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In response to press enquiries concerning the public opinion survey conducted by the Provisional Municipal Councils, a spokesman for the Constitutional Affairs Bureau today (Monday) said that the Chief Executive has announced in his Policy Address last year the result of the consultation on Review of District Organisations and had decided to reorganise the structure of district organisations and various municipal services. The Government is now going ahead with the implementation of this policy and will not reconsider the "One Municipal Council and One Municipal Services Department" proposal.

The spokesman said that the Government recognised the contribution of the Municipal Councils and was pleased that the work of the Councils was well accepted. However, the Government has carefully considered the "One Council One Department" proposal of the Provisional Municipal Councils and concluded that the proposal fails to address the problem of fragmentation of responsibilities and is not cost-effective.

The spokesman emphasised that the Constitutional Affairs Bureau has conducted a thorough public consultation exercise on the Review of District Organisations in mid-1998. There was consensus in the community that a structural change was needed for the delivery of food safety and environmental hygiene services and the majority agreed that the Government should assume direct responsibility for these services. Meanwhile, the arts and sports community considered that there was a need to reduce duplication of efforts, to improve service and efficiency, and to enhance cost-effectiveness.

The spokesman noted that the "One Council, One Department" proposal also failed to address other problems including:

* the proposed Municipal Services Department would comprise about 27 000 staff or almost one-sixth of the entire civil service. It would be difficult to manage a department of this size;

* there would continue to be some overlapping of responsibilities between the proposed Council, the Home Affairs Bureau, the Arts Development Council and Sports Development Board in the areas of arts and sports. The proposal also fails to address the problems raised by the arts and sports community concerning the lack of overall culture and sports policies and less than optimal use of resources; and

* the functions of the proposed municipal services district committees appear to duplicate largely those of the future District Councils.

The spokesman stressed that the proposed dissolution of the Municipal Councils would enhance rather than undermine the principle of accountability and public participation. The responsibilities of the other tiers of representative governments, i.e., the Legislative Council and District Boards (to be renamed District Councils) and their role in monitoring the work of Government would be more clearly defined and enhanced.

"At the central level, the Government will be more accountable to the Legislative Council on food safety and environmental hygiene, and arts, sports and recreation matters. The Legislative Council's role in monitoring Government's policies and expenditure will be enhanced. The role of the District Councils in monitoring Government services at the district level will also be enhanced," the spokesman added.

End/Monday, March 22, 1999

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