HONG KONG CITY DISTRICT OFFICER SCHEME
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The City District Officer scheme was inaugurated at the beginning of 1968. During his visit to the Colony in 1967 the Minister had discussions on the scheme (then in its planning stage) and last October expressed the wish to be kept informed of developments.
2.
It will be recalled that the scheme was designed to provide more contact between the Hong Kong Government and the general
public in the urban areas of the Colony. The City District
Officers were to constitute an additional medium for the
explanation of Government policies and a channel through which the grievances and the particular needs and interests of specific
areas could be made known to the Government. They would, in
addition, help to co-ordinate the activities of other departments in the areas in which they operated.
Flags A 3.
and B
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We have recently received from the Governor the attached
letter which encloses a report by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs (now the Secretary for Home Affairs) on the first year's operation
of the scheme. There is little doubt that despite the inevitable teething troubles, which have been largely connected with the
provision of suitable staff, the scheme has got off to a good start
and is meeting a definite need in Hong Kong. The Governor has, in
fact, expressed the view that, subject to more detailed evaluation,
there is little doubt that it will become a permanent institution
in Hong Kong.
4. The Minister had previously expressed a particular interest in
the possibility of developing advisory councils or committees to
assist the City District Officers in their functions. It will be seen (paragraphs 77-80 of the report) that City District Officers have made a start in this direction by arranging meetings of
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study groups" but these groups are as yet in the embryonic stage
and the report suggests that it would be premature at present to attempt to establish formal committees or councils.
5.
Copies of the report have been distributed for the information of members of the Executive and Legislative Councils in Hong Kong.
It is the Governor's intention that it should be tabled in the
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