HK. Standard
14/10/71
Brook Bernacchi
Mrs Elsie Elliott
White Paper
on reform gets lashing from Urbco men
ELECTED urban councillors attacked the Government's White Paper on Urban Council' reform last night. They were sarcastic about it and said they were "disappointed and dissatisfied.'"
A few members have adopted a cautious "wait-and-see' attitude. Others have lashed the Government, charging it with issuing a paper containing dead-end proposals.
Urbco member Dr Denny Huang told The Standard the paper was "unfair to Hongkong people and not good for the United Kingdom's image as a democratic nation.
"I think this is really a blank paper," he said.
Proposals contained in the White Paper, tabled at yesterday's Legislative Council meeting, called for the withdrawal of official members from the council and the creation of four extra seats
two elected and two appointed for unofficial members.
This will bring Urban Council membership to 24 unofficial members. They will be free to elect their own chairman.
The White Paper proposes that council's functions be legislated to cover public sanitation and hygiene, recreation, including the provision of entertainment, and cultural services.
Members were sharply critical that education, social welfare, health and housing were not delegated to Urbco's authority.
Mr Chan said the limited jurisdiction given to Urbco was far below expectations.
Councillor Brook Bernacchi said public housing should be under the control of Urbco.
""
Denny Huang
Councillor Mrs Elsie Elliott called the White Paper “a backward step”.
"The franchise is so limited it is almost corrupt," she said.
Professor Peter Harris of Hongkong University said his studies showed that between 250,000 and 300,000 names were registered on the voters list but many of them were duplicates. He estimated that less than 40,000 people were actually eligible to vote in the Colony.