Report of Official Working Party
There is also a consultative council for the whole of the
New Territories (Heung Yee Kuk); its functions are entirely
advisory.
Recent Developments
14. In view of the spread of urban development into the
New Territories and of pressure from the elected members of
the Urban Council to extend their authority into those areas,
the Governor announced early in 1966 that he had decided to
institute a re-examination of local government generally.
As a first step, an official Working Party was set up to
gather information on the possible forms of local govern-
ment suitable to Hong Kong and to suggest lines of develop-
ment for further study and debate. (Annex
c)
15. The Working Party's report was published early in 1967.
It recommended the creation of a number of urban authorities
on the lines of English practice, though with somewhat
reduced powers and functions, and a greater degree of
supervision and control by central government. Under their
proposals a Municipal Council would be set up for the urban
area of Hong Kong and one, possibly two, others for Kowloon
and New Kowloon. An Urban District Council was suggested
for Tsuen Wan but apart from this the Working Party saw no
good reason for changes in the New Territories' administration
which was generally regarded as satisfactory by the inhabitants.
All the new Councils would have a majority of members elected
on a liberal franchise but a system of appointed members
would be retained to guard against the possible failure of
the elective principle. The report was not unanimous, one
member being in favour of a single authority for Hong Kong
and Kowloon and three members suggesting an interim stage of
Regional Consultative Councils to educate the public in
democratic procedures. A very brief summary of the Working
/Party's