ENG-1986 — Page 41

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CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

Until 1986, the district offices in Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi were administratively part of one district, under the direction of the District Commissioner, Tsuen Wan. However, in August the two district offices became independent of each another. As a result, the number of administrative districts was increased to 19, equal to the number of district boards.

District offices and their sub-offices operate 66 Public Enquiry Service Centres through- out the territory. These centres provide a wide range of services free of charge to members of the public, including: answering general enquiries on government services, distributing government forms and information materials, administering statutory declarations, and managing the Free Legal Advice Scheme and the Rent Officer Scheme. During the year, these centres dealt with 15 million visits by people making enquiries and seeking assistance.

In addition to district issues, the district boards' views were also invited on important policy documents with territory-wide implications, dealing with subjects such as the future of broadcasting in Hong Kong, proposals regarding medical services, changes in the law relating to triad society offences, and other proposals relating to law reform.

During the year, the nine district boards in the New Territories elected their representa- tives to the new Regional Council established in April. These nine members became the chairmen of the Regional Council's district committees established in each district to carry out their statutory functions. Each district committee comprises 15 members, of whom four come from the district boards and three come from the community, the rest being Regional Councillors.

Links Between the Representative Institutions

The Urban Council has established a close link with the district boards in the urban areas in that all Urban Councillors sit on district boards: elected councillors are ex-officio members of the boards of the district in which their constituencies lie, while appointed councillors are assigned to various boards. Moreover, through its regular meetings with groups of district board chairmen, the Urban Council is cultivating a closer relationship with the District Boards.

New Territories district boards maintain a close relationship with the Heung Yee Kuk (a statutory advisory body which represents the indigenous population of the New Terri- tories). Seats are reserved on the district boards for rural committee chairmen who are also ex-officio members of the Heung Yee Kuk's executive committee. With the formal establishment of the Regional Council in April 1986, a close link has been created with district boards in the New Territories. Each district board has a representative member on the Regional Council, and district board members are also included in the recently established special district committees under the Regional Council. Through these chan- nels, the district boards are consulted on a wide range of council matters affecting them.

The Regional Council also has a formal link with the Heung Yee Kuk, through the ex-officio membership of the chairman and the two vice-chairmen on the council. Moreover, three of its appointed members have also been chosen from members of the kuk to ensure a strong relationship with the traditional inhabitants of the New Territories.

The Urban Council and Regional Council which cover much the same fields in their respective areas have, during the year, set up liaison meetings between the two bodies and have also instituted joint ventures. In particular the Keep Hong Kong Clean Committee now encompasses both councils. The 1986 Flower Show was also a responsibility of both councils and planning has begun for the first joint Flower Show which will be held in the Regional Council's Shatin Central Park in March 1987.