CE signs District Councils (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 (with photos)

     The Chief Executive (CE), Mr John Lee, yesterday (July 7) signed, in accordance with Article 48(3) of the Basic Law, the District Councils (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 passed by the Legislative Council. The Ordinance will be published in the Gazette on July 10, and commence with immediate effect on even date in accordance with section 1(2)(a) of the Ordinance for the purpose of constituting the seventh-term District Councils (DCs).
  
     "The Ordinance is an important milestone of the work of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in improving district governance and bears symbolic significance to Hong Kong's advancement from stability to prosperity. It is one of the most important legislation of the HKSAR this year. I thank the Legislative Council for passing the relevant bill and the support of different sectors of society and members of the public to the legislative work. I affirm the work and efforts of the Government team and all colleagues involved," Mr Lee said.
  
     The HKSAR Government will take forward various tasks to improve district governance in full force, including convening the Steering Committee on District Governance and the District Matters Co-ordination Task Force chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration and the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration respectively, promulgating guidelines for the operation of the DCs and the performance monitoring mechanism for DC members, and preparing for the election in accordance with the law, so that the new DCs can assume office smoothly on January 1 next year. The HKSAR Government believes that the new term of DCs will work together with the Government to resolve the livelihood issues in the districts, bring happiness to the public, unite the community and build a better Hong Kong together.