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FILJAY, JUNE 21, 1985
+FURTHERMORE, THERE WILL BE 12 CONSTITUENCY-BASED MEMBERS WHO WILL BE DIRECTLY ELECTED BY THE PUBLIC IN THE AREAS COVERED BY THE NEW COUNCIL IN MARCH 1986, + HE ADDED.
THE BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NEXT WEEK WHEN IT WILL BE INITIALLY DEBATED. THE SECOND READING IS SCHEDULED FOR JULY 10.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE BILL MAY BE SENT TO UMELCO AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12/F, CHATER ROAD, OR TO THE SECRETARY FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES AT HARBOUR CENTRE, HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI.
BILL PAVES WAY FOR REGIONAL COUNCIL
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A BILL PAVING THE WAY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AND FOR THE RETURN OF ELECTED MEMBERS TO THE NEW COUNCIL IS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE ELECTIONS (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) BILL 1985 WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR FIRST READING ON JUNE 26. THE SECOND READING DEBATE IS EXPECTED TO BE RESUMED ON JULY 10.
+IT IS DESIRABLE FOR THE BILL TO BE ENACTED BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT MONTH SO THAT THE REGIONAL COUNCIL CONSTITUENCIES COULD BE DECLARED BY THE END OF THE MONTH AND THE ANNUAL REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS COULD BEGIN ON AUGUST 15,+ A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
ELABORATING ON THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL, THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT AT PRESENT, THE ELECTORATE FOR THE URBAN COUNCIL COINCIDES WITH DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.
+BUT THESE BOUNDARIES DO NOT COINCIDE PRECISELY WITH THE DEMARCATION BETWEEN NEW KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES, HE SAID.
*THE BILL SEEKS TO AMEND THE LAW SO THAT THE DELINEATION OF THE JURISDICTION OF THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE REGIONAL COUNCIL WILL COINCIDE WITH THEIR ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES.
+FOR THE PURPOSE OF LEGISLATION, IT IS PROPOSED TO NAME THE AREAS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE TWO COUNCILS THE 'URBAN COUNCIL AREA' AND THE 'REGIONAL COUNCIL AREA',+ HE SAID.
+ THE TERMS FOR THE TWO AREAS COULD STILL BE AMENDED IF THERE ARE BETTER SUGGESTIONS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS HAPPY TO CONSIDER OTHER NAMES THAT MAY DIFFERENTIATE THE TWO AREAS MORE APPROPRIATELY, + HE SAID.
THE BILL