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The Government presented the District Councils Ordinance (Amendment of Schedules 1 and 3) Order 2013 (the Order) to the Legislative Council (LegCo) today (October 22) to implement the adjustment to the boundaries of Eastern and Wan Chai Districts and the related amendment to the number of elected members of Eastern and Wan Chai District Councils (DCs) for the fifth-term DCs.
The Government recommended that the boundaries of Eastern and Wan Chai Districts be adjusted to reflect the transfer of the area of the existing Tin Hau DC constituency area (DCCA) (C16) and Victoria Park DCCA (C18) from Eastern District to Wan Chai District, correspondingly the number of elected seats of Eastern DC be revised from 37 to 35, and the number of elected seats of Wan Chai DC be revised from 11 to 13, from the fifth-term DCs.
A spokesman for the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau said that if the Order is approved by the LegCo, the area of the existing Tin Hau DCCA (C16) and Victoria Park DCCA (C18) will be transferred from Eastern District to Wan Chai District from the fifth-term DCs.
"During the review of the number of elected seats for the fifth-term DCs, there were views that Wan Chai DC would have a relatively small number of elected seats and Eastern DC would have a relatively large number, resulting in the possible impact on the daily operation of both DCs, and some suggested that the Government should consider adjusting the boundaries of Eastern and Wan Chai Districts by transferring some DC elected seats from Eastern DC to Wan Chai DC. The proposal to transfer the area of the existing Tin Hau DCCA (C16) and Victoria Park DCCA (C18) from Eastern District to Wan Chai District was considered as one of the most feasible options for further consideration. We consulted Eastern and Wan Chai DCs, local residents and the public in summer this year. As the outcome of the consultation indicates general support for the transfer of the area of the existing Tin Hau DCCA (C16) and Victoria Park DCCA (C18) from Eastern District to Wan Chai District, we recommend to amend Schedules 1 and 3 to the District Councils Ordinance (DCO) to adjust the boundaries of Eastern and Wan Chai Districts and to correspondingly revise the number of elected seats of Eastern DC and Wan Chai DC."
Under section 8 of the DCO, the Chief Executive in Council may, subject to the approval of the LegCo, amend Schedules 1 or 3 by order published in the Gazette to adjust district boundaries and the number of elected seats.
Subject to the approval of the Order by the LegCo, the Electoral Affairs Commission will make recommendations on the demarcation of constituency boundaries for the 2015 DC election next year having regard to the new district boundaries and the correspondingly revised number of seats. The Registration and Electoral Office will also make preparations for the conduct of the 2015 DC ordinary election in accordance with these amendments.
Ends/Tuesday, October 22, 2013
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