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3. Party Opinion
(i) Although the Consultation Document mentions promotion of public participation in community affairs, it has not offered any plan to achieve that principle. The Democratic Party feels it is important to increase channels for public political participation as a means to increase the accountability and public credibility of different organisations. We believe that we in Hong Kong are equipped with sufficient social conditions to conduct general elections for all levels of council structures. The over 50% voting rate of the recent Legislative Council election proves that our public is adequately civic-minded and willing to fulfill civic duties for greater democratic space.
Proposal: The Democratic Party feels that district organisations should be formed by general election in order to increase channels for political participation. In other words, all appointed, ex-officio and indirectly elected seats should be abolished.
(ii) The Democratic Party agrees that there is need to review the image of the two municipal councils and their division of work with departments. However, to disband the two municipal councils because of this is much too passive. It does not help in increasing opportunities for public political participation and it has negative effects on our progress towards the target of full democracy.
At present, the two municipal councils are responsible for similar functions, but they have different policies. There are at present 16,000 and 11,000 staff members respectively in the two councils. The Democratic Party feels that merging of the two councils and two departments will unify policies. From the management angle, merging of the two departments will streamline structure and enhance efficiency. For example, there are at present 24 directorate staff in the two municipal services departments in charge of culture and entertainment, environmental health, food safety etc. Upon merging, posts of similar nature can be abolished.
As for the functions of district boards, they in fact did contribute to their respective vicinities in the past. District board members are familiar with district affairs and the matters they handle are very detailed. These characteristics are not found in the other two levels of councils. As such, the value of the existence of district boards should be affirmed. It seems appropriate to have 18 district boards as we now have.
Proposal: Support the merging of two municipal councils, streamlining of the administrative structure and maintaining of 18 district boards.
(iii) There are at present 50 members on each municipal council and they are all appointed by the Chief Executive. Before the transfer of sovereignty, we used to have among councillors of the two municipal councils 59 elected members, 19 district board representatives and 3 ex-officio
Page 160 of 606
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Page 160Page 161
Page 160 of 606
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
XVII
3. Party Opinion
(i) Although the Consultation Document mentions promotion of public participation in community affairs, it has not offered any plan to achieve that principle. The Democratic Party feels it is important to increase channels for public political participation as a means to increase the accountability and public credibility of different organisations. We believe that we in Hong Kong are equipped with sufficient social conditions to conduct general elections for all levels of council structures. The over 50% voting rate of the recent Legislative Council election proves that our public is adequately civic-minded and willing to fulfill civic duties for greater democratic space.
Proposal: The Democratic Party feels that district organisations should be formed by general election in order to increase channels for political participation. In other words, all appointed, ex-officio and indirectly elected seats should be abolished.
(ii) The Democratic Party agrees that there is need to review the image of the two municipal councils and their division of work with departments. However, to disband the two municipal councils because of this is much too passive. It does not help in increasing opportunities for public political participation and it has negative effects on our progress towards the target of full democracy.
At present, the two municipal councils are responsible for similar functions, but they have different policies. There are at present 16 000 and 11.000 staff members respectively in the two councils. The Democratic Party feels that merging of the two councils and two departments will unify policies. From the management angle, merging of the two departments will streamline structure and enhance efficiency. For example, there are at present 24 directorate staff in the two municipal services departments in charge of culture and entertainment, environmental health, food safety etc. Upon merging, posts of similar nature can be abolished.
As for the functions of district boards, they in fact did contribute to their respective vicinities in the past. District board members are familiar with district affairs and the matters they handle are very detailed. These characteristics are not found in the other two levels of councils. As such, the value of the existence of district boards should be affirmed. It seems appropriate to have 18 district boards as we now have.
Proposal: Support the merging of two municipal councils, streamlining of the administrative structure and maintaining of 18 district boards.
(iii) There are at present 50 members on each municipal council and they are all appointed by the Chief Executive. Before the transfer of sovereignty, we used to have among councillors of the two municipal councils 59 elected members. 19 district board representatives and 3 ex-officio
Page 160 of 606
Page 160 of
Page 160Page 161
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