WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1988
18
BACKGROUND TO DISTRICT BOARDS (AMENDMENT) BILL EXPLAINED
* * *
THE
THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD PROVIDED IN SECTION 14(EA) OF DISTRICT BOARDS ORDINANCE, STIPULATING THE PERIOD OF NON-ATTENDANCE AT DISTRICT BOARD MEETINGS RESULTING IN THE OFFICE OF A MEMBER BRING DECLARED VACANT, WAS MADE IN 1984 BASED ON THE FREQUENCY OF DISTRICT BOARD MEETINGS.
THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DONALD LIAO, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DURING DEBATE ON THE DISTRICT BOARDS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1988 WHICH SEEKS ΤΟ FURTHER IMPROVE THE OPERATION OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND TO PROVIDE A CLEAR DEFINITION FOR A DISTRICT BOARD MEETING.
MR LIAO EXPLAINED THAT THE WORKING PATTERN OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS WAS THAT THE FULL BOARD MEETINGS WERE HELD EVERY TWO MONTHS AND THAT THEIR COMMITTEES AND WORKING GROUPS MET IN BETWEEN THE FULL DISTRICT BOARD MEETINGS.
"
"WHEN NECESSARY, ADDITIONAL FULL BOARD MEETINGS ARE
CONVENED,
HE SAID.
"THIS WORKING ARRANGEMENT HAS BEEN FUNCTIONING WELL AND HENCE IT IS NOT PROPOSED IN THE PRESENT BILL TO MAKE ANY CHANGES.
H
HOWEVER, THE POSITION COULD BE REVIEWED IF THERE WAS A NEED DO SO IN FUTURE.
то
ACCORDING TO THE PRESENT DISTRICT BOARDS ORDINANCE, THE OFFICE OF A DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER SHOULD BECOME VACANT IF HE FAILS THROUGHOUT A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS TO ATTEND ANY MEETING OF THE BOARD UNLESS SUCH FAILURE IS DUE TO SOME REASONS APPROVED BY THE BOARD.
THE ORDINANCE DOES NOT, HOWEVER, REQUIRE THE MEMBER TO SEEK AND OBTAIN THE APPROVAL OF THE BOARD BEFORE THE COMMENCEMENT OF SUCH ABSENCE.
ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS THE BILL INTRODUCED IS TO REQUIRE A DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER TO OBTAIN THE APPROVAL OF HIS BOARD PRIOR ΤΟ THE COMMENCEMENT OF HIS ABSENCE EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF PROLONGED ILLNESS.
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