CMAB and HYAB continue to brief association representatives on proposals to improve governance at district level (with photos)

     The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, and the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, met with representatives of the Hong Kong Island Federation to explain the proposals on improving governance at the district level today (June 1).

     Mr Tsang and Miss Mak mentioned that the proposals could institutionally prevent ineffectiveness of district administration, ensuring that the District Councils (DCs) will operate in compliance with provisions of the Basic Law to carry out their district service and advisory functions. This enables the Government to co-ordinate departments' work such that efficacy of district governance will be enhanced and the public will benefit.

     The two Directors of Bureaux said that members of the public supported and expected the five benefits brought by the proposals, namely:

(1) enhance the functions of DCs to allow the Government to have more effective planning and implementation of district services, manifest executive-led governance and better serve the public;

(2) optimise the composition of DCs and the methods of selection of DC members to allow persons with professional knowledge and experience, who are patriotic and have an affection for Hong Kong, to enter the DCs through multiple channels and serve the public;

(3) introduce an eligibility review mechanism to fully implement the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" and safeguard national security, and return the DCs to the livelihood-oriented positioning;

(4) introduce a monitoring mechanism of DC members' performance to ensure that every DC member delivers due diligence and meets public expectations; and

(5) strengthen the district governance structure to formulate and command appropriate measures in response to the demand of the public in an effective and timely manner.

     The District Councils (Amendment) Bill 2023 was introduced into the Legislative Council (LegCo) for the First Reading and the Second Reading yesterday (May 31). The attendees welcomed the progress. The two Directors of Bureaux said that the Government will proactively facilitate the scrutiny of the LegCo and solicit support for the early passage of the Bill from Members of the LegCo, so as to begin the substantial preparation work for the upcoming DC Ordinary Election and so the seventh-term DCs can assume office on January 1 next year as scheduled.