1997年香港主權移交中國後不久，中國治下的香港政府解散了市政局和區域市政局，這是香港歷史上僅有的兩個主要由民主選舉產生的議會機構。市政局和區域市政局在其解散前是負責香港市政服務的議會機構。前臨時市政局於解散前通過委任港大亞洲研究中心編寫香港市議會史，經兩載寫成，本書記述市政局及區域市政局的發展，從1883年成立的潔淨局開始，歷1935年易名市政局，1986年另成立區域市政局到1999年12月31日解散的117年的市政局及區域市政局的歷史發展，是目前唯一記述這兩個曾在香港的環境衛生、康樂及文化事務上擔演重要角色的議會的專書。本書由香港歷史博物館統籌。
Shortly after the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997, the Hong Kong government under Chinese rule dissolved the Urban Council and the Regional Council, the only two council bodies that were principally democratically elected in Hong Kong history. The Urban Council and the Regional Council were the municipal councils responsible for municipal services in Hong Kong before their demise. Shortly before its dissolution, the former Provisional Urban Council commissioned the Centre of Asian Studies, University of Hong Kong to research and publish a book on the history of the municipal councils which played a vital role in local environmental hygiene and provision of leisure and cultural services. The book covers the entire history of the municipal councils in Hong Kong, commencing with the establishment of the Sanitary Board in 1883, which was renamed the Urban Council in 1935 subsequent to expansion of its functions and powers, the founding of the Regional Council in 1986 to December 1999 when the history of the two Councils came to an end. This book was coordinated by the Hong Kong Museum of History.
