District Boards (Amendment) Bill 1997
A Bill
To


Amend the District Boards Ordinance. 
Enacted by the Provisional Legislative Council. 

1.   Short title and commencement 
(1) This Ordinance may be cited as the District Boards (Amendment) Ordinance 1997. 
(2) This Ordinance comes into operation on 1 July 1997. 
 
2.   Long title amended 
The long title to the District Board Ordinance (Cap. 366) is amended by adding "Provisional" before "District". 
 
3.   Short title amended 
The short title is amended by adding "Provisional" before "District". 
 
4.   Interpretation 
Section 2 is amended - 
(a) in the definition of "Board", by adding "Provisional" before "District"; 
(b) by repealing the definition of "Boundary and Election Commission"; 
(c) in the definition of "Chairman", by repealing "under Part III"; 
(d) in the definition of "Designated Officer", by adding "Provisional" before "District Board" where it appears twice; 
(e) by repealing the definition of "elected member"; 
(f) by repealing the definition of "ex officio member"; 
(g) by repealing the definition of "member" and substituting - 
""member" (議員) means a member of a Board appointed by the Chief Executive under section 6(1);"; 
(h) by repealing the definition of "ordinary election"; 
(i) in the definition of "Regional Council area", by adding "Provisional" before "Regional" where it appears a second time; 
(j) in the definition of "Urban Council area", by adding "Provisional" before "Urban" where it appears a second time; 
(k) by adding - 
""established office" (設定職位) means an office within the meaning of paragraph (a) of the definition of "established office" under the Pensions Benefits Ordinance (Cap. 99); 
"judicial office" (司法職位) has the meaning in the Public Service Commission Ordinance (Cap. 93); 
"non-established office" (非設定職位) means an office in the public service that is not an established office;" 
"office of emolument" (受薪職位) does not include the office of Chairman, Vice-Chairman or the Chairman of a committee of the Provisional Urban Council or the Provisional Regional Council or the Chairman or the Chairman of a committee of a Provisional District Board;". 
 
5.   Declaration of Districts 
(1) Section 3(1A) is repealed and the following substituted - 
"(1A) The Chief Executive in Council may, by order published in the Gazette, set the number of Districts to be declared and specify the name for each proposed District." 
(2) Section 3(2) is amended by repealing "and that of the Boundary and Election Commission". 
(3) Section 3(3) is repealed and the following substituted - 
"(3) A map certified by the Designated Officer as a true copy of a map delineating the area of a District is proof of the area of the District.". 
(4) Section 3(4) is repealed and the following substituted - 
"(4) A map purporting to be certified by the Designated Officer as a true copy of a map delineating the area of a District is admissible in evidence in any proceedings before a court and in the absence of evidence to the contrary is presumed to be certified by the Designated Officer.". 
(5) Section 3(6) is repealed. 
 
6.   Establishment 
Section 5(1) is amended by adding "Provisional" before "District Board". 
 
7.   Total number of elected members 
Sections 5A is repealed. 
 
8.   Composition of Board 
(1) Section 6(1) is repealed and the following substituted - 
"(1) A Board consists of not more than 40 members appointed by the Chief Executive for the term set out in their appointment but not later than 31 December 1999. 
(1A) A person does not become a member and cannot undertake any function as a member until he has sworn acceptance of office in the form set out in Schedule 1. 
(1B) A person must swear the acceptance within the time specified in the appointment otherwise the appointment lapses.". 
(2) Section 6(3) is repealed. 
 
9.   Sections repealed and substituted 
Sections 7, 8 and 9 are repealed and the following substituted - 
"7. Disqualification from appointment 
(1) A person is disqualified from being appointed or from holding office as a member if he - 
(a) holds an established office; 
(b) holds a non-established office; 
(c) holds a judicial office; 
(d) holds an office of emolument in the gift or disposal of the Provisional Legislative Council, Provisional Urban Council or Provisional Regional Council or a committee of one of the Councils; 
(e) is the 
(i) Chairman of the Public Service Commission appointed under section 3 of the Public Service Commission Ordinance (Cap. 93); 
(ii) Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Deputy Commissioner or an officer appointed under the Independent Commission Against Corruption Ordinance (Cap. 204); or 
(iii) Commissioner for Administrative Complaints appointed under section 3 of the Commissioner for Administrative Complaints Ordinance (Cap. 397)or a person appointed by the Commissioner under section 6 of the Commissioner for Administrative Complaints Ordinance (Cap. 397); 
(f) has in Hong Kong or any other place been sentenced to death or imprisonment for a term exceeding 3 months and has not either suffered the punishment or received free pardon; 
(g) has been convicted of treason; 
(h) is disqualified from being appointed or holding office as an appointed member under any Ordinance; 
(i) is a salaried functionary of a government of any place outside Hong Kong, or is a member- 
(i) of a parliament, assembly or council, whether central or local, of any place other than the People's Republic of China; or 
(ii) of a legislature, assembly or council of Taiwan; 
(j) is an undischarged bankrupt or, within the previous 5 years, has either obtained his discharge in bankruptcy or has entered into a composition with his creditors, in either case without paying his creditors in full; 
(k) is subject to a decision under the Mental Health Ordinance (Cap. 136) that he is of unsound mind and incapable of managing himself and his affairs; 
(l) without prejudice to paragraph (f), has, where the appointment is to be made within 10 years from the date of conviction, has been convicted - 
(i) of an offence in Hong Kong or any other place been sentenced to imprisonment for a term exceeding 3 months without the option of a fine; 
(ii) of a corrupt or illegal practice within the meaning of the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Ordinance (Cap. 288), other than the illegal practice of contravening section 19(2) of that Ordinance, or of a corrupt or illegal practice within the meaning of any other Ordinance for the time being in force providing for punishment of corrupt or illegal practices; 
(iii) of an offence under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance( Cap. 201); or 
(m) having been appointed, does not attend at least one meeting of the Board in every 6 consecutive months without the prior approval of the Board. 
(2) Subsection (1)(k) does not prevent a person from being appointed if subsequently his unsoundness of mind is found to have ceased.". 
 
