Authorities are still reviewing the formation and electoral arrangements for district councils before the councilors' terms end in December, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai said.

Responding to sole non-establishment Legislative Council member Tik Chi-yuen's questions, Tsang said authorities are in the process of completing discussions with the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and will announce details in due course.

Tsang said the review covers aspects of district councils, including their function, composition, method of formation and electoral arrangements.

"The review is being actively undertaken, with details of the proposal to be further ironed out and hence not yet ready for public announcement," he added.

He said the discussions will ensure that arrangements for district councils "will be in conformity with the Basic Law, in adherence to the principle of 'patriots administering Hong Kong,' and conducive to enhancing governance efficacy at the district level."

Tsang also said district councils, as per article 97 of the Basic Law, are "not an organ of political power."

He added: "If legislative amendments are required to implement the proposal, the government will submit them to the Legislative Council for scrutiny."

Tik asked whether a two-month public consultation will be conducted and if the government had enough time before the November elections.

He also asked whether the ordinary elections would be conducted similar to the 2019 election.

It is understood that authorities are mulling over an overhaul of the arrangements, under which councilors will be either directly or indirectly elected, or appointed, with each category taking up a third of the seats.

Sources have said authorities will adopt a "binomial system" under which the second most popular candidate is elected, which would further undermine the opposition.

They also said councilors will receive pay cuts due to district "Care Teams" taking up part of their responsibilities, as stated in October's policy address.

Tik's concerns come as district councilors directly elected in November 2019 see their tenures end in December.

In 2019, district councilors in the pro-democracy camp saw a landslide victory, gaining 392 of 452 seats in the 18 district councils.

But most of them resigned, with dozens arrested or disqualified, after authorities mandated an oath swearing allegiance to the government.

People turn out in droves to vote in the 2019 district council election.

Race against clock as district elections loom