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local public. In a motion debate in the Council early this year, we were the first to put forward the opinion that there was a need for the Municipal Councils to establish an additional communication mechanism between them in order to enhance their efficiency in liaison, policy coordination, and resource utilization. That the proposal has won the support of our colleagues in the Council proves that we all recognise that the Municipal Councils' existing setup is unsatisfactory and so needs improvement.
Simply speaking, the HKADPL feels that in the long run, the two-tier district organisations should be streamlined into a single tier called the ‘City Councils’. The City Councils should have broad representation and be formed by means of general elections. They should be given actual powers in district administration. Through a mechanism for nominating representatives, the City Councils should be in the position to participate indirectly in organisations dealing with livelihood issues affecting the entirety of Hong Kong. As for the two Councils' work regarding livelihood policies in Hong Kong, we feel that it could be turned over to special and independent ad hoc organisations. The City Councils should primarily take charge of district affairs, but they should be given the authority to make decisions on district policies, and they should carry out executive and management functions in the light of the situations of various districts so that they could serve the districts concerned in a better and more effective way. We think that the existing 18 District Boards and two Councils could gradually be merged and streamlined into four or five City Councils. All the seats in the City Councils should be directly elected through the one person, one vote mode. Following extensive consultations, the mode of election should be drafted by the departments concerned and approved by the Legislature. The voters' eligibility should be the same as that of Legislature voters, and the residential districts could be divided into election districts. In each district, there could be one seat for every 20,000 to 30,000 persons to form the district City Councils concerned. Certainly, the City Councils being proposed would still be able to carry out such functions as making district consultation, effecting communication between the Central Government and the districts, managing district facilities and services, organising cultural, recreational, sports and artistic activities, providing general services to the public as well as grooming political leaders and talents.
As for the formulation and implementation of local policies on food premises, liquor licensing, culture, recreation and arts, we feel that those duties could be assumed by independent ad hoc organisations. Those organisations could be set up in the form of licensing councils and development councils which would be entrusted with the responsibilities of formulating the policies concerned, enhancing efficiency and streamlining the standards concerned.
Mr. Chairman, I am aware that many of my colleagues and members of the community would worry that the drastic changes in terms of power and size of membership following the restructuring of district organisations would adversely affect vested interests, and that the effects of local communication
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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
local public. In a motion debate in the Council early this year, we were the first to put forward the opinion that there was a need for the Municipal Councils to establish an additional communication mechanism between them in order to enhance their efficiency in liaison, policy coordination, and resource utilization. That the proposal has won the support of our colleagues in the Council proves that we all recognise that the Municipal Councils' existing setup is unsatisfactory and so needs improvement.
Simply speaking, the HKADPL feels that in the long run, the two-tier district organisations should be streamlined into a single tier called the ‘City Councils. The City Councils should have broad representation and be formed by means of general elections. They should be given actual powers in district administration. Through a mechanism for nominating representatives, the City Councils should be in the position to participate indirectly in organisations dealing with livelihood issues affecting the entirety of Hong Kong. As for the two Councils' work regarding livelihood policies in Hong Kong, we feel that it could be turned over to special and independent ad hoc organisations. The City Councils should primarily take charge of district affairs, but they should be given the authority to make decisions on district policies, and they should carry out executive and management functions in the light of the situations of various districts so that they could serve the districts concerned in a better and more effective way. We think that the existing 18 District Boards and two Councils could gradually be merged and streamlined into four or five City Councils. All the seats in the City Councils should be directly elected through the one person, one vote mode. Following extensive consultations, the mode of election should be drafted by the departments concerned and approved by the Legislature. The voters' eligibility should be the same as that of Legislature voters, and the residential districts could be divided into election districts. In each district, there could be onc seat for every 20 000 to 30 000 persons to form the district City Councils concerned. Certainly, the City Councils being proposed would still be able to carry out such functions as making district consultation, effecting communication between the Central Government and the districts, managing district facilities and services, organising cultural, recreational, sports and artistic activities, providing general services to the public as well as grooming political leaders and talents.
As for the formulation and implementation of local policies on food premises, liquor licensing, culture, recreation and arts, we feel that those duties could be assumed by independent ad hoc organisations. Those organisations could be set up in the form of licensing councils and development councils which would be entrusted with the responsibilities of formulating the policies concerned, enhancing efficiency and streamlining the standards concerned.
Mr. Chairman, I am aware that many of my colleagues and members of the community would worry that the drastic changes in terms of power and size of membership following the restructuring of district organisations would adversely affect vested interests, and that the effects of local communication
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