Mak lays down law to district reps

All district councilors will be required to attend at least 80 percent of meetings, submit annual work reports and open offices, according to government guidelines.

Those requirements were made known in a 1-hour crash course in which Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen introduced the new "monitoring mechanism" guidelines before Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki addressed the incoming councilors.

Mak said councilors "should also submit annual reports, listing the number of times they attended activities, carried out consultations and met constituents.

"'Negative behavior' will also be governed under the guidelines, including disturbing the order of council meetings and a failure to declare a conflict of interest. The full version of the guidelines will be published in due course."

Sources said councilors would have to be on duty in the district council's office regularly, "actively collect and report people's opinions to the government" and at least participate in three committees and work groups under the district council.

They will also have to notify the council secretariat if they have to leave Hong Kong for over 48 hours, sources added.

Mak said if a councilor is suspected of not duly performing duties, a council chairman can refer the case for investigations by a committee set up under the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau after obtaining signatures from three councilors, or getting a simple majority in the district council.

"The committee, which will consist of a non-district councilor and four district councilors from other districts, will then report to the secretary for home and youth affairs and suggest a penalty," Mak said.

The penalty can range from a reprimand, fine, suspension of duty or confiscation of a councilor's gratuities. Councilors can lodge an appeal with the chief secretary.

She also brushed off worries that the district officers, who will also be the district council chairman, have too much authority.

Kwun Tong council chairman Wilson Or Chong-shing, who was reelected in the December 10 polls, said the training can help refresh former councilors' memories.

"The session can also let newcomers understand the regulations and operations of the whole district council and let them know what they have to do," Or said.

Rizwan Ullah, a secondary school vice principal appointed to Kowloon City council, also praised the training for giving him, a political neophyte, clear guidelines of what he has to do to get the job done.