1
Lord Shepherd's Discussions in June
11.
government, which should provide facilities for loans to finance capital development. The embryonic Tsuen Wan Authority would need however at this stage to be
financed by subventions from public funds.
The Hong Kong Government had completed consultations on the Dickinson proposals with the Urban Council and Heung Yee Kuk when Lord Shepherd visited the Colony in June. The Minister held discussions with the Urban Council, with the unofficial members of Executive and Legislative Councils and with the Governor and officials. In general the Minister made it clear that he favoured a gradual and cautious approach to the development of a local authority system.
12. The Minister's preoccupation was not so much with local government reorganisation, the scope for which he felt was limited, as with the need to find means of enabling people to participate more fully in decision-taking by central government and of improving communications in each direction between
government and the people. His interest accordingly extended to two further developments:-
(a) Proposals advanced by the Secretary for Home Affairs
(Mr. Holmes) that local participation should be improved and increased on a functional basis rather than by extending the range and responsibilities of local administration. The suggestion is that some of the more important government advisory committees (e.g. on education, transport) should be given executive functions and their membership widened (possibly to include elected members of local
authorities).
(b) The City District Officer Scheme, inaugurated in 1968
and designed to provide more contact between the government and the general public in the urban areas. The City District Officers provide 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 can
CONFIDENTIAL
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