Source: Ming Pao
Ming Pao Society Review
The Hong Kong government is about to complete the local administrative review, and the district council will be retained, but to restore the "non -regional consultation organization" positioned by the Basic Law, the method will also change.After the anti -repair storm, the central government implemented the patriot to govern Hong Kong. The district council should focus on people's livelihood. Politicalization is deadly. At the same time, as an organization that reflects the opinions of local residents, the higher the openness, the more they can reflect the diversity of society.Election politics can sometimes become populist and extreme, but the role of election accountability and voter supervision should not be wiped. The higher the public participation, the better, and the direct election of the district council should not be significantly compressed.The power and scale of the district council has continued to expand in the past few decades. If the official plans to reduce the functions, power and direct seats of the district council, it is necessary to maintain the current scale and consumption of so many public crickets and allowances.
Correct the chaos in the past area
No need to reduce the election ingredients
The term of the current district council ended at the end of this year, and the government reviewed the composition and functions of the district council, which was close to the end.The Chief Executive Li Jiachao said a few days ago that the district council is worth retaining. The current seats are similar to the current."The interpretation of the outside world is that the future district council will restore the appointment system. As for the specific arrangement, it remains to be officially announced. The main principles of Li Jiachao are mainly major principles, including: 1) to put national security in the first place.Back to the "non -political regional consulting organization" attribute mentioned in Article 97 of the Basic Law; 2) Regional governance must be controlled by the Patriot to ensure the effective governance of the SAR; 3) strengthen the regional governance structure, reflect administrative leadership, strengthen regional mobilizationability.
In 1982, the first district council was composed of election, appointment, and of course, and officials and prosecutors. For more than 40 years, regardless of the role, function and power, it was constantly evolving.In terms of composition, the proportion of election seats in the general direction continues to increase, and the official seats have only maintained a short time. As for the appointed parliamentarians, despite turning before and after the return, in 2016, the district parliament's appointment seats were also canceled, and only 27 of course was retained.On the role of the role, the constitutional positioning of the "Non -Regional Consultation Organization" of the District Council has never changed, but the real power has continued to expand.In 2010, the Legislative Council added 5 "Super District Councils" seats, which was elected by the district councilors.Political power; in terms of regional affairs, the SAR government has decentralized power to allow the district council to handle some small engineering projects in some regions by itself, which also allows the district council to have more real power for resource application.
Of course, in recent years, it is another matter if district councilors have used these powers.In the 2010s, Hong Kong society became highly political, and the district council became the battlefield of political struggles. The current district council was selected at the peak period of anti -repair storm. The political situation was pushed to the extreme.In the Hong Kong independent anti -repairs song, some district councilors borrowed the office to hold a primary election of democratic schools, and supported politics.In terms of people's livelihood affairs, in the past ten years and eight years, some regional engineering projects promoted by the District Council have been criticized as "small white elephants" to spend money.laughing stock.In addition, in order to vote, politicians put the interests of regional ego in the first person of the society. It is also common to oppose the reclamation of horses.Reviewing the local administrative reform district council has its rationality, and the question is how to change.
After the anti -repair storm, the central government implemented the patriot to govern Hong Kong.Even though the district council is only a non -regional consultation organization, it is always the first part of the system. The election system is modified, and it will not only touch the election committee, the Legislative Council and the Chief Executive, but not as the district Council.It can be believed that the candidates who intend to compete for the district parliament will be intended to follow the direct election method in the future. Like the candidate of the Legislative Council, they need to pass the qualification review. In addition, there will be an oath system and a DQ (cancellation qualification) mechanism.The question is whether there are these mechanisms to ensure whether the district councilors love their country and Hong Kong, whether they must significantly reduce the election seats.
There is no perfect system in the world, as is the election system.In the past ten years, the right -wing populism is rising and political extremes exacerbate social tear opposition. It is common in all parts of the world.Representatives of public opinion representatives reflect supervision and accountability.The duties of the district council reflect the opinions of the residents of the region. Although the expression of public opinion is different, the direct election must be one of the most open and best way to reflect the spirit of accountability.Hong Kong is a diversified society. When the central government amend the Legislative Council election system, it is emphasized that there is no intention of clarifying a color. Since the district council needs to "return to the basic", as an non -political organization with only consultation functions, the higher the openness or the public participation, the higher the better, the betterEssenceEven if the official really believes that it is necessary to reduce direct election components and prevent political extremes in response to the situation in the past few years, the proportion of election seats should not be reduced to less than 50 %.
If the role of the area will be cut
The number of members of parliament should be adjusted
The changes in the political and election system in the past two years have greatly strengthened the administrative leadership capabilities of the SAR. As long as the official dares to say no of the vested interests, it is absolutely capable of avoiding the interests of ego.In the future, the functions of the district council are yet to be unveiled. One of the problems that need to be dealt with is how to avoid overlapping the functions of the organization with the care team and the division committee.The election ingredients are low. Is it necessary for such district councils to maintain the existing scale, which is questionable.In the past few decades, the scale of the district council has continued to expand, and the government provided by the government has risen from salary and water boats. One major reason is that many district councilors are full -time members and full -time politics.If the future district councilors will become part -time and appointment, the citizens will inevitably ask whether it will continue to spend so many officials on hundreds of district councilors.
