Following is a question by Dr the Hon Tik Chi-yuen and a written reply by the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, in the Legislative Council today (March 15):

Question:
 
     Regarding the arrangements for the next District Council (DC) Ordinary Election, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) as the Chief Executive has indicated in the 2022 Policy Address that the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau will put forward suggestions in respect of the review on district administration, whether the Government will undertake that such suggestions and the relevant legislative amendments (if any) will be submitted to this Council in accordance with normal procedures, and that a two-month public consultation will be conducted; if so, of the timetable; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) as it has been reported that the Government plans to hold the next DC Ordinary Election in November this year, whether the Government has assessed if there is sufficient time to conduct the consultation mentioned in (1); if it has assessed and the outcome is in the negative, of the arrangements to be made by the Government regarding the election and incumbent DC members whose terms of office will expire on December 31 this year; and

(3) whether the Government will undertake that the next DC Ordinary Election will adopt the method for the formation of the sixth-term DCs?

Reply:
 
President,
 
     In consultation with the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB), my reply is as follows.
 
     The HYAB and the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau are conducting a review on district administration to ensure that future arrangements will be in conformity with the Basic Law, in adherence to the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong", and conducive to enhancing governance efficacy at the district level. The review covers functions, composition, method of formation, electoral arrangements, etc, of the future district organisation which is not an organ of political power. The review is being actively undertaken, with details of the proposal are to be further ironed out and hence not yet ready for public announcement. The Government will strive to complete the review as soon as possible and announce the details at a suitable juncture. If legislative amendments are required to implement the proposal, the Government will submit them to the Legislative Council for scrutiny according to procedure.

Ends/Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Issued at HKT 12:00

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