'Councillors are just like helpers who can be fired'

James Lee

District councillors are like domestic helpers who can be fired by their bosses if they defy "legal and reasonable" orders, former transport and housing secretary Frank Chan Fan says in defense of a proposal to take action against those who do not support administration policies under a revamped council system.

Chan, now a Hong Kong deputy to the National People's Congress, said councillors had previously often played as opposition with "populist, political opinions" and were unhelpful in executing policies.

He told a radio program yesterday that improving district administration would require "depoliticizing" councils so they would instead focus on serving residents.

And likening district councillors to helpers, Chan said they could be fired for noncompliance. "Even in contracts with domestic helpers there are terms to allow bosses to fire them if they don't follow their employers' orders that are legal and reasonable," he argued.

A Legislative Council brief on an overhauling of councils lists "using foul language" and "interrupting, digressing, [and] repeating" among other types of "negative behavior" as causes for investigation and perhaps sanctions.

Chan also said a pushback against certain policies - for instance, building facilities such as cremation niches or refuse collection centers - could stand in the way of district administration.

But centrist legislator Tik Chi-yuen cast questioned the reform plan, saying it would force district councillors into becoming "cheerleaders" for the establishment and close off opportunities to reflect public opinion.

The reform plan unveiled last week proposed that the number of directly elected council seats be slashed to 20 percent, representing only 88 of the 470 councillors.

So in the next election 176 councillors, representing 40 percent, would be selected through indirect elections. Direct and indirect election hopefuls would need to receive three nominations from each district's committees to fight crime and ensure fire safety. Then 179 administration-appointed councillors would take the remaining 40 percent.

Third Side party member Tik said it was unclear whether councillors would serve as community representatives or "quasi-civil servants" under a new system where councillors are subject to investigation if they fail to support official policies.

Tik added that whether or not public opinion could be reflected in district administration would depend on the willingness of those who chair councils to accept the views from the public.

The councils are slated to be chaired by district officers - district-level government representatives who maintain links between the administration and the council.

"In the past district officers played a supporting role, but they will see their powers enhanced under the new system," Tik added. "In my experience the officers were very passive. I hope they will be more active in their district administration efforts."

At an establishment camp street booth yesterday calling for public support for the electoral change, former chief secretary for administration Henry Tang Ying-yen said an overhauled electoral system with direct and indirect elections would include people from various backgrounds for a "multichannel" process.

And Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok said an amendment bill to revamp district councils could be passed in the legislature before the summer recess.

The District Councils (Amendment) Bill 2023, Lam added, should in any event be passed as soon as possible to overhaul the electoral system for district councils before polls expected to be held this year.

That will involve amendments to the Electoral Affairs Commission Ordinance, the District Councils Ordinance and the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance.

District councillors currently in office will see their tenures end in December.

A pro-democracy landslide filled more than 380 of the 452 seats in November 2019 amid anti-extradition protests in Hong Kong. But only about 60 democrats remained as most had resigned, with dozens arrested or disqualified after authorities installed a "patriots only" electoral regime.

cjames.lee@singtaonewscorp.com