0003230
G.F. 323
CONFIDENTIAL
1
25.
12
I turn now to the question of geographically based advisory organisations and would start with the proposition that whilst a centralised functional distribution of executive powers is efficient and economical this is not to say that local variations are not possible or that local interests must be suppressed. Those who advocate local authorities are aiming to produce an opportunity for local participation in administration. While one may sympathise
with the aim one does not have to accept the method. There are two obvious objections to using the local authority approach for creating avenues for the expression of local opinions :-
a) the executive powers they could exercise
b)
would be so trivial that local leaders would
not be interested;
issues on which local feelings are strong would
usually be ultra vires the scope of local
authorities.
What local leaders want is to be listened to when the Government is
doing something they do not like, or failing to do something, or
even when they want to support the Government.
26. I do not subscribe to the view that unless some statutory
executive powers can be granted to a political body it will remain
irresponsible; whether such a body has reality and life depends on
whether people will listen to it. Extensive advisory functions effectively discharged can be as good a foundation for political responsibility as limited executive functions, or better, as the Cotton Advisory Board has surely demonstrated. Even the Executive
Council itself is, technically, an advisory body.
27.
This sort of geographically based consultative machinery is not new to Hong Kong for it is well established in the New Territories
To orthodox and is now beginning to be seen in the urban areas.
advocates of a local authority system the Rural Committees have always looked like embryo local authorities but it is significant
/that
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0003230 G.F. 323