TNAG-1413-FCO40-1889-Future-of-Hong-Kong-annual-report-to-Parliament-on-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 152

III.

15.

CONFIDEN TIAL

REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMEN T

For a number of years the

working to develop in Hong Kong

securely upon existing

institutions

both responsive to the needs of a

The following paragraphs

describe both the hisraical

barchfreund and the

Changer

made

an

Com

Result

1984

y the November

смітрара lting Kong colite Paper.

Hong Kong Government has been

a governmen't structure based

which at all levels would be

rapidly developing society and

appropriate for the main tenance of Hong Kong's stability and prosperity. Her Majesty's Government, who

was of course

remain ultimately

agreement

agreem.

responsible for the administration of Hong King, have throughout given their.

support to this process. I

16.

and District Boards

trial a

While a representative system of locally elected elders and

councils serving the indigenous population of the New Territories,

under the umbrella of the Heung Yee Kuk, had existed for many years,

the Hong Kong Government, in the late 1970s, s ought to introduce

more broadly based popular

in participation

government at the

district level, partly in order to fill the gap in consultation

between the government and the residents of the New Town 8.

Following

period with District Advisory

Advisory Boards in the 8

administrative districts in the New Territories, and City District

Committees in the 10 urban districts, District Boards in the New

Territories became statutory bodies in April 1982. Urban District

Boards became statutory six months later.

comprised members elected by constituencies,

members, government officials and either Urban Councillors or

chairmen of New Territories rural committees.

advisory role, with some responsibility

district affairs.

The Boards' membership

appointed unofficial

for

They had mainly an

the management of

17.

In 1984 the Hong

representative by increasing

1985 re turned

There

was

Kong Government

sta tus of the District Boards

the size of the elected element.

237 elected members, an increase

are now

369

unofficial members in

announced that the

to be strengthened

Elections in March

of 105 from 132.

District Boards; 19

each

Board elects its own Chairman; and there are no longer any official

members.

6 -

CONFIDEN TIAL