuk has no seat
in the Council. The Kuk has for years played a
significant role in matters relating to the development
of new towns in the New Territories. The Kuk has
been very co-operative with the Government in the
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past.
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I sympathise with their frustration and
anger. If it is at all impossible to include the
A
Kuk in the functional constituency
tuencie then at least
its representation in the Council" should be guaranteed.
After all, how many functional constituencies can claim to represent the interests of half a million
people ?
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An elected representative is
accountable to those who elect him. Members elected
from functional constituencies are only accountable
to a specific trade or business. The interest
of functional constituencies are too narrowly based.
By contrast, district-based constituencies can much
better represent the public's interest.
Another problem
from