XN000022-1992-10-07 — Page 53

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1992

GIVE

"SUCH A STEP WOULD HAVE TWO MAIN EFFECTS. FIRST IT WOULD EVERY SINGLE WORKER IN HONG KONG THE OPPORTUNITY TO ELECT то THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL A MEMBER TO REPRESENT HIM OR HER AT THE WORKPLACE. SECONDLY, BY ENCOMPASSING ALL OCCUPATIONS, WE WILL ENSURE BROAD REPRESENTATION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

"THESE ARRANGEMENTS WOULD RESULT IN THE FRANCHISES OF THE 30 FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES BEING EXTENDED TO ALL ELIGIBLE WORKERS IN OUR WORKING POPULATION OF 2.7 MILLION. NATURALLY EACH VOTER WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO VOTE IN ONE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY, MR PATTEN ADDED.

STRONGER LOCAL ADMINISTRATION

11

THE GOVERNOR SAID THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS ALREADY HAD EXTENSIVE EXECUTIVE POWERS, BUT THE VERY VALUABLE DISTRICT BOARDS WERE FAR TOO LIMITED IN THEIR FUNCTIONS.

HE SAID HE INTENDED TO EXPAND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, FUNCTIONS AND BUDGETS IN 1993 TO "GIVE THEM GREATER RESPONSIBILITY FOR ISSUES WHICH AFFECT THE RESIDENTS OF THEIR PARTICULAR DISTRICTS".

THE

DISTRICT BOARDS WOULD BE GIVEN FULL AUTHORITY IN MANAGING FUNDS FOR MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS AND COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES. THEY WOULD ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING COMMUNITY HALLS AND FOR MAKING APPOINTMENTS TO A VARIETY OF LOCAL BODIES, SUCH AS SCHOOL AND INDUSTRIAL LIAISON COMMITTEES AND CIVIC EDUCATION COMMITTEES.

MR PATTEN HAS ALSO PROPOSED THAT FROM 1994 ALL DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD BE DIRECTLY ELECTED, EXCEPT EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

SIMILARLY THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS ON THE TWO MUNICIPAL COUNCILS SHOULD ALSO BE INCREASED.

YEE

"WHILE CONTINUING TO ALLOW THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE HEUNG KUK TO ELECT THEIR EXISTING NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES COUNCILS, WE SHOULD ABOLISH THE APPOINTED SEATS.'

BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION

++

TO THESE

MR

GOOD

PATTEN SAID THE ARRANGEMENTS OUTLINED WOULD INVOLVE A DEAL OF WORK IN DEFINING THE BOUNDARIES FOR THE NEW AND EXISTING CONSTITUENCIES.

ESTABLISHMENT

IN ORDER TO ENSURE FAIRNESS, HE HAS PROPOSED THE OF AN INDEPENDENT BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION WHICH WOULD REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE GOVERNOR.

THE 1995 ELECTION COMMITTEE

FOR

MR 1995,

COMMUNITY.

PATTEN SAID THAT IF THERE WAS TO BE AN FLECTION COMMITTEE THE IDEAL WOULD BE ONE GENUINELY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE

/"THE SIMPLEST