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XVI
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
Annex II
(TRANSLATION)
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
1.
Full Direct Election for District Organisations Merging of the Two Municipal Councils
Full Responsibility over the Food Safety Function Opinion Paper of the Democratic Party on 'Review of District Organisation'
Forward
All along in the development process of representative government in Hong Kong, district organisations progressed towards democratisation. By 1995, all appointed seats of the two municipal councils and our district boards were cancelled. Although district board representatives and ex-officio seats for the Heung Yee Kuk have remained, the abolition of appointed seats signals a new era in democratisation. Unfortunately, after the transfer of sovereignty, the SAR Government not only has not gone further in the policy of full direct elections to enhance the accountability of district organisations, but has brought back appointed seats thereby greatly slowed down the progress of democracy.
In recent years, the image of the two municipal councils has gone low. There is need for improvement as far as their work efficiency and division of work with other government departments are concerned. As such, the Democratic Party agrees that this is the time for review of the structure and functions of district organisations. However, from the opinions collected on the existence or otherwise of the two municipal councils in a telephone survey conducted recently by the Democratic Party, interviewees in general support fully directly elected district organisations and the merging of the two municipal councils to take overall charge of food safety and environmental health functions. (See annex for the survey findings.)
After considering the survey findings, the Democratic Party believes that the relevant review should proceed in the following principles:
2. Suitable principles to adopt in conducting the review
The Democratic Party feels the review of district organisations should proceed along the following principles:
(a) further promotion of the progress of democratisation;
(b) enhancement of opportunities for democratic participation;
(c) enhancement of executive efficiency and reduction of duplication of the work of other government departments:
(d) Stricter supervision over the use of public funds.
Page 159 of
Page 159 of 600
of 606
XVI
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
Annex II
(TRANSLATION)
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
1.
Full Direct Election for District Organisations Merging of the Two Municipal Councils
Full Responsibility over the Food Safety Function Opinion Paper of the Democratic Party on 'Review of District Organisation'
Forward
All along in the development process of representative government in Hong Kong, district organisations progressed towards democratisation. By 1995, all appointed seats of the two municipal councils and our district boards were cancelled. Although district board representatives and ex-offcio seats for the Heung Yee Kuk have remained, the abolition of appointed seats signals a new era in democratisation. Unfortunately, after the transfer of sovereignty, the SAR Government not only has not gone further in the policy of full direct elections to enhance the accountability of district organisations, but has brought back appointed seats thereby greatly slowed down the progress of democracy.
In recent years, the image of the two municipal councils has gone low. There is need for improvement as far as their work efficiency and division of work with other government departments are concerned. As such, the Democratic Party agrees that this is the time for review of the structure and functions of district organisations. However, from the opinions collected on the existence or otherwise of the two municipal councils in a telephone survey conducted recently by the Democratic Party, interviewees in general support fully directly elected district organisations and the merging of the two municipal councils to take overall charge of food safety and environmental health functions. (Sec annex for the survey findings.)
After considering the survey findings, the Democratic Party believes that the relevant review should proceed in the following principles:
2. Suitable principles to adopt in conducting the review
The Democratic Party feels the review of district organisations should proceed along the following principles:
(a) further promotion of the progress of democratisation;
(b) enhancement of opportunities for democratic participation;
(c) enhancement of executive efficiency and reduction of duplication of the
work of other government departments:
(d) Stricter supervision over the use of public funds.
Page 159 of
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