XN000022-1986-02-05 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1986

BILLS DEFINE SCOPE OF COUNCILS

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THREE BILLS DEFINING THE RESPONSIBILITIES, BOUNDARIES AND JURISDICTIONS OF THE NEW REGIONAL COUNCIL AND THE URBAN COUNCIL WERE READ A SECOND TIME IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON BARRIE WIGGHAM,

THE BILLS ENABLE THE TWO COUNCILS TO PROVIDE A FULL RANGE OF SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC, AND AT THE SAME TIME ALLOW FOR COST EFFECTIVENESS AND ADMINISTRATIVE CONVENIENCE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SUCH FACILITIES.

THE JURISDICTIONS OF THE TWO COUNCILS WOULD BE DIVIDED INTO THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AREA AND THE URBAN COUNCIL AREA IN DEALING WITH PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, MR WIGGHAM SAID.

+DEVELOPMENTS SINCE THE ENACTMENT OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL ORDINANCE IN JULY LAST YEAR HAVE MADE A NUMBER OF MINOR CHANGES TO THE ORDINANCE NECESSARY, HE EXPLAINED,

+THE REGIONAL COUNCIL BILL SEEKS TO MAKE AMENDMENTS SO THAT THE REGIONAL COUNCIL CAN OPERATE EFFECTIVELY WHEN IT COMES INTO BEING ON APRIL 1, + HE SAID.

+THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL HAS ALSO MADE CERTAIN CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO THE URBAN COUNCIL ORDINANCE AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE ESSENTIAL, HE ADDED.

PROPOSALS IN THE REGIONAL COUNCIL BILL SPECIFY THAT MEMBERS

AT THE OF THE COUNCIL WOULD MEET ON APRIL 1 TO ELECT A CHAIRMAN. SAME TIME, THE COUNCIL WOULD BECOME THE AUTHORITY IN THE COLLECTION OF WASTE IN THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AREA WHILE THE URBAN COUNCIL WOULD CONTINUE TO BE THE COLLECTION AUTHORITY IN THE URBAN COUNCIL AREA.

THE REGIONAL COUNCIL WOULD, LIKE THE URBAN COUNCIL, BE EMPOWERED TO PROVIDE RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND TO DETERMINE CHARGES ACCORDINGLY,

THE CHINESE NAME OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL WOULD BE CHANGED AS IT IS TOO SIMILAR TO THE CHINESE NAME OF DISTRICT BOARDS, MR WIGGHAM SAID.

+OTHER MINOR AMENDMENTS INCLUDE PROVISIONS TO EXPAND THE CATEGORY OF PUBLIC OFFICERS WHO MAY ATTEND MEETINGS OF COMMITTEES AND SUB-COMMITTEES OF THE COUNCIL, AND TO BRING THE ORDINANCE INTO LINE WITH THE EXISTING ACCOUNTING SYSTEM AND PRACTICES OF THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL AND THOSE ENVISAGED FOR THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, HE SAID.

/+THE URBAN