Regional Council (Hong Kong)

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Logo of the Regional Council from its inception in 1985 until its abolishment in 1999.

The Regional Council's service area (in green)

The Regional Council (RegCo, Traditional Chinese: 區域市政局) was a municipal council in Hong Kong responsible for municipal services in the New Territories (excluding New Kowloon). Its services were provided by the Regional Services Department.

[edit] History

The Regional Council was established in 1985 under the auspices of the colonial Hong Kong Government, to provide for the New Territories what the Urban Council did for Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Like the Urban Council, the Regional Council was created as an elected body comprising representatives from constituencies and district boards. After the transfer of sovereignty in 1997, the name was changed to Provisional Regional Council, consisting of members of the pre-handover RegCo, and new members appointed by the Chief Executive.

[edit] Demise

The council was dissolved on 31 December 1999 together with the Provisional Urban Council under the then-Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa's plan to streamline and centralise municipal services as part of his government policy reforms.

The functions of the councils were replaced by two newly-established government departments, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.