District councils will finally be given more power to run their own affairs, with the chief executive promising to start decentralisation after a public consultation early next year.
Under the plan, the 18 district councils will be allowed to manage facilities such as libraries, community halls, leisure grounds, sports venues and swimming pools.
Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen will meet chairmen and vice-chairmen of the councils today. The plan could be implemented as early as April.
While the move - announced in the policy address as part of the strategy to improve governance - was praised by district councillors, critics dismissed it as a cosmetic concession that would be difficult to carry out.
Since the scrapping of the two municipal councils in 1999, government departments have been managing leisure and sports facilities at the district level. Despite repeated promises by the government to transfer some powers held by the former municipal councils to district councils, there had not been any substantial action.
'The role of the district councils will be expanded,' Mr Tsang said. 'We will continue to make available more channels for the public to participate in the management of district affairs.'