WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1981
+THIS WILL ENABLE THEM TO SPEAK AUTHORITATIVELY, AND, WHERE POSSIBLE, TO ACT UPON ALL DEPARTMENTAL MATTERS AFFECTING THE SPECIFIC DISTRICT, HE SAID.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE MAIN FUNCTION OF THE COMMITTEES WOULD BE TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR INTER-DEPARTMENTAL CONSULTATION AND CO-ORDINATION TO ENSURE THAT DISTRICT NEEDS ARE MET, AND THAT DISTRICT PROBLEMS ARE RESOLVED MORE EFFECTIVELY+.
ONE AREA IN WHICH THE GREEN PAPER PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN MODIFIED CONCERNS ELECTIONS TO DISTRICT BOARDS. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC IN FAVOUR OF THE ADDITION OF A DIRECTLY ELECTED ELEMENT ON TO THE DISTRICT BOARDS IN THE URBAN AREA AS WELL AS THE SEATS PROVIDED FOR URBAN COUNCILLORS.
THE WHITE PAPER MAKES ADDITIONAL PROVISION FOR DIRECTLY ELECTED MEMBERS TO SIT ON THE URBAN AREA DISTRICT BOARDS REPRESENTING EACH CONSTITUENCY IN THE DISTRICT. NO CHANGE IS MADE TO THE PROPOSALS IN RESPECT OF ELECTED MEMBERS ON THE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARDS AS SET OUT IN THE GREEN PAPER.
IT IS PROPOSED THAT ELECTIONS TO THE DISTRICT BOARDS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES BE HELD IN MARCH 1982, AND ELECTIONS TO THE DISTRICT BOARDS IN THE URBAN AREA IN SEPTEMBER 1982.
THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS WAS ANOTHER ASPECT COMMENTED ON BY THE PUBLIC, AND THERE WERE ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR OF UNOFFICIAL CHAIRMEN.
TAKING THIS INTO ACCOUNT, ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS THAT INITIALLY THE CHAIRMEN SHOULD BE OFFICIALS BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO ESTABLISH LINKS WITH DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES, IT INTENDS AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE THAT THE CHAIRMEN SHOULD BE EITHER UNOFFICIAL OR OFFICIAL, ELECTED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARDS THEMSELVES+.
+NO CHANGE IS MADE TO THE BROAD FUNCTIONS OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS AS SET OUT IN THE GREEN PAPER, BUT THE WHITE PAPER DOES SPELL OUT THEIR TERMS OF REFERENCE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID. ALTHOUGH ESSENTIALLY ADVISORY IN NATURE, DISTRICT BOARDS WILL HAVE SUBSTANTIAL POWER OF INFLUENCE OVER AFFAIRS AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL.
THERE WAS ALSO A GOOD DEAL OF PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBILITY TO REGISTER TO VOTE.
THE GREEN PAPER PROPOSED A MINIMUM RESIDENTIAL QUALIFYING PERIOD OF THREE YEARS, WHICH WAS BASED ON THE EXISTING REQUIREMENT FOR URBAN COUNCIL ELECTORAL REGISTRATION. HOWEVER, THE MAJORITY OF COMMENTS RECEIVED SUGGESTED THAT A THREE-YEAR PERIOD WAS TOO SHORT, AND THAT SEVEN YEARS WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID: THE GOVERNMENT IS IMPRESSED WITH THE FORCE OF THESE ARGUMENTS AND THE WHITE PAPER NOW STATES THAT A PERSON WHO HAS BEEN ORDINARILY RESIDENT IN HONG KONG FOR SEVEN YEARS OR MORE, BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE FOR REGISTRATION, WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO BECOME A REGISTERED VOTER.+
/+HONG KONG