The District Administration Scheme commenced in 1982 with the establishment of a District Board and a District Management Committee in each district. Through the scheme, the Government promotes public participation in district affairs and fosters among the people of Hong Kong a sense of belonging and mutual care. The scheme also helps to ensure that the Government is responsive to district needs and problems. Following the 1998 review of the structure and functions of district organisations, District Boards have been renamed, in English, as District Councils, to underline their important role in district administration.

    The first election of 18 District Councils of the HKSAR was held on November 28, 1999, returning 390 elected members. On January 1, 2000, District Councils were established. In addition to the 390 elected members, there are 27 ex officio members (i.e. Rural Committee Chairmen in the New Territories) and 102 appointed members, making a total of 519 District Council members. The term of office of these council members is four years starting from January 2000.

    The District Councils' main function is to advise the Government on matters affecting the well-being of the people living and working in the districts as well as on the provision and use of public facilities and services within the districts. The Government also consults these bodies on a wide range of issues.

    Since the establishment of the District Councils in January 2000, their roles and functions have been enhanced progressively. The Government completed a comprehensive review of the District Councils in 2001 and implemented at the end of that year a package of recommendations to further enhance the roles and functions of District Councils. Funds for District Councils to implement community involvement and minor environmental improvement projects in the districts have been increased from $130 million in 1999–2000 to $209.4 million in 2002–03.

    Measures have been introduced to strengthen the District Councils' ability in monitoring the provision and delivery of district-based municipal, cultural and leisure facilities. Each District Council has appointed committees to monitor the delivery of environmental hygiene services and to advise on the use and management of district-based leisure and cultural facilities.

    To enhance communication between the councils and the policy bureaux and departments, the Policy Secretaries and Heads of Departments who deal with matters affecting people's livelihood will meet the councils regularly and these departments have assigned specific officers to provide 'one-stop' services for the members, including the handling of complaints from them. Policy bureaux and departments are required to consult the District Councils on policy initiatives and capital works projects affecting the well-being of the community and to reflect the views of District Councils to the approving authorities. The District Councils were consulted on 529 territory-wide issues and 2 527 district issues in 2002.

    To further enhance District Council members' participation in the planning and implementation of local public works, the Chairmen/Vice Chairmen and/or representatives of District Councils also sit on the Steering Committees and District Working Groups which were established under the Rural Public Works and the Urban Minor Works Programmes to advise on the use of funds allocated to these programmes for improving the environment in the districts. The chairmanship of the two Steering Committees and the 18 District Working Groups will also be devolved to the District Council chairmen or members in due course. The Government has also taken proactive measures to appoint more District Council members to advisory bodies, especially those looking after livelihood matters. The chairmanship of the District Fire Safety Committees has already been devolved to District Council members.

    The package of measures, taken together, has substantially enhanced the role of the District Councils as the Government's key advisers on district affairs and their ability to influence the provision, delivery and management of district services and facilities. This helps to ensure that the Government remains accountable and responsive to the changing needs of the community.

    Each District Council operates a meet-the-public scheme, under which residents can meet council members face-to-face to express their views on any district problems. The scheme has been well received by the public. It also provides a direct channel to collect public views on local matters and territory-wide issues for the District Councils, which then reflect them to the Government.

    Each district has a District Management Committee, chaired by the District Officer, comprising the Chairman, Vice Chairman and committee chairmen of the District Council and representatives of departments providing essential services in the district. The District Management Committee serves as a forum for inter-departmental consultation on district matters and coordinates the provision of public services and facilities to ensure that district needs are met promptly. The District Officer reports regularly the work of the District Management Committee to the District Council.

    Area Committees were set up in 1972 to support the 'Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign' and the 'Fight Violent Crime Campaign'. Nowadays, the functions of Area Committees are to encourage public participation in district affairs, help organise community activities and government campaigns, and advise on issues of a local nature.

    Mutual Aid Committees are building-based residents' organisations, established to improve the security, cleanliness and general management of multi-storey buildings. At year-end, there were 73 Area Committees and 3 232 Mutual Aid Committees. They provide an extensive network of communication between the Government and the people at the grassroots level.

    The Government also devotes much effort to helping owners of private multi-storey buildings to form Owners' Corporations to facilitate effective management of the buildings concerned, and timely maintenance work when necessary. At year-end, 6 911 Owners' Corporations were registered with the Land Registry.

    Attached to the District Offices are 20 Public Enquiry Service Centres, which provide a wide range of free services to members of the public, including answering general enquiries on government services; distributing government forms and information; administering oaths and declarations; and referring cases under the District Council members' meet-the-public scheme, the Free Legal Advice Scheme and the Rent Officer Scheme. The Public Enquiry Service Centres and the Central Telephone Enquiry Centre served a total of 2.61 million clients in 2002.

    The Home Affairs Department has established Building Management Resource Centres on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon and the New Territories to enhance its services in building management. The centres provide information, services and advice to building owners, residents, Owners' Corporations, Mutual Aid Committees and management bodies so as to assist them in improving the standards of management, safety and maintenance of their buildings. In 2002, the centres recorded 37 409 visitors, 38 620 enquiries and 265 appointments for interviews with members of professional bodies.