Mak's the word in district training

All new district councilors will have to attend a 1-hour training session by Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen today to fully understand the government's "expectations" of them.

The government is understood to have sent a letter to district councilors asking them to attend the "district administration training session" to be held at the North Point community hall starting at 2.30pm today.

In it, the government said Mak, a former district councilor and lawmaker, will be sharing ideas on district administration and structures.

"[Mak] will also be sharing the function and position of the district councils, the responsibility of district councilors and her experience as a district councilor.

"This will allow incoming district councilors to have a full understanding of government's expectations of them," it added.

Before assuming office after taking an oath on January 1, councilors are also required to attend "training session and preparatory meetings" on Thursday organized by district officers, who chair the councils under the revamped electoral system.

"District officers will be explaining the committees to be set up and the key points of guidelines and regulations, as well as starting discussions of their work focus within a district for the coming year," it said.

The regulations to be explained on Thursday may include a newly-introduced "monitoring mechanism" of councilors.

According to a document tabled in the Legislative Council, the government listed several "negative behaviors" that might cause councilors to be reprimanded, fined or even suspended from duty.

That includes a failure to carry out missions or work as instructed by the chairman, absences from meetings without reasonable cause, or insulting or disturbing other councilors or officials during meetings.

After obtaining signatures from three councilors, or a councilor's moving a motion and getting a simple majority, a chairman can refer the case to an investigation committee set up under the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau. The committee will then report to the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs and suggest a penalty.

Councilors can lodge an appeal with the chief secretary.

Mak said yesterday she hoped councilors can work to win back support from those who did not vote in December 10 election, which saw a record low turnout of 27 percent.

She also said carrying out work ordered by a district chairman would not contradict with their task of gathering opinions.

"The chairman will ask councilors to help promote and implement policies. If people do not like a policy, they can report that back to the government," Mak said.

Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies vice president Tam Yiu-chung called on directly-elected councilors to work with their appointed counterparts, including opening joint offices in districts.

"Appointed councilors have relatively more resources and time. With the geographical constituencies being larger than before, elected councilors have to rely on appointed councilors to help each other."