WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1988
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BILL SEEKS TO ENHANCE OPERATION OF DISTRICT BOARDS
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A BILL WHICH SEEKS TO FURTHER IMPROVE THE OPERATION OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND TO PROVIDE A CLEAR DEFINITION FOR A DISTRICT BOARD MEETING WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY
(WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1988, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DONALD LIAO, NOTED THAT THE PRESENT DISTRICT BOARDS ORDINANCE ALREADY STIPULATED THAT THE OFFICE OF A DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER SHOULD BECOME VACANT IF HE FAILED THROUGHOUT A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS TO ATTEND ANY MEETING OF THE BOARD UNLESS SUCH FAILURE WAS DUE то SOME REASONS APPROVED BY THE BOARD.
THE ORDINANCE DID NOT, HOWEVER, REQUIRE THE MEMBER TO SEEK AND OBTAIN THE APPROVAL OF THE BOARD BEFORE THE COMMENCEMENT OF SUCH ABSENCE.
HE COULD THUS DO 80 RETROSPECTIVELY AFTER HE HAD BEEN ABSENT FROM BOARD MEETINGS FOR SIX CONSECUTIVE MONTHS, MR LIAO SAID, NOTING THAT ABSENCE OF THIS NATURE COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE DISTRICT BOARD.
PRIOR то PROLONGED
"IN VIEW OF THIS, THE BILL AMENDS THE ORDINANCE ΤΟ REQUIRE A DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER TO OBTAIN THE APPROVAL OF HIS BOARD THE COMMENCEMENT OF HIS ABSENCE EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF ILLNESS.' MR LIAO SAID.
THE BILL WOULD ALSO AMENDED THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE ΤΟ APPLY THE SAME PROVISIONS TO A DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER WHO WAS A MEMBER BY VIRTUE OF HIS BEING A RURAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, HE ADDED.
IN CONNECTION WITH THE ABOVE AMENDMENTS, IT WAS NECESSARY ΤΟ DEFINE THE MEANING OF A DISTRICT BOARD MEETING. THUS THE BILL STIPULATED THAT SUCH A MEETING SHOULD REFER ONLY TO A MEETING OF THE DISTRICT BOARD ITSELF, HE EXPLAINED.
MR LIAO SAID THE BILL WOULD ALSO AMEND THE DISTRICT BOARDS ORDINANCE TO ENABLE THE DISTRICT OFFICER TO PRESIDE AT ANY MEETING OF THE DISTRICT BOARD FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING A NEW BOARD CHAIRMAN.
"THE PRESENT ORDINANCE ALREADY EMPOWERS THE DISTRICT OFFICER TO PRESIDE AT THE FIRST MEETING OF THE NEW TERM OF A DISTRICT BOARD FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING THE CHAIRMAN, HE SAID.
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HOWEVER, THIS PROVISION DOES NOT CATER FOR SITUATIONS WHEN THE OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN IS VACATED AND A TEMPORARY OR NEW CHAIRMAN HAS TO BE ELECTED DURING THE TERM OF A DISTRICT BOARD.'
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DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
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