A bill adding six more appointed seats to future district councils, making a total of 102 appointed seats, was passed after a stormy 14- hour debate in Legco in March. The bill also approved the retaining of the present 27 ex-officio seats.
The issue of additional appointed district council seats was controversial as the pre-handover administration had abol ished all appointed seats on district boards in 1994. Last year, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa reappointed 96 members.
Under the new District Councils Bill, there will be a total of 519 appointed and elected members in the district councils - 50 more than at present. Among the 519 members, 390 will be elected.
Pro-democracy legislators and activists accused the Government of 'rolling back democracy'.
Describing the bill as 'ridiculous' and 'insulting the intelligence of Hong Kong people', the Democrats said the increase in appointed seats was meant to enhance government control over district councils.
Democratic Party chairman Martin Lee Chu-ming said they were angry about Mr Tung's ret rograde steps against world trends.
Hong Kong Polytechnic University student Ken Tsang Kin- chin felt the same, noting that: 'By reviving the system of appointed seats, there will be fewer chances for the grassroots to voice their opinions.' Frontier's Emily Lau Wai-hing questioned whether the bill could prevent possible manipu lation by Mr Tung in appointing supporters if he intended to seek a second term.
