XN000022-1984-05-16 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1984

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GOVERNMENT DECIDES ON REGIONAL COUNCIL

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED IN FAVOUR OF A NEW REGIONAL COUNCIL, WITH APRIL 1986 AS THE DATE FOR ITS FORMAL ESTABLISHMENT, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON DENIS BRAY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MR BRAY EXPLAINED THAT THE DECISION WAS BASED ON THE +OVERWHELMING DESIRE+ BY THE PEOPLE OF THE AREAS WHICH SUCH A COUNCIL WOULD SERVE.

HE SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS WERE THAT THE NEW REGIONAL COUNCIL WOULD BE COMPOSED OF FOUR TYPES OF MEMBERS:

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TWELVE DIRECTLY ELECTED, CONSTITUENCY-BASED MEMBERS;

NINE REPRESENTATIVES ELECTED FROM THE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARDS FROM AMONG THEMSELVES,

* THREE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS FROM THE HEUNG YEE KUK WHO WILL BE THE CHAIRMAN AND THE TWO VICE-CHAIRMEN; AND

* TWELVE APPOINTED MEMBERS, THREE OF WHOM WILL INITIALLY

BE MEMBERS OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK, ESPECIALLY CHOSEN TO REPRESENT ITS THREE CONSTITUENCIES.

+ IN ORDER TO ALLOW SOME WORKING EXPERIENCE TO BE GAINED BEFORE THE FULL COUNCIL COMES INTO BEING IN APRIL 1986, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO ESTABLISH A PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL OF APPOINTED MEMBERS EARLY IN 1985, ALTHOUGH THE PRECISE DATE IS NOT SETTLED, + MR BRAY SAID.

HE REPORTED THAT ELECTION FOR THE 12 DIRECTLY ELECTED MEMBERS WOULD BE CONDUCTED AT THE SAME TIME AS THOSE FOR THE URBAN COUNCIL IN MARCH 1986 AND THEY WOULD HOLD OFFICE FROM APRIL 1, 1986 WHEN THE NEW COUNCIL WOULD BE FORMALLY ESTABLISHED.

MR BRAY SAID THAT THE PRESENT BOUNDARIES OF THE URBAN COUNCIL'S JURISDICTION WOULD BE RETAINED.

ON THIS ISSUE, HE EXPLAINED THAT THE VIEWS OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS WERE UNEQUIVOCAL WHILE THE URBAN COUNCIL ITSELF DID NOT PRESS FOR ADJUSTMENT.

TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY EXECUTIVE SUPPORT FOR THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE NEW COUNCIL, THE PRESENT URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE FORMED INTO TWO NEW DEPARTMENTS, EACH HEADED BY A CHIEF EXECUTIVE, ONE SERVING THE URBAN COUNCIL AND ONE THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, MR BRAY SAID.

HE SAID THERE WOULD ALSO BE A NEW SECRETARY WITH THE POLICY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE MATTERS, AND CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL SERVICES.

/THE SECRETARY