ENG-1989 — Page 47

CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

30

instalments of $273.6 million. The grant is to enable the council to carry out its own capital works programme in accordance to its own timetable.

The council meets monthly to deal with policy issues, formal motions and members' questions on its activities. The council has set up four functional select committees, nine geographically-based district committees and a liquor licensing board. The four select committees deal with finance and administration, capital works, environmental hygiene, and recreation and culture, while the district committees deal with and monitor the provision of services and advise on the management of council facilities in individual districts. The select committees meet monthly, the district committees meet bi-monthly and the liquor licensing board meets quarterly. All meetings of the council, its select com- mittees, district committees, as well as the liquor licensing board, are open to the public.

The Regional Council maintains close liaison with the district boards in its area and the Heung Yee Kuk to ensure that local aspirations and views are taken into account in its deliberations. Four members from district boards as well as other personalities are co-opted to each of the district committees of the council, thus providing an opportunity for the views of district representatives to be taken into account in the planning and pro- vision of services and facilities.

The council elects a member to the Legislative Council. In addition, it is represented on a number of organisations whose work is closely related to that of the council. These organisations include the Central Committee on Youth, the Council for the Performing _Arts, the Council for Recreation and Sports, the Hong Kong Arts Centre, the Chung Ying

Theatre and the Antiquities Advisory Board.

―

District Administration

District boards are statutory bodies established since 1982 to provide an effective forum for public consultation and participation in the administration of the districts.

There are 19 district boards throughout the territory. Each board consists of appointed non-government members, elected members from the respective constituencies and, in the case of the New Territories, rural committee chairmen. The elected members are in the majority. For the present term of the district boards (1988–1991), there are altogether 264 elected, 141 appointed and 27 ex-officio members.

The last district board elections were held on March 10, 1988, when 493 candidates contested the 264 seats. Thirty-four candidates were returned unopposed. Of the 1.4 million registered voters in constituencies where the seats were contested, 424 444 – or 30.3 per cent - turned out to vote.

The functions of the district boards are basically to advise the government on a wide range of matters affecting the well-being of the people living and working in the districts. Through the advice they make important contributions to the management of district affairs. They also help monitor the work of government departments at the district level. In addition, they are often invited to give views on important territory-wide issues, such as the further development of representative government, education reforms, youth policy and the long-term development of sports and recreation in Hong Kong. Where funds are available, they undertake minor environmental improvement projects and help organise and sponsor activities to promote recreation and culture. In 1989-90, $54.5 million was provided for these purposes.

Each district board operates a 'meet-the-public' scheme under which district residents may, through advance appointment, meet the board members face-to-face to express their views on any district problems and suggest ways for improvement. The scheme has been