TNAG-1580-FCO40-2154-Extension-to-Hong-Kong-of-European-Community--European-Free-1987 — Page 6

Legislative

Council.

Meanwhile OMELCO and

the

Hong Kong

Government are also reviewing current avenues for the redress of individual grievances, and have published a consultative document on the possible creation of an independent organisation to review com laints of maladministration by Government departments.

1.9

of

Governor

of

of Hong

about

duties are

The only bodies participating in the Government of Hong Kong that consist entirely of members of the public are URBCO and REGCO. Half of URBCO's 30 members are elected; the remainder are appointed by the

from among prominent

prominent members

the

community. The most recent elections were held in March 1986.

areas limited to the urban URBC's responsibilities are Kong Island, Kowloon and New Kowloon (where, altogether,

Its main the population live). three-quarters

and the public hygiene,

control of recreational and cultural facilities. On 1 April 1986 a new REGCO was established with the same powers and functions in the New Territories as URBCO has in the urban area: of REGCO's 36 members are directly elected; 12 are appointed by the Governor; 9 are indirectly elected by the District Boards; and 3 are ex officio representatives of indigenous inhabitants of the New Territories.

1.10

District

Boards Vand

District associated

Committees) were established in 1982 in 18 districts,

urban

area

8

elected and

and

in the New

part appointed,

affecting

the

well-being of

Territories.

the

the

Management

The

on

10 in the

Boards, part

matters

advise

Government

district a the people at

level.

Elections to the Boards were first held in the new Territories in

in September 1982.

March 1982, and in the urban area

The second

round of elections were held in March 1985, when the number of Boards was increased to 19; 213 seats were contested by nearly

500 candidates, and over 476,000, or

over 476,000, or one third of the registered electorate of 1.4 million, voted.

in

and

its

1.11 A White Paper on the further development of representative

1984 November published government

proposals

endorsed by LEGCO in January 1985. The main proposal was

was

that

some Unofficial Members

elected

by specified

of

the Legislative Council functional constituencies and

should

others

be

by

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