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various sub-committees. This programme was formally incorporated into the Urban Council's report on district administration reforms released in 1969.
In the report, the Council objected to the establishment of district councils, in place of which the Council was to have an expanded role and be turned into a municipal council enjoying financial autonomy. In addition to the original functions, it was also to manage education, social welfare, traffic, medical services and city planning. In view of the Council's strong objection to its proposal in 1969, the Government adopted a mid-way approach in 1971 and released the White Paper on the Urban Council, which allowed the Council to be financially autonomous but cut down on a number of the functions proposed by the Council in 1969. Slight adjustment was made on the original basis in that the licensing authority was delegated.
Against this historical background, in 1973 the Urban Council became financially autonomous, all the official seats were abolished and the chairmanship was taken over from the Director of Urban Services by a councillor elected among themselves. It gradually evolves into today's elected Urban Council.
I consider that in face of the forthcoming review, the Council should lead a discussion proactively and actively with foresight and vision. I hope that under the leadership of the Chairman, we can set up a formal mechanism for the review to consider:
1.
2. the functions and duties that a district organization should have: the role of district organizations in the development of a representative government and how the development of democracy should be brought forward; and
3. the relationship between the district organizations and the entire government system and the Legislative Council.
I am open-minded to this review, but I also realize that the review is a very complicated one which must not be carried out too hastily. I consider that pegging the review with the 1999 election is too rash. I consider that in deciding the functions of district organizations, the following six major principles must be taken into consideration:
1. The powers should be delegated. No matter what the future structure of the district organizations will be, I hope they will be given real authority and there should be appropriate expansion in their ambit.
2.
3.
I yearn to see a fully elected structure for the new district organizations with enhanced accountability and transparency.
I hope that the district organizations will enjoy adequate resources, which should not be confined to the use of paying for the administrative expenses of a certain government department but should be planned from a wider perspective to take care of the quality and quantity of the various cultural and recreational services provided to the public. We are
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