(To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Chief Executive John Lee today announced proposals on improving governance at the district level, with key recommendations to enhance the service functions of District Councils (DCs) as well as strengthen the district governance structure.

Unveiling the proposals at a press conference this afternoon, Mr Lee noted that the whole design of the proposals was for the benefit of society as a whole.

“I have very strong confidence that the district councils, as we have proposed now, will be able to discharge their basic function better and more efficiently to satisfy the demands and the wants of the people in the district.”

The seventh-term DCs will be composed of appointed, District Committees Constituency (DCC), District Council Geographical Constituency (DCGC) and ex-officio members; with appointed, DCC and DCGC members accounting for about 40%, 40% and 20% of the total number of members respectively, plus 27 ex-officio members. 

There will be a total of 470 seats, comparable to 479 seats in the current term.

An eligibility review mechanism is proposed to ensure that all candidates participating in the election as well as appointed and ex-officio members, uphold the Basic Law and bear allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The Government also suggested to enhance the advisory and service functions of the DCs, designate District Officers as DC Chairmen, and empower them to lead the work of DCs.

The remuneration package of DC members will be generally maintained at the current level after the reform.

The proposed reform will also introduce a monitoring mechanism of DC members' performance, which includes investigating members whose behaviour falls short of the public expectation and imposing appropriate sanctions proportionate to the severity of the shortfalls.

In regard to strengthening the district governance structure, the Government proposed establishing a Steering Committee on District Governance to be chaired by the Chief Secretary, to take a leading role in the overall strategies, policies and measures of district governance.

The current District Matters Co-ordination Task Force chaired by the Deputy Chief Secretary will be repositioned and renamed as the Task Force on District Governance, to co-ordinate and steer the district work of various policy bureaus and departments, in place of the existing Steering Committee on District Administration.

The proposals on improving governance at the district level are guided by three principles: national security must be put as the topmost priority and the "one country, two systems" principle must be fully and faithfully implemented; the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" must be fully implemented; and executive-led governance must be manifested. 

The current term of the DCs will expire at the end of this year. To allow the seventh-term DCs to take office on January 1, 2024 as scheduled, the Government is preparing the District Councils (Amendment) Bill 2023.

It aims to complete the legislative amendments before the Legislative Council’s summer recess so that the DC election can be held at the end of this year.

Information related to the proposals is available online. Members of the public may submit their views in writing by email or by post by May 16.