the nine District Boards in the same area. 12 are appointed by the Governor and the remaining three are ex-officio members being the Chairman and two Vice Chairman of the Heung Yee Kuk a statutory advisory body which represents the indigenous inhabitants of the New Territories.
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99. In 1982 the District Administration Scheme was developed in which district boards and district management committees were set up with the objective to provide a balanced and representative platform for public consultation and participation at the district level.
100. There are 19 district boards throughout the territory consist of members elected from constituencies in each district. appointed members and Urban Councillors or rural committee chairmen who have seats reserved for them on the boards in the urban areas and in the new Territories respectively. There are altogether 237 elected members, 132 appointed members and 57 ex-officio members on the boards.
101. In 1987, the district board electoral boundaries were revised. based mainly on physical development and the growth, movement and geographical spread of the population. For the district board elections which will be held in March 1988, there will be an increase of 12 constituencies, making a total of 87 constituencies in 10 districts in the Urban Council area and 70 constituencies in the nine districts in the Regional Council area.
102. The functions of the district boards as laid down in the District Boards Ordinance are principally advisory. In monitoring the government's performance and achievements at the district level. the boards discuss a wide range of matters affecting the well being of those who live or work in the district. All district boards have been allocated public funds for local recreational and cultural activities and for minor environmental improvement work Meetings are normally held once every two months. Each district board has established a network of committees to deal with matters such as environmental improvement traffic and transport: community building, recreation and sports: and district social services the same time the district boards also give views on important policy matters with territory wide implications, such as the development of representative government, the long term housing strategy, film censorship, control of noise pollution and of ayricultural waste, and other proposals relating to law reform
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103. District management committees consist of government officials and serve as the executive arm of district boards to produce effective and respective government at the district level.
104.
the government conducted a thorough review of district administration and implemented measures to improve its effectiveness. These included the introduction of a series of administrative measures to ensure that the government as a whole became more responsive to the advice and requests from district boards and the provision of additional staff for District Offices to strengthen liaison with Area Committees and Mutual Aid Committees.