XN000022-1984-07-06 — Page 6

FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1984

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A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SAID TODAY THAT DURING CONSULTATIONS WITH BOARD UNOFFICIALS IN JANUARY, MANY MEMBERS FAVOURED THE CONTINUED PRESENCE OF DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVES AT BOARD MEETINGS, BUT FELT THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE NO VOTING RIGHTS,

+

+ THE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS THIS, AND FROM NEXT APRIL DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE AT DISTRICT BOARD MEETINGS TO PRESENT PAPERS, ANSWER QUESTIONS AND EXPLAIN GOVERNMENT POLICIES,+ HE SAID.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD WILL BE AN UNOFFICIAL, ELECTED BY BOTH THE ELECTED AND APPOINTED MEMBERS. THE DISTRICT OFFICER WILL, HOWEVER, REMAIN AS CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND HEAD OF THE DISTRICT OFFICIAL TEAM.

IN LINE WITH THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ELECTED SEATS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, THE NUMBER OF DISTRICT BOARD CONSTITUENCIES FOR NEXT YEAR'S ELECTIONS WILL ALSO BE INCREASED FROM THE PRESENT 122 TO 145 COMPRISING 83 CONSTITUENCIES IN THE URBAN AREAS AND 62

IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THERE WOULD BE A MIX OF SINGLE AND DOUBLE MEMBER CONSTITUENCIES, DEPENDING ON POPULATION DENSITIES IN THE RESPECTIVE AREAS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT HAD ALSO BEEN DECIDED TO CREATE A NEW DISTRICT BOARD FOR KWAI CHUNG AND TSING YI IN ADDITION TO THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD.

COMMENTING ON THE BILL, THE SPOKESMAN SAID A SERIES OF AMENDMENTS, MAINLY OF A TIDYING-UP NATURE, WOULD BE MADE TO EXISTING ELECTION PROCEDURES CONTAINED IN THE DISTRICT BOARDS ORDINANCE, THE URBAN COUNCIL ORDINANCE, THE ELECTORAL PROVISIONS ORDINANCE, AND THE CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES ORDINANCE.

THE AMENDMENTS WERE DESIGNED TO STREAMLINE ELECTION PROCEDURES AND GENERALLY TO IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS, HE SAID.

ONE CLAUSE IN THE BILL PROVIDES FOR ANY PERSON WHO REACHES THE AGE OF 21 BY DECEMBER 31 IN A REGISTRATION YEAR TO REGISTER AS AN ELECTOR.

ANOTHER CLAUSE PROPOSES THE DISQUALIFICATION OF A DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER WHO IS ABSENT FROM MEETINGS FOR SIX CONSECUTIVE MONTHS WITHOUT REASONABLE EXCUSE. SIMILAR PROVISIONS ALREADY EXIST

IN THE URBAN COUNCIL ORDINANCE.

THE BILL ALSO INTRODUCES A NEW CLAUSE IN THE DISTRICT BOARD ORDINANCE TO DISQUALIFY ANY MEMBER WHO IS CONVICTED OF OFFENCES UNDER THE CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES ORDINANCE AND THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE, NOT ONLY BEFORE BUT ALSO AFTER HIS ELECTION OR APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD.

/SIMILAR DISQUALIFICATION