SECRETARY OF STATE`S VISIT TO HONG KONG: 26-28 JULY
BRIEF NO 4; MEETING WITH DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN
Background
1.
The 19 District Boards are the lowest tier of government
in Hong Kong. With a total membership of 414 (274 elected from 210 geographical constituencies and 140 appointed), their job is to monitor, and give advice on, government action at district level (eg public housing, health care, primary
education). The District Officer is the representative of central government and runs the District Management Committee, which works closely with the District Board. The Boards are
dependent on central government funding.
2.
The
The Urban and Regional Councils form the next tier. Urban Council is responsible for the provision of a wide range of local services (museums to refuse collection) to 3.6
million inhabitants of the urban areas - about three quarters
of the population. The Council is financially autonomous, deriving its funds mainly from a share of the rates and
licensing fees. It has 40 members: 15 directly-elected (from single-seat constituencies based on the District Board constituencies in the urban areas) 15 appointed by the Governor and 10 representatives of the 10 Urban District Boards.) The Urban Council is itself a functional constituency
and elects a representative to LegCo.
3. The Regional Council is similarly responsible for the
2.4 million people in the New Territories. It has 36 members: 12 directly elected; 9 representatives of the 9 rural District
hk.dbc.PR
SLM