Govt has no time to fix district council meltdown: CE

Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Tuesday admitted that the territory’s district councils are no longer fully functional and representative after more than 200 members resigned, but said it is impossible to hold by-elections anytime soon to fill the vacant seats.

Some district councils have been left with only three members after an exodus of councillors this month amid rumours the government will seek financial compensation from any councillors disqualified under new oath-taking requirements.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting, the CE said the government will be busy in the coming months organising the Election Committee subsector elections, the Legislative Council polls and the CE race.

“We do not feel there is sufficient room and time for another set of by-elections of this magnitude because of the number of seats involved,” she said.

Lam said she didn’t know whether district council by-elections would take place after a new government is inaugurated in July next year.

She added that the government has asked area committees and district officers under the Home Affairs Department to help handle community issues in the meantime.