TNAG-1230-FCO40-1543-Visit-by-Richard-Luce--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Com-1983 — Page 173

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1.9 The only body participating in the Government of Hong Kong that consists entirely of members of the public is the Urban Council (URBCO). 15 of its 30 members are elected; the remainder are appointed by the Governor from among prominent members of the

community. Elections were held, for the first time on a

constituency basis, in March. URBCO's responsibilities are limited

to the urban areas of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Kowloon

(where, altogether, about three-quarters of the population live).

Its main duties are public hygiene, and the control of recreational

and cultural facilities.

1.10 District Boards (and associated District Management

Committees)' have recently been established in 18 districts, 10 in

the urban area and 8 in the New Territories. One third of the

membership of these Boards is elected on a constituency basis with

adult suffrage (there are 900,000 registered electors), one third is

appointed and one third consists of Government Officials. The

Boards provide advice on matters affecting the well-being of the people at a district level. Elections were held for the first time

in the New Territories in March 1982, and in the urban areas in

September 1982. About 50% of registered electors voted in the

former, and 35% in the latter.

1.11 There are few organised political groups in Hong Kong. Two small, quasi-political organisations contest URBCO and now District Board elections, but they are really no more than pressure groups and their membership is limited to a small number of mainly middle-class Chinese and expatriates of no particular ideological background.

They

1.12 By far the most significant political presence in Hong Kong is

that of the Communist Chinese. There are a number of overt

Communist organisations, including trade unions and schools.

are tightly disciplined and controlled by the local party organisation appointed by Peking (headed by the Director of the local Office of the New China News Agency). These organisations

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