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the population ratio to seats on the existing two municipal councils and district boards, it is in general appropriate. There should not be the need to increase or cut their numbers drastically.
We suggest that the merged municipal council should have 60 seats for elected members and that the number of elected seats on the district boards should remain unchanged. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Kam Nai-wai (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, two other colleagues of the Democratic Party already spoke about our survey and the Party's views on the future structure and composition of district organisations.
I shall speak on how we should implement food safety and environmental health services and how we could serve the community better.
Earlier on, several colleagues mentioned that when the Consultation Paper on Review of District Organisations was heard of last year, everyone felt the review was necessary and hoped it would result in streamlining of the structure. After the publication of the Consultation Document, everyone has become aware that things are quite different from our expectation. The main reason is that Government has stated the premise that whatever is to be done with streamlining the structure, Government will recall powers over food safety and environmental health. Government is glossing this under the claim that the new arrangement will improve policy coordination and increase efficiency, but the Democratic Party finds this change a hindrance to attaining the target of public participation in public policy affairs. There is no mention in the Consultation Document of the role of the public in the policy making process. Indeed, there is no sufficient reasoning for Government to believe this change would increase the accountability of policy bureaux to match that of public bodies.
We do not deny that there is duplication in the present two councils three departments structure (to manage food safety and environmental health). If we can have one executive department to handle the above functions, it will help to increase executive efficiency. However, before any reform is to materialise, elected councils should be suitably vested with the power to conduct effective monitoring.
The Democratic Party suggests for the two municipal services departments to be combined into one executive department fully responsible for overall food safety and environmental health matters in addition to existing responsibilities over culture, entertainment and recreation. This will solve the problem of duties spread out among departments as well as enhance crisis management ability through improved executive efficiency. A combined municipal council will then be tasked with formulating policies and monitoring the work of the new department.
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the population ratio to seats on the existing two municipal councils and district boards, it is in general appropriate. There should not be the need to increase of cut their numbers drastically.
We suggest that the merged municipal council should have 60 seats for elected members and that the number of elected seats on the district boards should remain unchanged. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Kam Nai-wai (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, two other colleagues of the Democratic Party already spoke about our survey and the Party's views on the future structure and composition of district organisations.
I shall speak on how we should implement food safety and environmental health services and how we could serve the community better.
Earlier on, several colleagues mentioned that when the Consultation Paper on Review of District Organisations was heard of last year, everyone fell the review was necessary and hoped it would result in streamlining of the structure. After the publication of the Consultation Document, everyone has become aware that things are quite different from our expectation. The main reason is that Government has stated the premise that whatever is to be done with streamlining the structure, Government will recall powers over food safety and environmental health. Government is glossing this under the claim that the new arrangement will improve policy coordination and increase efficiency, but the Democratic Party finds this change a hindrance to attaining the target of public participation in public policy affairs. There is no mention in the Consultation Document of the role of the public in the policy making process. Indeed, there is no sufficient reasoning for Government to believe this change would increase the accountability of policy bureaux to match that of public bodies.
We do not deny that there is duplication in the present two councils three departments structure (to manage food safety and environmental health). If we can have one executive department to handle the above functions, it will help to increase executive efficiency. However, before any reform is to materialise, elected councils should be suitably vested with the power to conduct effective monitoring.
The Democratic Party suggests for the two municipal services departments to be combined into one executive department fully responsible for overall food safely and environmental health matters in addition to existing responsibilities over culture, entertainment and recreation. This will solve the problem of duties spread out among departments as well as enhance crisis management ability through improved executive efficiency. A combined municipal council will then be tasked with formulating policies and monitoring the work of the new department.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.