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DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION IN HONG KONG: ESSENTIAL FACTS
1..
On 14 January the Hong Kong Government published a White Paper
on District Administration in Hong Kong. The proposal is that there
should be Advisory Boards throughout the Territory to which part of
the membership should be elected. It is envisaged that legislation
will be passed this year and elections will be held in early 1982.
2.
In New Territories, present District Advisory Boards would be
renamed District Boards and their members would be elected on a
Functions mainly advisory but including respons-
constituency basis.
ibility for some environmental, recreational and cultural matters.
All those over the age of 21 with 7 years' residence in Hong Kong
would be qualified to vote.
3. Similar District Boards would be established in Urban Area but
terms of reference would be narrower to avoid impingeing on respons-
ibilities of the Urban Council.
4. Changes proposed for the Urban Council are primarily consequential
to the proposals for District Boards. Present restricted franchise
for Urban Council elections would be broadened in line with provisions
for District Boards. Elections would be on a constituency basis with
Urban Area divided into 10 Districts, 5 containing one constituency and
5 containing 2. Each would return one member to the Urban Council.
Number of appointed members would be increased to 15 to maintain parity
between them and elected members. Seats on District Boards would be
reserved for both elected and appointed Urban Councillors.
5.
Proposals necessarily limited because any move to fuller 'democracy'
(e.g. elections to Legislative Council) would be resented by Chinese
Government. The White Paper was endorsed by Mr Blaker. Elected Urban
Councillors not happy with many of the proposals, but overall reaction
in Hong Kong has been favourable. There was considerable parliamentary
interest in earlier Green Paper proposals but there has been little
/reaction
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