| Consultation Report on the District Council Appointment System issued |
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The Government issued today (June 26) the Consultation Report on the District Council Appointment System. The Consultation Report summarises the views received during the public consultation period, and sets out recommendations for the consideration of the fourth-term Government. "Views received during the public consultation period indicate that in general the community supports the abolition of all District Council (DC) appointed seats over one term," a Government spokesman said. "Having carefully considered the views received, we recommend that the fourth-term Government should consider abolishing the remaining 68 appointed seats over one term, i.e. there will be no appointed seats starting from the fifth term of the DCs which will commence operation on January 1, 2016, and amending the District Councils Ordinance to implement the abolition accordingly at an early opportunity," he said. The spokesman added that currently public opinions differ on whether to retain the ex-officio seats in the DCs. NT Heung Yee Kuk, individuals and organisations from the New Territories support the retention of ex-officio seats and strongly object to their abolition. On the other hand, some members of the public consider that the ex-officio seats should be abolished in the light of democratic development. "Since the public have yet to reach a clear consensus on this issue, the current-term Government suggests the fourth-term Government to conduct in-depth deliberation and further consultation with the stakeholders before deciding on the way forward," the spokesman said. The Consultation Report is available at the website of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau (www.cmab.gov.hk/en/issues/district_council.htm) and at the Public Enquiry Service Centres of District Offices from June 27. Ends/Tuesday, June 26, 2012 |