XN000022-1985-06-26 — Page 42

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 1985

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HONORAR IA FOR PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL MEMBERS

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THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TODAY APPROVED PROPOSED RATES OF HONORARIUM AND OFFICE RENT ALLOWANCE FOR MEMBERS OF THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL, ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT $2.6 MILLION FOR THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR.

TO ENABLE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL TO CARRY OUT THEIR DUTIES, EACH MEMBER MAY CLAIM UP TO $7 000 A MONTH IN HONORARIUM AND THE CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN $28 000 AND $14 000 RESPECTIVELY. ARE ALSO ENTITLED TO CLAIM AN OFFICE RENT ALLOWANCE OF UP TO $1 750 A MONTH.

THEY

THE HONORARIUM IS INTENDED TO COVER SECRETARIAL, CLERICAL, TRAVELLING, ENTERTAINMENT, AND OTHER EXPENSES, THE OFFICE RENT ALLOWANCE WILL ENABLE MEMBERS TO RENT OFFICE ACCOMMODATION FOR COUNCIL WORK. PAYMENT OF THESE ALLOWANCES IS INTENDED TO ENSURE THAT THE LESS WELL-TO-DO COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL BE ABLE TO FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY WITHOUT UNDUE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS.

THE HIGHER RATES FOR THE CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN ARE IN RECOGNITION OF THE ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES WHICH WILL BE BORNE BY THEM.

PROVISION FOR THIS EXPENDITURE HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE 1985-86 ESTIMATES OF THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS THE EXECUTIVE ARM OF THE COUNCIL. HOWEVER IT WILL BE BORNE BY THE REGIONAL COUNCIL FROM APRIL NEXT YEAR WHEN IT BECOMES FINANCIALLY AUTONOMOUS.

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IT MAY BE RECALLED THAT ON MAY 8, 1984 THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL ORDERED THAT A REGIONAL COUNCIL SHOULD BE SET UP ON APRIL 1, 1986 TO COVER THE AREA OUTSIDE THE JURISDICTION OF THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THAT A PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED ON APRIL 1, 1985 TO ALLOW WORKING EXPERIENCE TO BE GAINED BEFORE THE FULL COUNCIL COMES INTO BEING.

THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL IS VESTED WITH THE FUNCTIONS OF ADVISING THE GOVERNOR ON THE PLANNING, INAUGURAL AND OPERATIONAL MATTERS RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, AND ON MATTERS RELATING TO PUBLIC HEALTH, SANITATION, HYGIENE, RECREATION AND CULTURE IN THE NON-URBAN AREAS.

THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL CONSISTS OF 24 MEMBERS, OF WHOM 12 ARE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, NINE ARE ELECTED FROM AMONG MEMBERS OF EACH DISTRICT BOARD IN THE NON-URBAN AREAS, AND THREE ARE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS, I.E. THE CHAIRMAN AND THE TWO VICE-CHAIRMEN OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK.

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