TNAG-1413-FCO40-1889-Future-of-Hong-Kong-annual-report-to-Parliament-on-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 20

III.

CONFIDEN TIAL

REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMEN T

15.

For a number of years the Hong Kong Government has been

working to develop in Hong Kong a government structure based

securely upon existing institutions which at all levels would be

both responsive to the needs of a rapidly developing society and

appropriate for the main tenance of Hong Kong's stability and prosperity, Her Majesty's Government, who of course remain ultimately responsible for the administation of Hong King, have throughout given their

agreement

C

(ă)

16.

and

Support to Hais District Boards

process.

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 Hono Kong Government, in the la te 1970s, s ought to introduce

participation in government at the

more

broadly

based popular

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

the residents of the New Town s

District Advisory Boards in the 8

and government

trial period with a

be tween the

Following

administrative districts in the New Territories, and City District

districts, District Boards in the New

Committees in the 10 urban

The Boards' membership

appointed unofficial

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

chairmen of New Territories rural committees.

advisory role, with some responsibility

district affairs.

Councillors

or

for

the

They had mainly an

of

management

17.

representative

In 1984 the Hong

the

of

Kong Government

District Boards

by increasing

announced that the

was

to be strengthened

sta tus

the size of the elected element. Elections in March

1985 re turned 237 elected members,

There

are

369 now

increase an

members unofficial

of 105 from 132.

19 District Boards; in

each

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

members.

- 6

CONFIDEN TIAL