10.   Non-acceptance of office by members 
Section 11 is repealed. 
 
11.   Resignation of a member 
Section 12(1) is amended by repealing "An elected" and substituting "A". 
 
12.   Publication of notice of vacancy 
Section 14 is repealed and the following substituted - 
"14. Publication of notice of vacancy 
The Designated Officer is to give notice in the Gazette if a member dies, resigns or becomes ineligible to be a member for any reason.". 
 
13.   Board to elect Chairman 
Section 15 is repealed. 
 
14.   Validity of acts of a Board or committee 
Section 23 is amended by repealing "election or". 
 
15.   Proceedings against persons on grounds of disqualification 
(1) Section 26(4) is amended by repealing from and including "an elector" to the end of the subsection and substituting "the Secretary of Justice". 
(2) Section 26(5) and (6) is repealed. 
 
16.   Section added 
The following section is added - 
"27. Savings and transitional provisions on the establishment of Provisional District Boards 
(1) The standing orders and rules of procedure, the appointment of secretary and committees and the delegation of functions and duties to the committees of each of the District Boards immediately before 1 July 1997 apply to the corresponding Provisional District Board subject to the changes that the Provisional District Board may make and the changes that may be necessarily implied arising out of the change in name of and composition in the membership of the Provisional District Board. 
(2) The Districts specified in Schedule 2 are the Districts for the purposes of section 3. The Provisional District Boards specified for each of the Districts are taken to have been established on the date set out in Schedule 2 for the purposes of section 5. 
(3) A contract entered into and in force immediately before 1 July 1997 that refers to a District Board continues in force and is construed as if the relevant Provisional District Board is substituted for the District Board.". 
 
17.   Part added 
The following Part is added - 

"PART VI
TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PROVISIONAL DISTRICT BOARDS
28. Election of first Chairman 
(1) The Director of Home Affairs is to make arrangements for the first meeting of the members of each of the Provisional District Boards before 7 July 1997. 
(2) The purpose of the first meeting is to elect a Chairman of the Provisional District Board. 
(3) The election of the Chairman is to be in accordance with the voting procedure set out in Schedule 3. 
(4) The person elected under this section takes office as Chairman on delivery to the District Officer of a completed acceptance of office in the appropriate form in Schedule 1. The Chairman holds office until his appointment expires or is otherwise terminated. 
(5) On assuming office the Chairman may summon a meeting of the Provisional District Board to be held on or before 31 July 1997. He may give such notice of the meeting as he considers appropriate. The accidental omission to give notice of the meeting to a member does not affect the validity of the meeting. 
(6) If a meeting referred to in this section do not take place before the appointed time, the Chief Executive may appoint another date by notice in the Gazette. This section applies to a meeting held on the date appointed by the Chief Executive. 
29. Transitional references to District Board 
A reference to "District Board" in an Ordinance is construed as a reference to the relevant Provisional District Board unless the context otherwise requires.". 
 
18.   Schedules added 
The following Schedules are added - 

"SCHEDULE 1 [ss. 6 & 28]
PROVISIONAL DISTRICT BOARD
Acceptance of Office
I, ................................................................................................
of ...............................................................................................
swear that - 
(a) I take the office as a **member/Chairman of the *......................... 
Provisional District Board upon myself and will duly and faithfully fulfill the duties of the office according to the best of my ability; 
(b) I will uphold the Basic Law; and 
(c) my allegiance is to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region 
of the People's Republic of China. 
Sworn this .......................... day of .......................................... 19............ 

Signature .................................

This acceptance was sworn before me a ** Magistrate/Commissioner for Oaths. 

Signature .................................

* Complete as appropriate. 
** Delete whichever is inapplicable. 

