TNAG-1283-FCO40-1635-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 49

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(A) TO ESTABLISH DISTRICT BOARDS, WITH AN ELECTED ELEMENT, EACH OF THE EIGHTEEN DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG ISLAND, KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES:

IN

(B) TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL TO 15, EACH REPRESENTING A SEPARATE CONSTITUENCY: AND

(C) TO CREATE A NEW ELECTORAL FRANCHISE FOR ALL PERSONS AGED 21 YEARS AND ABOVE WITH 7 YEARS' ORDINARY RESIDENCE IN HONG KONG, WHICH WOULD APPLY TO BOTH THE DISTRICT BOARD AND URBAN COUNCIL

ELECTIONS.

5. ELECTIONS FOR THE NEW DISTRICT BOARDS WERE HELD DURING 1982 AND ELECTIONS FOR THE NEW URBAN COUNCIL CONSTITUTENCIES WERE

HELD IN MARCH 1983.

6. IN HIS ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON 5 OCTOBER 1983, THE GOVERNOR SAID QUOTE OUR PRESENT SYSTEM OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION IS RELATIVELY NEW. IN PARTICULAR, THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME, AN INNOVATIVE EXTENSION OF THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT BY

NOW CONSULTATION AND CONSENT WHICH HAS EVOLVED IN HONG KONG, ENABLES PEOPLE TO EXERT A DIRECT INFLUENCE ON THE MANAGEMENT OF DISTRICT AFFAIRS. BUT WE MUST ENSURE THAT IT REMAINS SUITED TO HONG KONG'S CHANGING NEEDS AND CIRCUMSTANCES. I HAVE THEREFORE ASKED THAT THE EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR LOCAL ADMINISTRATION, AND THE ORGANISATION OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE DECISIONS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE ADVICE OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS, SHOULD BE EXAMINED TO CONSIDER WHETHER THEY MIGHT BE IMPROVED. UNQUOTE

7. THE PROPOSALS TO INCREASE THE ELECTED ELEMENT IN THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND TO CREATE A NEW REGIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES STEM FROM THE REVIEW OF THE SYSTEM OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION CALLED FOR BY THE GOVERNOR.

8. THE AIM OF THE PROPOSALS IS TO CONTINUE THE PROCESS OF ENCOURAGING GREATER PARTICIPATION BY THE PUBLIC IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG.

YOUDE

LIMITED

COPIES TO:-

HKD

THIS TELEGRAM

HKGO

LONDON

MR DONALD

WAS NOT ADVANCED

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