HKK 18/12
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Hong Kong Department
8 January, 1969
We have learned (through the Ministry of Overseas Development)
of the existence of a draft Report by Bill Dickinson on
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the feasibility of improving the existing machinery of local government in Hong Kong, as an interim measure pending wider reform". We have, of course, known for a considerable time that the report of the official working party on local government, published in 1967, has been under extensive discussion in Hong Kong but we have not recently received any official indication of the stage reached in your consideration of the matter.
We have received the impression from recent summaries of Hong Kong newspaper comment, that pressure may be mounting for a review of the functions and powers of the Urban Council. There 13, in fact, some indication that the matter may be raised in Parliament here, in the not too distant future. It would help us, therefore, if you could let us know how matters are developing in the sphere of local government; and indeed if Dickinson's further report is in a form likely to receive official support, we should appreciate it if we could be sent a copy.
(w. S. Carter)
Sir Michael David Irving Qass, KCMG.,
Colonial Secretary,
Hong Kong,
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