District Officer (Hong Kong)

The District Officer (Chinese: 民政事務專員) is a directorate public officer and a head of the District Office in Hong Kong. The District Officer (DO) is also the top representative of the Hong Kong Government at the district level. The positions of the District Officers were established in urban Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Kowloon in 1968.[1] DOs have served as the commanders of Care Teams in 18 political areas since 2023,[2] and as chairmen of District Councils from 2024.[3] The District Officer is assisted by the Assistant District Officer (ADO), who is an administrative officer (AO) or a senior administrative officer (SAO).[4] All DOs are appointed to the "Justices of the peace" (JP) by the Chief Secretary for Administration or Chief Executive of Hong Kong by convention.

Duties and powers

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The District Officer has the responsibility of overseeing directly the operation of the District Administration Scheme in the district, and chairing the District Management Committee in each district which is a government committee consisting of representatives of the core departments in the district. DO is charged with implementing and co-ordinating the execution of district programmes, ensuring that the advice of the District Council is properly followed up, and promoting residents' participation in district affairs. In addition, DO is required to maintain close liaison with different sectors of the community and reflect their concerns and problems to the government. It is his duty to ensure that district problems are resolved promptly through inter-departmental consultation and co-operation. Also, DO acts as a link between the District Council and departments and serves as a mediator between them when problems arise.[5]

The District Officer is also involved with the community at every level. DO has a role to mediate in the resolution of disputes between corporate bodies and residents. DO performs an advisory and liaison role in providing assistance to building management bodies. DO operates a public enquiry service to enable the community to have easy access to services and information provided by government. In emergency situations, the District Officer is responsible for co-ordinating various departments' efforts on the ground for ensuring the effective provision of relief services. DO is also appointed to a returning officer during the elections.[6]

Structure of authority

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District Office
District Officer
Directorate Pay Scale Point 2
Assistant District Officer
Administrative Officer/Senior Administrative Officer
District Management CommitteeDistrict CouncilDistrict CommitteesCare Teams
ChairpersonChairpersonChairpersonsCommander
served by District Officerserved by District Officerelected by committees membersserved by District Officer

Incumbent District Officers

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District District Officer Grade & Rank Term Start Date References
Central and Western District David Leung Chee-kay [zh]
(Chinese: 梁子琪)
Administrative Officer Staff Grade C (D2) 30 June 2020 [7]
Eastern District Simon Chan Sheung-man [zh]
(Chinese: 陳尚文)
Administrative Officer Staff Grade C (D2) 13 June 2018 [8]
Southern District Francis Cheng Kong-chung [zh]
(Chinese: 鄭港涌)
Administrative Officer Staff Grade C (D2) 31 December 2019 [9]
Wan Chai District Fanny Cheung Ngan-ling [zh]
(Chinese: 張雁伶)
Administrative Officer Staff Grade C (D2) 9 January 2023 [10]
Kowloon City District Alice Choi Man-kwan [zh]
(Chinese: 蔡敏君)
Administrative Officer Staff Grade C (D2) 13 July 2020 [11]
Kwun Tong District Denny Ho Lap-ki [zh]
(Chinese: 何立基)
Administrative Officer Staff Grade C (D2) 3 October 2023 [12]
Sham Shui Po District Paul Wong Yan-yin [zh]
(Chinese: 黃昕然)
Administrative Officer Staff Grade C (D2) 14 December 2020 [13]
Wong Tai Sin District Thomas Wu Kui-wah [zh]
(Chinese: 胡鉅華)
Administrative Officer Staff Grade C (D2) 3 September 2023 [14]
Yau Tsim Mong District Edward Yu Kin-keung [zh]
(Chinese: 余健強)
Administrative Officer Staff Grade C (D2) 18 March 2020 [15]
Kwai Tsing District Huggin Tang Hin-kuen [zh]
(Chinese: 鄧顯權)
Administrative Officer Staff Grade C (D2) 13 September 2022 [16]
North District Derek Lai Chi-kin [zh]
(Chinese: 賴子堅)
Administrative Officer Staff Grade C (D2) 31 July 2023 [17]
Sai Kung District Frank Tsang Chan-man [zh]
(Chinese: 曾俊文)
Administrative Officer Staff Grade C (D2) 16 January 2023 [18]
Sha Tin District Frederick Yu Wai-shing [zh]
(Chinese: 余懷誠)
Administrative Officer Staff Grade C (D2) 25 August 2023 [19]
Tai Po District Eunice Chan Hau-man [zh]
(Chinese: 陳巧敏)
Administrative Officer Staff Grade C (D2) 25 October 2018 [20]
Tsuen Wan District Billy Au Ka-shing [zh]
(Chinese: 區家盛)
Administrative Officer Staff Grade C (D2) 29 November 2021 [21]
Tuen Mun District Michael Kwan Ke-lin [zh]
(Chinese: 關可臨)
Administrative Officer Staff Grade C (D2) 26 June 2023 [22]
Yuen Long District Gordon Wu Tin-yau [zh]
(Chinese: 胡天祐)
Administrative Officer Staff Grade C (D2) 29 April 2021 [23]
Islands District Amy Yeung Wai-sum [zh]
(Chinese: 楊蕙心)
Administrative Officer Staff Grade C (D2) 18 July 2020 [24]

