XN000022-1987-12-18 — Page 4

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1987

CHANGES TO DB COMPOSITION ANNOUNCED

THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) ANNOUNCED CERTAIN CHANGES TO THE COMPOSITION OF DISTRICT BOARDS FOR THE NEW TERM STARTING IN APRIL

1988.

THERE WILL BE A SMALL INCREASE IN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SEATS THE 19 DISTRICT BOARDS.

ON

THE OVERALL NUMBER OF ELECTED SEATS WILL BE INCREASED BY 27 (FROM 237 TO 264) AND THAT OF APPOINTED SEATS BY NINE (FROM 132 ΤΟ 141).

ANNOUNCING THESE CHANGES AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DONALD LIAO, SAID THEY REFLECTED THE MAINTENANCE OF THE GENERAL POLICY OF PROVIDING ONE ELECTED SEAT FOR A POPULATION OF 25,000 AND TWO SEATS WHERE THE POPULATION WAS 35,000 OR MORE.

THE ESTABLISHED RATIO OF APPOINTED AND ELECTED MEMBERS WOULD ALSO BE MAINTAINED AT APPROXIMATELY 1:2.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO DECIDED THAT THE EXISTING PRACTICE, WHEREBY URBAN COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS OF DISTRICT BOARDS, SHOULD CEASE IN MARCH 1989 WHEN THE TENURE OF THE PRESENT URBAN COUNCIL EXPIRES.

IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNMENT WILL PUT FORWARD PROPOSALS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO REPEAL THE PRESENT LEGISLATION WHICH REQUIRES AN URBAN COUNCILLOR TO RESIGN FROM THE COUNCIL UPON ELECTION TO A DISTRICT BOARD; OR A DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER TO RESIGN FROM HIS BOARD UPON ELECTION OR APPOINTMENT TO THE URBAN COUNCIL.

EXISTING LEGISLATION ALREADY PERMITS A PERSON TO SERVE AS A MEMBER BOTH OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AND OF A DISTRICT BOARD IN THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AREA.

MR LIAO EXPLAINED THAT THE LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENT WOULD ENABLE EXISTING URBAN COUNCILLORS WHO WISHED TO REMAIN ON DISTRICT BOARDS IN THE URBAN COUNCIL AREA AFTER MARCH 1989 TO SEEK ELECTION TO THE DISTRICT BOARDS IN THE 1988 ELECTIONS.

NOMINATIONS FOR THE RECEIVED FROM JANUARY 8 TO HELD ON MARCH 10.

NEXT DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS WILL BE FEBRUARY 1, 1988. THE ELECTIONS WILL BE

MR LIAO SAID

THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN ASKED BY SOME PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES FOR THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS TO GIVE A CLEAR INDICATION OF ITS INTENTION ON CERTAIN MATTERS WHICH WOULD AFFECT THEIR DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO STAND FOR ELECTION.

/IT HAD