TNAG-1372-FCO40-1818-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 168

7. MEETINGS OF LEGCO AND ITS COMMITTEES ARE HELD IN PUBLIC.

8. UNTIL THIS YEAR, ALL LEGCO MEMBERS (POTH OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL!

WERE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, WITH UNOFFICIALS IN THE MAJORITY.

FOR THE NEW SESSION STARTING ON 30 OCTOBER 1985, THE TOTAL NUMBER

OF SEATS HAS BEEN INCREASED TO FIFTY-SIX, OF WHICH TEN ARE RESERVED

FOR OFFICIALS AND TWENTY-TWO FOR UNOFFICIALS APPOINTED BY THE

GOVERNOR. THE REMAINING UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ARE RETURNED BY A MIXED

SYSTEM OF INDIRECT ELECTION TWELVE BY GEOGRAPHICALLY BASED

ELECTOPAL COLLEGES, AND TWELVE EY FUNCTIONAL' ' CONSTITUENCIES.

(SEE BELOW) THE NEW LEGOO WILL MEET WEEKLY INSTEAD OF FORTNIGHTLY

AS IN THE PAST.

THE ELECTORAL COLLEGES

9. THE ELECTORAL COLLEGES ARE MADE UP OF MEMBERS OF THE 19 DISTRICT

BOARDS, THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE REGIONAL COUNCIL. GROUPS OF 2 OR 3 BOARDS AND THE TWO COUNCILS INDIVIDUALLY EACH ELECT ONE MEMBER.

10. DISTRICT BOARDS ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON THE PROVISION OF

SERVICES WITHIN EACH OF THE TERRITORY'S ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICTS

AND ACT AS SOUNDING BOARDS FOR PUBLIC OPINION. BEFORE APRIL 1985,

DISTRICT BOARDS WERE MADE UP OF OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS.

AMONG THE LATTER GROUP, ABOUT HALF WERE DIRECTLY ELECTED BY THE

LOCAL ELECTORATE. AS FROM 1 APRIL 1935, DISTRICT BOARDS CONSIST

SOLELY OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS. THEIR MEMBERSHIP IS DIVIDED

APPROXIMATELY 2 : 1 BETWEEN ELECTED AND APPOINTED MEMBERS.

11. THE URBAN COUNCIL IS A STATUTORY BODY CHARCED WITH

RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROVIDING MUNICIPAL SERVICES IN THE MAIN URBAN

AREAS. MEMBERS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL ATTEND MEETINGS OF THE URBAN

DISTRICT BOARDS TO PROVIDE A LINK WITH THE DISTRICT CONSULTATIVE

MACHINERY. FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, A PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL

WAS SET UP IN APRIL 1985, TO PAVE. THE WAY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT

IN APRIL 1986 OF A REGIONAL COUNCIL WHICH WILL MIRROR THE FUNCTIONS

OF THE URBAN COUNCIL. THE REGIONAL COUNCIL HAS SEATS RESERVED FOR

REPRESENTATIVES ELECTED BY THE NT DISTRICT BOARDS.

12. THE ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS, THE URBAN COUNCIL

AND THE REGIONAL COUNCIL ARE RETURNED BY UNIVERSAL ADULT SUFFRAGE.

FUNCIONAL CONSTITUENCIES

13. TRADITIONALLY LEGCO HAS EMBRACED A CROSS-SECTION OF HONG KONG'S

PROFESSIONAL AND ECONOMIC CLASSES. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE AN ELEMENT

OF CONTINUITY IN THE EVOLUTION OF LEGCO, THEIR APPOINTMENT HAS

BEEN FORMALISED BY THE INTRODUCTION OF NINE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES

: COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND LACOUR, EACH RETURNING TWO REPRESENT- ATIVES TO LEGCO: AND FINANCIAL, SOCIAL SERVICES, MEDICAL, EDUCATION,

LEGAL AND ENGINEERING AND ASSOCIATED PROFESSIONS, EACH RETURNING

ONE REPRESENTATIVE.

UMELCO

2-

CONFIDENTIAL

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