1
Background Note
on Local Government in the
New Territories: Hong Kong
Page 250
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1
The New Territories are divided into five administrative
districts, each under a District Officer, and responsible to a
District Commissioner who coordinates the over-all administration
of the New Territories.
2.
District Officers have the assistance of Rural Committees
whose executive Committees, exercising various advisory functions,
are usually elected by secret ballot every two years by and from
village representatives. There are now 27 of these committees
3.
Each month they
A
covering the entire area of the New Territories.
receive a small subvention from Government to cover routine expenses.
Within its own area each Rural Committee acts as the spokesman for
local public opinion, arbitrates in clan and family disputes, and
generally provides a bridge between the administration and the people.
The chairmen and vice-chairmen of the Rural Committees,
together with the unofficial New Territories Justices of the Peace
and 21 Special Councillors elected every two years, form the Full
Council of the New Territories (Heung Yee Kuk or "Rural Consultative
Council"). The Kuk serves as a forum where leaders of New Territories
opinion have gathered since it was constituted in 1926 and from which
(except during the period from August 1958 to December 1959 when
official recognition was withdrawn because of internal dissension)
Government has sought advice on New Territories affairs. Under its
new constitution (established by Ordinance in 1959) the Kuk has an
Executive Committee which meets monthly.
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