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restructuring into several regional bodies (namely the two-tier arrangement amalgamating district boards and the two municipal councils). Another 11.2% supported maintaining the status quo. We saw from the above figures that more people supported the existence of the two municipal councils.
On responsibility over food safety and environmental health, over 70% of respondents endorsed that the function should be taken up by a merged central body. 15% opposed that arrangement and the remaining 15% gave no comments.
When asked whether they felt district organisations (including the two municipal councils and district boards) should be directly elected, 64% supported the arrangement and only 16.9% opposed it.
Having taken reference from the survey findings, the Democratic Party believes the impending review should be conducted in accordance with the following principles:
1. Further promote the progress of democratisation;
2. Increase opportunities for democratic (public) participation;
3. Enhance administrative efficiency and reduce work duplication by different departments;
4. Stricter monitoring on the use of public funds.
Following me, two other members of the Democratic Party, namely Mr. Wu Chi-wai and Mr. KAM Nai-wai, will continue to state the party position. Thank you.
MR. WU CHI-WAI (in Cantonese): Just now, my colleague from the Democratic Party stated the party's hopes in regard to the Review of District Organisations. These include the most important point of democratic progress, increasing opportunities for democratic (public) participation, enhancing administrative efficiency, reducing duplication of work by various departments and stricter monitoring on the use of public funds. In fact, the above principles have been clearly listed out in the Consultation Document on Review of District Organisations.
Unfortunately, the Paper referred to promoting public participation in community affairs, but no option to achieve that aim was given. The Democratic Party believes it is important to increase channels for public political participation because that is the way to increase the Council's accountability and credibility. We are of the opinion that for every tier of political structure, our society possesses adequate social conditions for general election. The voting rate for the recent LegCo election was over 50%. It proves that members of the public have sufficient civic awareness and are willing to fulfil their civic duties in search for larger space for democracy.
The Democratic Party therefore suggests the mode of general election for all district organisations so as to increase channels for public political
Page 99 of 606
age 99 of 606
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restructuring into several regional bodies (namely the two tier arrangement amalgamating district boards and the two municipal councils). Another 11.2% supported maintaining the status quo. We saw from the above figures that more people supported existence of the two municipal councils.
On responsibility over food safety and environmental health, over 70% of respondents endorsed that the function should be taken up by a merged central body. 15% opposed that arrangement and the remaining 15% gave no
comments.
When asked whether they felt district organisations (including the two municipal councils and district boards) should be directly elected, 64% supported the arrangement and only 16,9% opposed it.
Having taken reference from the survey findings, the Democratic Party believes the impending review should be conducted in accordance with the following principles:
1. Further promote the progress of democratisation;
2. Increase opportunities for democratic (public) participation;
3.
May.
Enhance administrative efficiency and reduce work duplication by different departments:
4. Stricter monitoring on the use of public funds.
Following me, two other members of the Democratic Party, namely Mr. Wu Chi-wai and Mr. KAM Nai-wai, will continue to state the party position. Thank you.
MR. WU CHI-WA! (in Cantonese): Just now, my colleague from the Democratic Party stated the party's hopes in regard to the Review of District Organisations. These include the most important point of democratic progress, increasing opportunities for democratic (public) participation, enhancing administrative efficiency, reducing duplication of work by various departments and stricter monitoring on the use of public funds. In fact, the above principles have been clearly listed out in the Consultation Document on Review of District Organisations.
Unfortunately, the Paper referred to promoting public participation in community affairs, but no option to achieve that aim was given. The Democratic Party believes it is important to increase channels for public political participation because that is the way to increase the Council's accountability and credibility. We are of the opinion that for every tier of political structure, our society possesses adequate social conditions for general election. The voting rate for the recent LegCo election was over 50%. It proves that members of the public have sufficient civic awareness and are willing to fulfil their civic duties in search for larger space for democracy.
The Democratic Party therefore suggests the mode of general election for all district organisations so as to increase channels for public political
Page 99 of 606.
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