The Hong Kong government has named all 470 district councillors to the three neighbourhood committees to serve the community, unlike the previous administration which selected none of them on grounds that other voices needed to be heard.
Scholars in the city said the government’s latest appointment approach was in line with Hong Kong’s changing political climate after the city implemented the Beijing-ordered “patriots-only” governing principle.
The government on Monday appointed 2,999 members to the three district level committees across 18 districts, 466 more than the last term. Among them,1,937 joined the area committee, 536 went to the district fight crime committees, and 526 became members of the district fire safety committees.
The government said it identified suitable candidates via various channels on the basis of the merit of the individuals concerned.
Factors, including a candidate’s ability, expertise, experience, integrity, commitment to serving the community and due functions to each of three committees, had also been taken into consideration.
The government added the appointment of all incumbent district councillors was “to strengthen the connection and collaboration between the three committees and the district councils”, given their collaboration had become “much closer” under the revamped district governance system.
Hong Kong has completed the Beijing-ordered “patriots-only” governance structure reform through overhauling its electoral system. The last piece of the puzzle was the district council election on December 10, which saw a record-low 27.59 per cent turnout for the 88 directly elected seats.
Under the revamped electoral system, the three district committees, which were originally set up for better district management, have been granted more power, including both nominating candidates for the district council election and electing 176 – 37.4 per cent – district councillors.
The remaining 470 district council seats were either appointed by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu or taken by rural committee chairs.
Overloaded server caused system crash during Hong Kong’s district council poll
Overloaded server caused system crash during Hong Kong’s district council poll
The authorities, however, did not appoint any district council members to the area committees in 2020, when most of the council seats were occupied by the opposition parties as they secured a landslide victory in the 2019 election.
The government, led by former city leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, explained that the district councillors had sufficient opportunities to express their views to the government regarding local livelihood matters.
The councils are statutory bodies that advise the government on district affairs, while the area committees mainly promote public participation in district affairs, advise and assist in the organisation of community involvement activities and the implementation of government-sponsored initiatives.
Political commentator Sonny Lo Shiu-hing referred to the government’s past explanation as too “outdated” to be applied to the current Hong Kong situation, as it was made before the implementation of ‘patriots-only’ governing principles.
“Having said that, the criteria of appointments to area committees could have been spelt out more clearly, like not only overlapping memberships but also gender balance, ethnic minorities representation, occupational balance and minority political views,” he said.
Political observer Lau Siu-kai said the previous term government was unwilling to see more district level organisations become political fighting grounds.
“But now with the overhauled system, district councillors should be put into the three committees in bid to play a bridge role, connecting the councils with the committees,” he said.
Hong Kong printed 1.5 million posters, leaflets for district council election
Hong Kong printed 1.5 million posters, leaflets for district council election
District councillor Ken Fung Pui-yin from Tuen Mun East constituency said despite his workload being heavier, it was crucial to join the area committee as matters discusswould directly help his daily work.
The Post found that the 2,999 newly appointed members included at least 62 per cent of those who lost their battle in the city’s revamped district council geographical constituency election in last December.
They include Adrianna Sung Chih-Ling from the Liberal Party, Mark Chong Ho-fung from middle-of-the-road political organisation Roundtable and Sam Ip Chun-sang from the Path of Democracy think tank.
Bangladeshi-born Islam, also known by his Chinese name Sun Yat-sen who bagged the least votes in the past district council election, was appointed to join the area committee of Yau Tsim Mong South.
Some returning candidates also have their serving communities changed. For instance, security firm owner Baljinder “Jimmy” Singh, who lost his bid in Yau Tsim Mong South geographical constituency, was named a member to the Wan Chai East Area Committee.
Ip from the Path of Democracy said he received the government’s notification for his new term in Tin Shui Wai North Area Committee three days ago and believed the government valued his experience in conservation.