TNAG-1015-FCO40-1265-Quarterly-progress-reports-on-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 264

CONFIDENTIAL

機密

Subject

1. White

Paper "District

Administra-

tion in

Hong Kong"

Purpose

Administration Branch Progress Report (1st November 1980 to 31st January 1981)

Progress made and present position

To improve district administration (1) The White Paper on District Administration to provide a better focus for

consultation and participation by the community in administration

at the district level.

was published on 14th January and tabled in the Legislative Council on 21st January 1981. The White Paper sets out in full detail the proposals for the establishment of District Management Committees and District Boards, the introduction of a directly elected element to the District Boards, the franchise and regulations for candidates for these elections, registra- tion and electoral procedures, revised electoral arrangements for the new style Urban Council elections and consequential legislative requirements.

(2) The Urban Council (Amendment) Bill 1981 was

introduced into the Legislative Council on 21st January 1981. The purpose of this Bill is to make transitional arrangements for those Urban Council members elected in the ordinary elections due in March 1981 to serve for 2 years, instead of the normal 4-year term. }

(3) It is envisaged that the following Bills will be required, for the implementation of the White Paper proposals:-

(i) a Bill to enact revised provisions

for the Urban Council elections;

(ii) a Bill to establish District Boards as statutory bodies and to make en- abling provisions for elections to them; and

(iii) a Bill to make provisions for the

registration of voters and the conduct of elections.

PART I

Next Quarter target

(1) To plan for the

implementation of the White Paper proposals where

and,

!

immediate action is required, to implement them.

(2) To enact the Bill

(3) To issue the drafting instructions

and to process the draft

legislation.

GF 323

CONFIDENTIAL ##