HKK 18/12
25 November, 1968
2
Local Government Hong Kong
Thank you for your letter 1068/14 of 15 November on the above subject. This is the first intimation that we in the department
Our have received that any such report as this was in the offing. knowledge of the matter was confined to the situation as described in the first four paragraphs of the report.
2. I have no observations to make on your own proposed comments,
No doubt Hong Kong which seem to me to make some valid points.
We shall have will send us a copy of the report in due course. certain political considerations very much in the forefront of our minds when framing our views, e.g. the probable reaction of the Chinese People's Government, the dangers of a communist take-over of local authority institutions becaus of the apathy of the electorate (this nearly happened some years ago in the case of the
With these considerations in Hung Yee Kuk in the New Territories). mind, my preliminary rection is one of doubtfulness about giving greatly enhanced authority to an Urban Council retaining the same area of jurisdiction and (for other reasons than yours) about the proposal to hand over responsibilities in the extremely delicate field of primary and secondary education (where the communists are very active). I suspect that on full reflection the Hong Kong Government will have similar reservations.
3. I can see no reason why you should not give Dickinson a copy of your letter in its final form (perhaps you could let us have a It would be preferable, I think, if you copy at the same time). made no reference to the fact that you have consulted us on this matter.
4.
I am returning your copy of the report, together with the draft of your proposed letter.
P. H. Johnston, Esq.,
Kinistry of Ove seas Development.
་
(. S. Carter)
(para 2 of
bu 5, 169 Mr Carter's muite of 22/11)
16/11
то
261
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68.