XN000022-1985-07-10 — Page 25

WEDNOD

JULY 13, 1935

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+DISTRICT BOARDS HAVE ELECTION OPTION+

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DISTRICT BOARDS WILL HAVE THE OPTION OF HOLDING ANOTHER ELECTION IN MARCH 1986, IF THEY SO WISH, TO ELECT REPRESENTATIVES TO THE REGIONAL COUNCIL.

THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DONALD LTAJ, EMPHASISED TODAY THAT SUCH AN ELECTION WAS NOT MANDATORY AND THE NINE DISTRICT BOARDS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES MAY DECIDE THAT THE CURRENT REPRESENTATIVES THEY ELECTED LAST APRIL TO THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL SHOULD CONTINUE TO HOLD OFFICE.

MR LIAO WAS SPEAKING DURING THE SECOND READING DEBATE OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL BILL WHICH WAS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY WITH SEVERAL AMENDMENTS.

ONE AMENDMENT DELETED CLAUSE 60 WHICH PROVIDED FOR AUTOMATIC EXTENSION OF TENURE FOR DISTRICT BOARD REPRESENTATIVES ON THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL.

MR LIAO EXPLAINED THAT THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL WAS SET UP TO ALLOW SOME WORKING EXPERIENCE TO BE GAINED BEFORE THE REGIONAL COUNCIL COMES INTO BEING IN 1986.

IT WAS INTENDED, HE SAID, THAT SUCH VALUABLE EXPERIENCE SHOULD BE CARRIED FORWARD TO THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, AND CLAUSE 60 OF THE BILL WAS A TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENT DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN SUCH CONTINUITY.

+1 SHOULD STRESS THAT THIS INTENTION WAS AND STILL IS BASED ON LOGICAL AND SENSIBLE GROUNDS, + HE SAID.

MR LIAO NOTED THAT THE CONTINUITY CLAUSE HAD BEEN WELL RECEIVED BY THE MAJORITY OF DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, BUT SOME HAD ARGUED THAT DISTRICT BOARDS SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO ELECT THEIR REPRESENTATIVES TO THE REGIONAL COUNCIL IF THEY WISH TO DO SO.

+HAVING CAREFULLY BALANCED THIS ARGUMENT AGAINST THE NEED TO PROVIDE FOR CONTINUITY, THE ADMINISTRATION AGREES THAT PROVISIONS SHOULD BE MADE TO GIVE THE NINE DISTRICT BOARDS CONCERNED THE OPTION OF HOLDING ANOTHER ELECTION OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES TO THE REGIONAL COUNCIL IN MARCH 1986, + HE SAID.

ON ANOTHER PROPOSAL THAT THERE SHOULD BE STATUTORY PROVISION FOR THREE APPOINTED REGIONAL COUNCILLORS TO BE MEMBERS OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK IN ADDITION TO THE THREE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS FROM THE KUK, MR LIAO REITERATED THAT THE ARRANGEMENT AGREED BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT * AND THE KUK WAS TO ENSURE THAT THE INTEREST OF THE RURAL COMMUNITY IS BEING ADEQUATELY TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

+AS LONG AS THIS UNDERSTANDING IS OBSERVED IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE TO ADOPT A DOGMATIC APPROACH DURING THE FORMATIVE PERIOD OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL,+ HE SAID.

MR LIAO ASSURED THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL, THAT THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENT WOULD BE REVIEWED IN THE LIGHT OF FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS.

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