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CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION
UMELCO redress system is neither defined nor confined by law. Under the system, Unofficial Members have the right of access to government records and senior officials and to challenge the established practices and policies of government departments. When necessary they bring important issues to the attention of either of the two councils. A full record of the work of UMELCO is contained in its annual report.
Urban Council and District Administration
Urban Council
1983, the Urban Council's centenary year, saw a widening of the franchise from which Urban Councillors are elected and also a revision of the geographical basis on which the franchise is based. The council is a statutory body whose jurisdiction covers provision of services to the population of approximately four million who live in the urban areas.
The council, which derives its authority from the Urban Council Ordinance, has been charged continuously since its inception with a number of mandatory functions such as environmental hygiene, including street cleaning and refuse collection, and food hygiene, including the health requirements for restaurants, food shops, markets, abattoirs and other food premises, and the control of hawkers and markets. Another statutory function is to act as the urban area Liquor Licensing Board. The council is also responsible for the issue of public entertainment licences. Other functions involve recreational and cultural acti- vities, including the building and control of swimming pools, tennis courts, stadia, parks and playgrounds, the management of City Hall, public libraries, museums and bathing beaches. Over the years the council has been instrumental in fostering both recreation and culture in Hong Kong and a further two major venues, the 12 500-seat fully air-conditioned Hong Kong Coliseum and the 3 000-seat open-air Ko Shan Theatre, were completed and opened during the year.
The Director of Urban Services, the council's principal executive officer, heads the Urban Services Department which carries out the council's policies and implements its decisions. The council has been financially autonomous since 1973 and receives approxi- mately 75 per cent of its revenue from an eight per cent rate, the balance of its revenue being derived from entrance fees, licence fees and similar fees. Its revenue for the 1983-4 financial year is expected to be in the region of $1,300 million.
In April, the number of elected members was increased from 12 to 15, with members elected from district constituencies rather than from a territory-wide franchise as in the past. Each constituency returns one member, although the larger districts are divided into two constituencies both returning one member. The number of appointed members has likewise been increased to 15. The council meets in public normally once a month, but conducts most of its day-to-day business through 12 select committees and 17 sub-committees.
All councillors have individual or collective ward offices to deal with complaints and give assistance to the public on a wide variety of matters, even outside the work of the council. The council provides limited financial assistance to members whose occupations prevent them from having their own offices, to allow them to set up offices to carry out their duties as Urban Councillors.
District Administration
The District Administration Scheme developed further in 1983 following the setting up of district boards and district management committees in each of the 18 administrative