WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1984
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+ THE APPLICATION OF THESE GUIDELINES WILL MEAN THAT IN MARCH 1985, THERE WILL BE 235 DISTRICT BOARD SEATS UP FOR ELECTION, COMPARED TO THE PRESENT 132. THERE WILL BE A VERY SLIGHT REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF APPOINTED MEMBERS FROM 135 TO 132. THERE WILL THEN BE A TOTAL OF 367 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, MR BRAY SAID.
ON THE QUESTION OF WHETHER SOME LARGER DISTRICTS SHOULD BE SPLIT UP, HE REPORTED THAT NONE OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS WANTED TO SPLIT.
WHILE THE CASE FOR A SPLIT ON POPULATION GROUNDS SEEMED GOOD, THESE DISTRICTS HAD BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICER SCHEME IN 1968 AND HAD A COHERENCE OF THE IR OWN.
HE TOLD THE COUNCIL THERE WAS THUS NO CHANGE PROPOSED TO THE EXISTING 10 URBAN DISTRICTS.
TURNING TO THE NEW TERRITORIES, HE SAID THE CASE WAS DIFFERENT FOR TSUEN WAN WHERE THE DISTRICT BOARD HAD AGREED THAT THERE SHOULD IN FUTURE BE TWO BOARDS - ONE FOR TSUEN WAN TOWN AND THE OTHER COVERING KWAI CHUNG AND TSING YI.
HE REPORTED THAT NO OTHER CHANGE WAS PROPOSED IN THE NT
DISTRICTS.
ON THE PROPOSAL THAT THERE SHOULD BE INCREASED DISTRICT BOARD INVOLVEMENT IN THE MANAGEMENT OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION, MR BRAY SAID, THIS OBVIOUSLY MAKES SENSE IN THE CASE OF NEW TOWNS SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER BY MILES, BUT THERE ARE LOCAL VARIATIONS IN THE OLD URBAN AREAS TOO.
+THIS IDEA HAS BEEN WELCOMED AND SUGGESTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AS TO HOW TO GO ABOUT IT. NO SWEEPING CHANGES ARE PROPOSED RATHER DETAILED CONSIDERATION OF PRACTICAL METHODS OF FITTING IN THE SERVICES OF BOARD MEMBERS IN VARIOUS FIELDS. THIS WILL BE TAKEN FURTHER IN THE COMING MONTHS IN CONSULTATION WITH ALL CONCERNED.
+NOW THAT WE CAN SEE THE WAY THROUGH TO COMPLETING THESE REFORMS AT THE REGIONAL AND DISTRICT LEVELS, WE ARE IN A POSITION TO CARRY FURTHER THE WORK OF INTRODUCING A MORE REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT. +
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