New councillors warned of ‘empty talk’

Chief secretary says national security must be incoming officials’ priority

Incoming district councillors should make national security a top priority or discussions about improving the economy and people’s livelihoods will be just “empty talk”, the acting chief executive has warned.

Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki yesterday called on the elected councillors to maintain the “patriots administering Hong Kong” principle and ensure the municipal-level bodies were “non-political organisations” for consultation and district services.

“Very simply, without national security, discussions about improving people’s livelihood and developing the economy are just empty talk,” he said before the weekly meeting of the Executive Council, the city’s top decision-making body.

Chan is acting chief executive until today while John Lee Ka-chiu is in Beijing for his duty visit.

The Post also learned the 470 district councillors had been asked to attend a meeting at the government headquarters at Tamar, Admiralty, on Friday.

Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office head Xia Baolong would deliver an “important speech” remotely at the meeting, the invitations said. A source said the speech would cover Beijing’s expectations for the new officials and outline their responsibilities.

The government on Monday held two lectures for district councillors, who were briefed by Chan and Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen on district governance and new guidelines to monitor their job performance.

Chan also appealed to district council members to make efforts to connect with residents and gauge their views, to effectively explain the government policies and ensure their smooth implementation.

“The overall goal is to effectively carry out district governance, continuously enhancing a sense of security, satisfaction and happiness among residents,” he said.

“I have great confidence that the new district councillors can serve as a bridge between the government and residents, further improving the effectiveness of district governance.”

District officers, civil servants who will chair the councils in the 18 city districts, would also meet incoming councillors to brief them on their areas of focus and explain their job responsibilities in detail, Chan said.

The councillors will take their oath of office under the supervision of Mak on January 1 and their first work meeting will be held that week. The findings and agenda will be reported to the Steering Committee on District Governance, chaired by Chan.

The new group of district councillors were also briefed on Monday on the performance monitoring guidelines the government has set to check whether they carry out their duties effectively.

The guidelines, which will take effect from January 1, require the community workers to submit an annual work report and give notice if they plan to leave the city for more than 48 hours.

There are also specific working hours requirements for councillors, including a condition that a district worker is to keep his or her office open not “less than 40 hours per week, with at least four hours falling on weekday evenings, weekends and public holidays”.

Councillors are also asked to participate in the weekly meetthe-public scheme and to be involved in person in at least six activities organised or co-organised by the District Offices each year.

The new office holders will also have to attend at least 80 per cent of general meetings each year, an arrangement similar to the one required in the last fouryear term.

Asked if the requirements were too harsh, especially for those who held various public posts, Chan said they were standard for district councillors who were committed to serving their local communities.

He explained the rules were devised after many councillors who had won seats in the 2019 district council election had engaged in actions that undermined the municipal bodies, such as skipping meetings, using foul language or even disrupting the proceedings of meetings.

Chan added the aim of the guidelines was to provide a framework to deal with any unacceptable or irresponsible behaviour.

“In such cases, we will have a solid basis and can handle the situation according to established guidelines. We are also confident that these guidelines will not create any pressure on the vast majority of district councillors today,” he said.

Chu Wai-lam, a primary school principal appointed as a district councillor in the North district, said he believed he could handle both roles as long as he managed his time and kept to the new guidelines.

“Nowadays, as a principal, we do not simply work within the school,” Chu, principal of Fung Kai No 1 Primary School in Sheung Shui, told a radio show. “We must take up different positions in the community or in various organisations, including school heads associations and educational institutions.

“I work for seven days a week including Saturdays and Sundays, so it is mainly a matter of scheduling – like formulating a timetable – and allocating time in school and at the councillor’s office.”

Wilson Or Chong-shing, who has been a district councillor since 1999 and was reelected this month, said the new guidelines were reasonable.