CS instructs Heads of Departments to prepare for District Council election (5.10.2023)
5.10.2023

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, attended the second meeting of the Task Force on District Governance chaired by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, today (October 5). Mr Chan instructed Heads of Departments to make good preparations for the seventh-term District Council (DC) election to be held on December 10 this year. At the meeting, Mr Chan stressed, "The seventh-term DC election marks the first territory-wide district election to be held after the DC reform in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It is an important milestone in improving district governance and carries great historical significance. With about two months left prior to the polling day, the preparations for the election have entered a crucial stage. All the government departments concerned must jointly make good preparations for the DC election to ensure that it will be conducted in accordance with the law in an open, fair, honest, safe and orderly manner." Noting that the DC election, from the preparatory stage to the polling day, involves sizeable manpower, resources and logistical arrangements, Mr Chan instructed the Heads of Departments to mobilise all necessary manpower and resources for comprehensive planning and deployment, such that voters and candidates would be offered appropriate facilitation and that the election would be conducted in an efficient and orderly manner. This way, capable candidates with an affection for the motherland and Hong Kong would be returned as DC members, enabling the smooth and full-fledged operation of the seventh-term DCs starting January 1 next year. "I have every confidence that the new-term DCs will return to their original positioning under the Basic Law, perform their services and advisory functions as entrusted and support the Government in planning and carrying out district work, so as to enhance the efficacy of district governance, achieve good governance and strengthen people's sense of fulfilment, happiness and security," added Mr Chan. At the meeting, the Task Force also followed up on the progress of the five key district initiatives formulated earlier by the Steering Committee on District Governance, namely: (1) expanding after-school care service and enhancing support for parents; (2) caring for the elderly and enhancing community support; (3) fostering clean markets and mobilising the community to participate in anti-rodent work; (4) enhancing public order and combatting crimes on all fronts; and (5) improving pedestrian facilities and ensuring road safety. Mr Cheuk was briefed by the relevant Heads of Departments on their work and was pleased to note the steady progress as scheduled of the various key items and measures. He urged the departments to continue with the orderly implementation of the key items and measures, while paying close attention to issues of district concern and following them up as appropriate at the central level through the strengthened district governance structure, with a view to duly responding to people's needs. Ends/Thursday, October 5, 2023 Issued at HKT 16:58 NNNN