TNAG-1390-FCO40-1862-Future-of-Hong-Kong-briefing-for-meetings-and-visits-1985 — Page 32

administration.

from a wide

outside the

Unofficial members are selected by the Governor

spectrum of society and they hold more than 300 seats,

>

two councils on various committees and boards dealing

with public and community affairs.

7.

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. The most recent elections were held, for the first time

on a constituency basis, in March 1983 and

next will be held in

1986. 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.

During 1985, a provisional Regional Council will be established with

the same powers and functions in the New Territories as the Urban

Council has in the urban area.

8.

District Boards (and associated District Management Committees)

were established in 1982 in 18 districts, 10 in the urban area and 8

in the New Territories. The Boards provide advice on matters

affecting the well-being of the people at a district level. Two

thirds of their present membership are elected on a constituency

basis with adult suffrage (there are 1.4 million registered

electors), and one third is appointed. Elections were held for the

first time in the New Territories in March 1982, and in the urban

areas in September 1982. The second elections were held in March

1985, when the number of Boards was increased to 19.

9. A White

Paper on the further development of representative

government was published in November 1984. The main proposal in

this was that some Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council

should be elected by specified functional constituencies and others.

by members of the Urban Council, the new Regional Council and the

District Boards. The number of official and appointed Unofficial

members will be reduced. The se arrangements will be introduced in

September 1985. A review of progress towards representative

government will be carried out in 1987. This review will consider