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0003230
G.F. 323
CONFIDENTIAL
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(e) the Council has shown its competence in
some of its functions, particularly the provision of recreational facilities and cultural services, but has been less effective in others where the practical difficulties have been greater;
(f) under the present system the Urban Council
has little or no financial responsibility, and the level of its spending is controlled entirely by the Central Government. It is the Gover ment's view that the Council should have a substantial degree of financial autonomy which will, on the one hand, enable it to operate it with greater freedom and, on the other, will encourage the Council itself to impose realistic limits on the rate at which it expands its services.
(9)
the existence of the Heung jee Kick and the Rural
thean SALS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE
Co
URBAN COUNCIL
In the circumstances, it is proposed to proceed along the lines indicated in the following paragraphs.
The Council's functions
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The Urban Council's functions will be clearly and comprehensively defined by legislation and will fall under the following headings :-
(a) Environmental public health (including
sanitation, hygiene, the licensing of food and food premises, the construction and management of markets, and the control of hawkers, and the construction of hawker bazaars).
(b) Recreation and amenities (including the
management and control of parks, playgrounds, bathing beaches, public swimming pools and stadia. In addition the Council will continue to manage both multi-storey and open air car parks).
certain
(c) The provision of cultural services (including the management of the City Hall and any other building of a similar nature which may be constructed in future and the management of public libraries, art galleries, museums, etc). (d) Public housing: the Council's past interest in
public housing will remain unchanged until such time as any fresh policy decisions are taken on the future co-ordination of activities in this field.
In effect, the new legislation will bring together those functions the Urban Council already has (Annex A) into one
CONFIDENTIAL
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