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for Hong Kong and Kowloon and three members suggesting
an interim stage of Regional Consultative Councils to
educate the public in democratic procedures.
6.
This
At the same time an ad hoc Committee of unofficial
members of the Urban Council produced its own report for
the future scope and operation of the Council.
report was accepted by the Urban Council in October, 1966
(Official Members abstaining). It proposed that there
should be a "Greater Hong Kong Council" or "Municipal
Assembly" covering the whole of the Colony which should
have administrative responsibility for "strictly internal
matters" other than security. This Council would be
supported by subordinate District Councils established
initially for Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories.
The report was in essence a bid (and not for the first
time) by the Urban Council unofficials to extend the
Council's authority and it bore many signs of over
hasty preparations. Press comment on its publication
was critical, particularly in regard to the cost and
complications of the proposals.
7. The two reports were the subject of official
examination and of public comment in Hong Kong but
developments were delayed by the Communist confrontation
in the Colony during the last 8 months of 1967 and it
seemed clear that once the situation had returned to
normal a fresh look at them would be necessary in the
light of the changing circumstances.
8. Early in 1968 a Secretariat officer (W.V. Dickinson)
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/was
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