TNAG-2012-FCO40-2864-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1991-1990 — Page 84

For decision

on 20 February 1990

THE PROBLEM

CONFIDENTIAL

Annex B

Blue Vol XXXIX (17)

XCX (90) 5 Copy No.

MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

COMPOSITION OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS IN 1991

of the

Attention has so far focussed on constitutional reform but we also need to consider the development of the lower tiers of representative government: the district boards and the municipal councils.

in 1991, Legislative Council

RECOMMENDATION AND ADVICE SOUGHT

2

(a)

(b)

(c)

(a)

It is recommended that -

the composition of the district boards should remain unchanged in 1991 (paragraph 9);

the numbers of directly elected seats on the municipal councils should be increased in 1991 (paragraph 12);

in

relation to (b), the increase should be achieved by reducing the number of appointed seats to 25% of the total membership of the respective councils (paragraph 12); and

municipal

1995

decisions on the composition of the district

the boards and

in councils should be taken, after the constitutional reforms for 1991 have been implemented and the results assessed (paragraph 14).

3

Members

are

asked recommendation should be approved.

advise to

whether

this

BACKGROUND AND ARGUMENT

1988 White

Government

4

the

Councils

community

Paper

on

the Development

of

Representative

The 1988 White Paper did not envisage any change in

Boards District composition of

current

the

However,

the

and the Municipal desire of the for a quicker pace of political development, through

in 1991.

CONFIDENTIAL