0003230
G.F. 323
CONFIDENTIAL
-
9-
some additional powers as may seem appropriate. It is not to be thought, therefore, that the implementation of these proposals will necessarily freeze the Council into the shape now proposed for all time.
36381
It must moreover be recognized that even to put the present proposals into full effect will involve the resolution of many complex points of detail and difficult adjustments: and other problems will appear as the Council starts to operate in its new guise. It is therefore clearly only prudent to proceed in a cautious and orderly manner, one step at a time.
Summary
37%6.
These proposals may be summarized as follows :
(a) the Urban Council will be given the
additional licensing duties listed in paragraph 8;
(b) the Urban Council's interest in public
housing will remain unchanged until a decision can be taken on how best to co-ordinate activities in this field. (Paragraphs 7(d) and 29);
(c) for the future the Urban Council's functions
(which will continue to be categorized as either mandatory or permissive) will be defined by legislation and will fall under the following headings :-
(i) environmental public health, including
sanitation and hygiene;
(ii) recreation and amenities, including
the provision of entertainment by the Urban Council;
certain
(iii) the provision of/cultural services.
(Paragraph 7);
(d) the Urban Council's title will remain
unchanged. (Paragraph 9);
(e) the Urban Council will be given substantial
financial autonomy and be granted power to raise a rate of its own. (Paragraphs 10, 22 - 26);
(f) subject to the approval of the Finance
Committee of Legislative Council, the Urban Council will be given an initial grant on a once-for-all basis. (Paragraph 25);
(g) the Public Works Department will complete
at Government's expense items currently in Categories A, D and E of the Public Works Programme if the Urban Council so wishes. (Paragraph 27);
-
CONFIDENTIAL
/(h)
.....