References

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  1. ^ "THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEBATES OFFICIAL REPORT" (PDF).
  2. ^ "District Services & Community Care Teams (Care Teams) - Overview of Care Teams". Home Affairs Department. 2023-06-01. Archived from the original on 2023-06-10. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  3. ^ Tony Kwok (2023-05-17). "Acting as CEOs, Hong Kong's district council heads can begin new chapter in public service". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 2023-06-10. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  4. ^ "What you need to know when applying for AO (Administrative Officer)". Youth.gov.hk. 2022-10-07. Archived from the original on 2023-06-10. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  5. ^ "District Officer function". Home Affairs Department. Archived from the original on 2023-05-09. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  6. ^ "Appointment of returning officers and assistant returning ofiicers". Electoral Affairs Commission, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  7. ^ "New District Officer for Central and Western assumes office". HKSAR Government Press Releases. 2020-06-29. Archived from the original on 2023-03-28. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  8. ^ "New District Officer for Eastern assumes office (with photo)". HKSAR Government Press Releases. 2018-06-12. Archived from the original on 2023-03-28. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  9. ^ "New District Officer for Southern District assumes office (with photo)". HKSAR Government Press Releases. 2019-12-31. Archived from the original on 2023-03-28. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  10. ^ "New District Officer for Wan Chai assumes office". HKSAR Government Press Releases. 2023-01-08. Archived from the original on 2023-05-28. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  11. ^ "New District Officer for Kowloon City assumes office". HKSAR Government Press Releases. 2020-07-12. Archived from the original on 2023-03-28. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  12. ^ "New District Officer for Kwun Tong assumes office (with photo)". HKSAR Government Press Releases. 2023-10-02. Archived from the original on 2023-10-06. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  13. ^ "New District Officer for Sham Shui Po assumes office". HKSAR Government Press Releases. 2020-12-13. Archived from the original on 2023-03-28. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  14. ^ "New District Officer for Wong Tai Sin assumes office". HKSAR Government Press Releases. 2023-09-02. Archived from the original on 2023-09-03. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  15. ^ "New District Officer for Yau Tsim Mong assumes office". HKSAR Government Press Releases. 2020-03-17. Archived from the original on 2023-03-28. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  16. ^ "New District Officer for Kwai Tsing assumes office". HKSAR Government Press Releases. 2022-09-12. Archived from the original on 2022-10-26. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  17. ^ "New District Officer for North assumes office". HKSAR Government Press Releases. 2023-07-30. Archived from the original on 2023-08-01. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  18. ^ "New District Officer for Sai Kung assumes office". HKSAR Government Press Releases. 2023-01-15. Archived from the original on 2023-05-28. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  19. ^ "New District Officer for Sha Tin assumes office". HKSAR Government Press Releases. 2023-08-24. Archived from the original on 2023-09-03. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  20. ^ "New District Officer for Tai Po assumes office". HKSAR Government Press Releases. 2018-10-24. Archived from the original on 2023-03-28. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  21. ^ "New District Officer for Tsuen Wan assumes office". HKSAR Government Press Releases. 2021-11-28. Archived from the original on 2023-03-28. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  22. ^ "New District Officer for Tuen Mun assumes office". HKSAR Government Press Releases. 2023-06-25. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  23. ^ "New District Officer for Yuen Long assumes office". HKSAR Government Press Releases. 2021-04-28. Archived from the original on 2023-09-03. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  24. ^ "New District Officers for Islands and Wong Tai Sin assume office". HKSAR Government Press Releases. 2020-07-17. Archived from the original on 2023-06-10. Retrieved 2023-09-04.