disrupt the operations of existing statutory authorities and their administrative arrangements. There have, however, been other suggestions for changes in the composition and functions of the District Boards and the Municipal Councils, and in the relationships between the two, which do not imply major nges in the present structure. They are considered in later sections of this Chapter.
The District Boards
33. At the level of district management, the 19 District Boards now advise on a wide range of issues which affect the residents of their districts. In all districts, committees have been established under the Boards to enable more detailed advice to be given on matters such as traffic and transport, environmental improvement, community building and social services.
34. The Government also consults District Boards on selected major territory- wide issues. District Board members are an important channel through which members of the public make known their views on government policies, raise specific complaints and make suggestions on the performance of departments. Their role in the consultative process is reflected in the wide range of contacts which District Board members are developing with the community.
35. To date there has been no systematic exercise to gather public opinion on the contribution which District Boards are making to the system of government. The opinion surveys which have been carried out have been limited in scope but, nevertheless, show that the great majority of respondents consider that the District Boards are playing a positive role and have been effective in promoting improvements in the living environment, public transport services and com- munity facilities in their districts, and in conveying public complaints to the departments concerned. The notable increase in the turnout of voters at the second round of District Board elections in March 1985, when 476,000 electors turned out to vote compared with 336,000 in 1982, is also an indication of increasing public recognition of the role of the District Boards.
36. A review of the opinions of District Board members on the effectiveness of the District Administration Scheme was carried out in early 1987. The issues on which District Boards were consulted included the adequacy of present arrange- ments for consulting the Boards; their role in district management; the desir- ability of further changes in their composition; and the relationship of the Boards with the Municipal Councils and the Legislative Council. The operating procedures of the Boards were also reviewed and, as a result, several improve- ments are being implemented.
Role of District Boards
37. The review showed that most District Board members were of the view that the role of District Boards should remain primarily advisory. However, they considered that, notwithstanding the care taken to consult them on appropriate issues, their advice was not acted upon by government departments
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