TNAG-1750-FCO40-2470-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1988 — Page 159

CHAPTER VII

SUMMARY

157. The main issues discussed in this Green Paper, on which the views of the public are now sought, are summarized below.

The District Boards and the Municipal Councils (Chapter III)

158. As regards the role of the District Boards, the options discussed in paragraphs 39-41 were:

(i) to make no change in the present role of the Boards;

(ii) to empower the Boards to take decisions and to direct the actions of

government departments on certain matters of concern specifically to their district;

(iii) to give to the Boards a role in the management of certain district

facilities.

159. As regards the composition of the District Boards, the options discussed in paragraphs 44-46 and 62-65 were:

(i) to make no change to the present proportions of appointed and

elected members;

(ii) to reduce the proportion of appointed members;

(iii) to withdraw Urban Councillors from ex-officio membership of urban

District Boards.

160. As regards the relationship of the Urban Council with the urban District Boards, the options discussed in paragraphs 62–65 were:

(i) to replace the present system of direct elections to the Council by a system of indirect election of Urban Councillors from among District Board members;

(ii) to provide more opportunities for District Board members to participate

directly in the work of the Urban Council and its Select Committees; (iii) to expand the membership of the Urban Council to include either:

(a) a representative of each urban District Board, elected to the

Council from among the Board members; or

(b)

the Chairman of each urban District Board as an ex-officio member.

161. As regards the size of the Urban Council, the options discussed in paragraph 67 were:

(i) to bring District Board representatives onto the Council;

(ii) to increase equally the number of appointed and directly elected

members;

(iii) to increase the number of directly elected members only.

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