ENG-2002 — Page 36

CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

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collect public views on local matters and territory-wide issues for the District Councils, which then reflect them to the Government.

Each district has a District Management Committee, chaired by the District Officer, comprising the Chairman, Vice Chairman and committee 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 coordinates 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. Area Committees were set up in 1972 to support the 'Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign' and the 'Fight Violent Crime Campaign'. Nowadays, the functions of Area Committees are to encourage public participation in district affairs, help organise community activities and government campaigns, and advise on issues of a local nature.

Mutual Aid Committees are building-based residents' organisations, established to improve the security, cleanliness and general management of multi-storey buildings. At year-end, there were 73 Area Committees and 3 232 Mutual Aid Committees. They provide an extensive network of communication between the Government and the people at the grassroots level.

The Government also devotes much effort to helping owners of private multi-storey buildings to form Owners' Corporations to facilitate effective management of the buildings concerned, and timely maintenance work when necessary. At year-end, 6 911 Owners' Corporations were registered with the Land Registry.

Attached to the District Offices are 20 Public Enquiry Service Centres, which provide a wide range of free services to members of the public, including answering general enquiries on government services; distributing government forms and information; administering oaths and declarations; and referring cases under the District Council members' meet-the-public scheme, the Free Legal Advice Scheme and the Rent Officer Scheme. The Public Enquiry Service Centres and the Central Telephone Enquiry Centre served a total of 2.61 million clients in 2002.

The Home Affairs Department has established Building Management Resource Centres on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon and the New Territories to enhance its services in building management. The centres provide information, services and advice to building owners, residents, Owners' Corporations, Mutual Aid Committees and management bodies so as to assist them in improving the standards of management, safety and maintenance of their buildings. In 2002, the centres recorded 37 409 visitors, 38 620 enquiries and 265 appointments for interviews with members of professional bodies.

The Electoral System

Electoral System for the Legislative Council

In accordance with the Basic Law, the Legislative Council of the HKSAR is constituted by elections, and the method for its formation is to be specified in the light of the actual situation in the HKSAR in accordance with the principle of gradual and orderly progress.