SCHEDULE 2 [s. 27]
ESTABLISHMENT OF PROVISIONAL DISTRICT BOARDS
Item  Name of District  Name of Provisional District Board  Date of Establishment 
1.  Central and Western District  Central and Western Provisional District Board  1 July 1997 
2.  Eastern District  Eastern Provisional District Board  1 July 1997 
3.  Kowloon City District  Kowloon City Provisional District Board  1 July 1997 
4.  Kwun Tong District  Kwun Tong Provisonal District Board  1 July 1997 
5.  Sham Shui Po District  Sham Shui Po Provisional District Board  1 July 1997 
6.  Southern District  Southern Provisional District Board  1 July 1997 
7.  Wan Chai District  Wan Chai Provisional District Board  1July 1997 
8.  Wong Tai Sin District  Wong Tai Sin Provisional District Board  1 July 1997 
9.  Yau Tsim Mong District  Yau Tsim Mong Provisional District Board  1 July 1997 
10.  Islands District  Islands Provisional District Board  1 July 1997 
11.  Kwai Tsing District  Kwai Tsing Provisional District Board  1 July 1997 
12.  North District  North Provisional District Board  1 July 1997 
13.  Sai Kung District  Sai Kung Provisional District Board  1 July 1997 
14.  Sha Tin District  Sha Tin Provisional District Board  1 July 1997 
15.  Tai Po District  Tai Po Provisional District Board  1 July 1997 
16.  Tsuen Wan District  Tsuen Wan Provisional District Board  1 July 1997 
17.  Tuen Mun District  Tuen Mun Provisional District Board  1 July 1997 
18.  Yuen Long District  Yuen Long Provisional District Board  1 July 1997 

SCHEDULE 3 [s. 28(3)]
VOTING PROCEDURE UNDER SECTION 28(3)
1. The election of the Chairman is conducted by one or more secret ballots held among those present and entitled to vote at the election and according to this Schedule. If only one candidate is nominated, the candidate is taken as elected as Chairman. 
2. A candidate who receives an absolute majority of votes is elected. 
3. If there are 2 or more candidates (either initially or after elimination ballots) and each receives an equal number of votes, a further ballot is to be held. 
4. If a further ballot is held under paragraph 3 and the candidates receive an equal number of votes, they draws lots to determine which candidate is elected. 
5. If there are more than 2 candidates and no candidate receives an absolute majority of votes - 
(a) the candidate who receives the least number of votes retires following which a further ballot is held for the remaining candidates; 
(b) if 2 or more candidates receive an equal number of votes and that number is the least number of votes for a candidate, a separate ballot is held for those candidates, and the candidate who receives the least votes retires following which a further ballot is held for the remaining candidates. 
6. If a separate ballot is held under paragraph 5(b) and the same candidates receive an equal number of votes, the candidates draw lots to determine who retires following which a further ballot is held for the remaining candidates.". 

Consequential amendments
Declaration of Number of Proposed Districts and Specification of District Names Order
 
19.   Effect of order 
Section 3 of the Declaration of Number of Proposed Districts and Specification of District Names Order (Cap. 366, sub. leg.) is repealed. 

Declaration of Districts Order 1994 
 
20.   Interpretation 
Section 2 of the Declaration of Districts Order 1994 (Cap. 366, sub. leg.) is amended - 
(a) by repealing the definition of "approved map" and substituting the 
following - 
""approved map" ( 獲批准地圖 ), in relation to a District, means a map signed by the Director of Home Affairs and deposited in the office of the Director of Home Affairs, specified in column 3 of the Schedule and identified by reference to a plan number (Plan No.) prefixed "D.B."; 
(b) by repealing the definition of "the Specification". 
 
21.   Effect of Order 
Section 4 is repealed. 
 
22.   Saving and transitional 
Section 5 is repealed. 

Declaration of Numbers of Elected Members of
District Boards Order 1994
 
23.   Order repealed 
The Declaration of Numbers of Elected Members of District Boards Order 1994 (Cap. 366, sub. leg.) is repealed. 

District Boards (Date of Establishment) Specification 1994
 
24.   Specification repealed 
The District Boards (Date of Establishment) Specification 1994 (Cap. 366, sub. leg.) is repealed. 

Explanatory memorandum
This Bill provides for the establishing of Provisional District Boards to operate in place of the District Boards. Membership of the Provisional District Boards will be by appointment of the Chief Executive. The term of appointment is limited to 31 December 1999. 
2. Clauses 2 to 7, 9 to 16 and 19 to 24 are consequential upon the creation of appointed Provisional District Boards. 
3. Clause 8 provides for the composition of the Provisional District Boards, setting the size of each of the Boards at not more than 40 members so that the existing District Boards may be expanded by about 25% having regard to the physical constraints in existing facilities. The clause also requires members to swear an acceptance in the form set out in the Schedule. 
4. Clause 17 adds a new Part VI which provides for the convening of the first meeting of the Provisional District Boards by 7 July 1997 to elect the Chairman. 
5. Clause 18 adds 3 Schedules. The first contains the acceptance of office that includes an undertaking to uphold the Basic Law and sworn allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The second is a list of Districts and Provisional District Board names. The third Schedule contains the voting provisions for the election of the first Chairman for each of the Provisional District Boards. 



(Members of the public are welcome to express their views on the Bills, by writing to the Provisional Legislative Council Secretariat at 3/F, Huaxia Art Centre, No. 1 Guangqiao Street, Overseas Chinese Town, Shenzhen)