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CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION
District Administration
District boards are statutory bodies which provide a forum for public consultation and participation in the administration of the districts. With effect from October 1, 1994, there are 18 district boards (nine in the urban areas and nine in the New Territories), with 346 elected members and 27 ex-officio members who are rural committee chairmen. Appointed membership has been abolished from that date.
A new round of district board elections was held on September 18. A total of 757 candidates were nominated for the 346 seats. With only 50 seats returned unopposed, the election was hotly contested. For the contested seats, 2 093 603 voters (among the registered electorate of 2 450 372) could vote for the members to represent their respective contested constituencies. A record 693 223 voters (33.1 per cent) turned out to vote, compared with the 424 023 (32.5 per cent) turnout rate for the last election in 1991.
The main function of the district boards, established in 1982, is to advise the government on a wide range of matters affecting the interests or well-being of the people living and working in the districts. Through their advice, important contributions are made to the management of district affairs. District boards are also consulted on a wide range of territory-wide issues.
The budgets of district boards were increased in 1994 to give them greater influence over district matters. In 1994–95, $100 million has been made available to the district boards for the implementation of minor environmental improvement and community involvement projects in the districts. An additional $16 million has been provided by the two municipal councils for district boards to undertake minor environmental improvement projects.
As an important service for residents, each district board operates a 'meet-the-public' scheme, under which residents may meet board members face-to-face to express their views on any district problems. The scheme has been well received by the general public and has proved effective in providing a direct channel for collecting public views on local issues and reflecting them to the government.
In each district, there is a district management committee, chaired by the district officer, comprising representatives of departments providing essential services in the district. It serves as a forum for inter-departmental consultation on district matters and co-ordinates the provision of public services and facilities to ensure that district needs are met promptly. The district management committee works closely with the district board and, as far as possible, follows the advice given by the board. To improve communication between the district management committee and the district board, district board chairmen attend district management committee meetings as observers.
Area committees and mutual aid committees were set up in districts in the early 1970s throughout the territory, in support of the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign and Fight Violent Crime Campaign.
Following a review of the area committees, a number of changes relating to their number, composition, terms of reference and geographical coverage were introduced in November 1994 to streamline their operation. Area committees encourage public participation in district affairs, assist in the organisation of community activities and government campaigns, and advise on issues of a localised nature affecting the relevant area.
Mutual aid committees are building-based resident organisations, established to improve the security, cleanliness and general management of multi-storey buildings.