CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION
chairmen of the Heung Yee Kuk. The council's chairman and vice-chairman are elected by members from among themselves.
Council policies are implemented by its executive arm, the Regional Services Department, which is headed by the Director of Regional Services and has a staff of about 10 700. The council is financially autonomous, with its main source of revenue being rates collected in the council area. In 1995-96, this provided about 85 per cent of its total revenue. The rest comes from fees and charges, and rental income (mostly from market stalls). In 1995–96, total revenue amounted to $4.16 billion and total expenditure stood at $3.88 billion.
The council discharges its responsibilities through four functional select committees and a Liquor Licensing Board. The four select committees are responsible for finance and administration, capital works, environmental hygiene, and recreation and culture. The Liquor Licensing Board meets quarterly to consider contested applications.
The council has established nine geographically-based committees to monitor the provision of municipal services and facilities. Each district committee comprises Regional Council members and other members co-opted from district boards and the local community.
All proceedings of the council and its committees are open to the public except when confidential issues such as financial details touching on
on commercial arrangements are discussed.
The council is represented on several organisations, including the Hong Kong Sports Development Board and the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, whose work is closely related to the council's responsibilities.
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.
The main function of the district boards, established in 1982, is to advise the government on 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.
In 1996-97, $105 million has been made available to the district boards for the implementation of minor environmental improvement and community involvement projects in the districts.
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 provided a direct channel for collecting public views on local issues and reflecting them to the government.
Each district has a district management committee, chaired by the district officer, comprising representatives of departments providing essential services in the district.
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