HONG KONG : THE FACTS

District Administration

The District Administration Scheme commenced in 1982 to government services and information. In emergencies, with the establishment of a district board and a district the DO is responsible for coordinating different management committee in each of the districts in Hong departments’ efforts on the ground to ensure the effective Kong. The aim of the scheme is to achieve a more provision of relief services. effective coordination of government activities in the provision of services and facilities at the district level, The Role of District Councils: District councils play an ensure that the Government is responsive to district essential advisory role on district matters and issues needs and problems and promote public participation in affecting the whole of as appropriate. The district affairs. From July 1, 1997 to December 31, 1999, functions of a district council are: the former district boards were replaced by provisional (a) to advise the Government on: district boards. With effect from January 1, 2000, 18 — matters affecting the well-being of the people in district councils have been established to replace the the district; provisional district boards. — the provision and use of public facilities and services within the district; The Role of the Home Affairs Department: The Home — the adequacy and priorities of government Affairs Department is responsible for the District programmes for the district; and Administration Scheme, community building and — the use of public funds allocated to the district community involvement activities, rural public works and for local public works and community activities; district minor works programmes, and the licensing of (b) where funds are made available for the purpose, to hotels and guesthouses, bedspace apartments and clubs. undertake: It promotes the concept of effective building management — minor works within the district to improve local and works closely with other government departments to facilities, living environment and hygienic consistently improve the standard of building conditions; management in Hong Kong. It provides support services — the promotion of recreational and cultural for the new arrivals from the Mainland and ethnic activities within the district; and minorities to help them integrate into the community. It — community activities within the district. also disseminates information relating to and, where necessary, promotes the public's understanding of major The district councils also participate in managing government policies, strategies and development plans; some district facilities, including community halls, public and, where necessary, assists bureaux and departments libraries, leisure grounds, sports venues, public in collecting and assessing public opinion on relevant swimming pools and beaches. issues affecting the community. These responsibilities The district councils initiate, organise and sponsor are discharged primarily through the 18 district offices community involvement projects and activities aimed covering the whole of Hong Kong. at enhancing community spirit and social cohesion and promoting the well-being of people in the districts. The Role of the District Officer (DO): As head of each These include large scale district festivals and activities district office, the DO represents the Hong Kong Special to promote sports and culture, to care for the Administrative Region Government at the district level and disadvantaged groups, and to foster inter-cultural oversees the operation of the District Administration understanding, etc. They have also achieved notable Scheme in the district. The DO implements and coordinates success in improving the local environment the execution of relevant district programmes, ensures that by undertaking district minor works projects such as the district council’s advice is properly followed up, and the provision of rest gardens, rain shelters and amenity promotes residents' participation in district affairs. In planting. In 2015-16, $361.6 million has been provided addition, the DO maintains close liaison with different for district council to carry out community projects sectors of the community and reflects their concerns and and activities, including an additional $20.8 million in problems to the Government. each of the coming five years for further strengthening the The DO acts as a link between the district council and support for district councils in promoting arts and cultural government departments, facilitating communication activities in the districts. An annual provision of between them, and also helps to facilitate the handling of $340 million under a dedicated capital works block vote district problems promptly through inter-departmental has also been provided for district councils to implement consultation and cooperation. district minor works projects. In addition, a one-off grant The DO is also involved with the community at every of $100 million for each district, or $1.8 billion in total level and mediates in disputes between corporate bodies for all districts, has been earmarked for district councils and residents. The DO performs an advisory and liaison to carry out signature projects. An additional one-off role in assisting building management bodies and operates grant of $200 million has also been earmarked for a public enquiry service to give the community easy access preparatory work for the signature projects in all districts.

Consultation with District Councils: Departments send with the decision-making power to tackle the representatives to district council meetings, to consult management and environmental hygiene problems of them and, where appropriate, act on their advice and some public areas, and with advice from the District keep them informed of government policies and Councils on the work priorities. The Government has programmes in general and, more specifically, of the provided each district with a one-off provision of work of departments in the district and local matters that $5 million and additional manpower to implement the are likely to affect the livelihood, living environment or pilot scheme. The Government will conduct a review well-being of the residents within a district. upon completing the pilot scheme in August 2015. We will actively consider providing additional manpower and Composition of District Councils: The fourth-term resources depending on circumstances to implement the district councils, comprising 507 seats (412 elected, 68 scheme in all 18 districts starting from the next term of appointed by the Chief Executive and 27 ex officio who district council to take forward the concept of "addressing are chairmen of the rural committees in the New district issues at the local level and capitalising on local Territories), commenced on January 1, 2012. The opportunities". distribution of seats is as follows: Area Committees: Area committees were formed in Hong Kong and Number 1972 primarily to promote public participation in the Keep : of Seats Hong Kong Clean Campaign and the Fight Violent Crime Central & Western 18 Campaign. Nowadays, the functions of area committees Eastern 43 are to promote public participation in district affairs, to Kowloon City 25 advise and assist in the organisation of community Kwun Tong 40 involvement activities and the implementation of Sham Shui Po 24 government-sponsored initiatives, and advise on issues Southern 20 of a localised nature affecting the area. Throughout the Wan Chai 13 years, area committees have played an important role in Wong Tai Sin 29 the districts and in providing a link between the local Yau Tsim Mong 20 community and the Government. ——— Area committee members are appointed by the Sub-total: 232 Director of Home Affairs and are drawn from a wide spectrum of the community including district council : members of the area concerned. At present, there are 63 Islands 21 area committees in Hong Kong. Kwai Tsing 35 North 24 Mutual Aid Committees: A mutual aid committee is a Sai Kung 29 voluntary body formed by the residents of a building. Sha Tin 43 Mutual aid committees were promoted initially in Tai Po 24 private multi-storey buildings, and quickly extended to Tsuen Wan 22 public housing estates, industrial buildings, Tuen Mun 35 temporary housing and squatter areas. At the end of Yuen Long 42 March 2015, there were 1 827 mutual aid committees ——— throughout , Kowloon and the New Sub-total: 275 Territories. The primary aims of a mutual aid committee are to Total: 507 promote a sense of friendliness, mutual help and responsibility among members, and to promote better District Management Committees: The district security, a better environment and, generally, more management committee in each district is chaired by the effective management within the building. These district officer. It is a government committee consisting of committees make available a channel of two-way representatives of the core departments in the district, communication between the Government and the and provides a forum for departments to discuss and residents on matters affecting the well-being of the resolve district problems. It responds positively to the individual and the community and also provide advice and requests of the district council and submits a opportunities for residents to participate in community comprehensive written report on its work to each meeting activities. of the district council. To enhance communication between the district Owners’ Corporation: An owners’ corporation is a legal management committee and the district council, entity formed under the Building Management Ordinance the district council chairman, vice chairman and chairmen by the owners of a private building. Owners’ corporations of district council committees are invited to join district are statutory bodies vested with certain legal powers to management committee as members. In April 2014, facilitate the management of a building. At the end of the Home Affairs Department introduced a pilot scheme March 2015, there were 10 069 owners’ corporations in Sham Shui Po and Yuen Long, providing the District throughout Hong Kong, among which 8 085 were formed Management Committees chaired by District Officers with the assistance of the district offices.

Published by the Information Services Department, Home Affairs Department Home Page address: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government http://www.had.gov.hk/ April 2015 GovHK Website: http://www.gov.hk Information contained in this publication may be freely used. No acknowledgement is necessary.