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WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 1985
IT PROVIDES THE COUNCIL WITH THE NECESSARY POWERS TO DISCHARGE ITS RESPONSIBILITIES.
IT ALSO ENABLES THE REGIONAL COUNCIL TO APPOINT COMMITTEES FOR CARRYING OUT ITS FUNCTIONS, AND WILL ALLOW FOR PERSONS NOT MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL TO BE APPOINTED TO SERVE ON THEM.
ALTHOUGH THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL IS NOT VESTED WITH ANY STATUTORY EXECUTIVE POWERS, AS WILL BE THE CASE IN RESPECT OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AFTER APRIL 1, 1986, MEMBERS CONSIDERED THE ADOPTION OF A COMMITTEE STRUCTURE TO GIVE THEM THE NECESSARY EXPERIENCE BEFORE THEY ARE CALLED UPON TO RECOMMEND THE MOST APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE FOR THE REGIONAL COUNCIL.
TO CATER TO THE NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE GEOGRAPHICALLY DISPERSED POPULATION IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, DIVIDED AS IT IS INTO DISTINCTLY SEPARATE DISTRICTS EACH WITH THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL REQUIREMENTS, MEMBERS DECIDED THAT A LESS CENTRALISED AND MORE DISTRICT-BASED SYSTEM WOULD BE BETTER SUITED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE NON-URBAN AREAS.
THIS CONTRASTS WITH THE CENTRALISED AND FUNCTIONALLY BASED COMMITTEE STRUCTURE OF THE URBAN COUNCIL WHICH SERVES THE MORE- OR-LESS HOMOGENEOUS NATURE OF THE URBAN AREAS.
THIS WAS REFLECTED BY THE CHAIRMAN, MR CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, WHO CALLED ON MEMBERS TO TAKE SPECIAL NOTICE OF THE LOCAL FEATURES IN THE REGION. +
MR CHEUNG ALSO NOTED THAT SERVICES IN THE NON-URBAN AREAS OFTEN DIFFER FROM THOSE IN THE URBAN AREAS.
THE COUNCIL THEN EXAMINED THE FINANCIAL PROVISIONS OF THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL AND THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
A TOTAL OF $5.39 MILLION HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL SECRETARIAT FOR DISCHARGING ITS FUNCTIONS IN THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1985/86. OF THIS AMOUNT, $3.5 MILLION WILL BE FOR PAYMENT OF HONORARIA AND RENTAL ALLOWANCES TO MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
THE TOTAL ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE OF THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR THE SAME PERIOD AMOUNTS TO $456 MILLION, WHICH WILL BE PAID FOR BY THE GOVERNMENT. THIS INCLUDES $412 MILLION FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES AT 1984/85 LEVELS AND $13 MILLION FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF NEW FACILITIES COMPLETED OR NEW SERVICES INTRODUCED IN 1985/86.
/DURING THE