ENG-2001 — Page 46

CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

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The Legislative Council Secretariat is headed by the Secretary General. It provides support services to the Legislative Council through:

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servicing of meetings of the Legislative Council and its committees including the provision of legal and research services;

facilitating communication with and among members in relation to the business of the Legislative Council;

⚫ collating public views on the business of the Legislative Council; and

promoting public understanding of the work of the Legislative Council.

District Administration

The District Administration Scheme commenced in 1982 with the establishment of a District Board and a District Management Committee in each district. Through the scheme, the Government promotes public participation in district affairs and fosters among the people of Hong Kong a sense of belonging and mutual care. The scheme. also helps to ensure that the Government is responsive to district needs and problems. Following the 1998 review of the structure and functions of district organisations, District Boards have been renamed, in English, District Councils, to underline their important role in district administration.

The first election of the District Councils was held on November 28, 1999, returning 390 elected members. On January 1, 2000, 18 District Councils were established. In addition to the 390 elected members, there are 27 ex officio members (i.e. Rural Committee Chairmen in the New Territories) and 102 appointed members, making a total of 519 District Council members. The term of office of these council members is for four years starting from January 2000.

The District Councils' main function is to advise the Government on matters affecting the well-being of the people living and working in the districts as well as on the provision and use of public facilities and services within the districts. The Government also consults these bodies on a wide range of issues.

Each district has a District Management Committee, chaired by the District Officer, comprising the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and subcommittee chairmen of the District Council and representatives of departments providing essential services in the district. The District Management Committee serves as a forum for inter- departmental consultation on district matters and co-ordinates the provision of public services and facilities to ensure that district needs are met promptly. The District Officer reports regularly the work of the District Management Committee to the District Council.

Since the establishment of the District Councils in January 2000, their role and functions have been enhanced progressively. Additional funds have been provided to District Councils to implement minor environmental improvement and community involvement projects in the districts. A Vice-Chairman post has been created in each District Council to assist the Chairman in handling council business. The Chairmen/Vice-Chairmen and/or representatives of District Councils also sit on the Central Steering Committees and District Working Groups, which were established under the Rural Public Works and the Urban Minor Works Programmes, to advise on the use of funds allocated to these programmes which aim to improve the environment in the districts. Each District Council has either set up a committee on