Foreign and Commonwealth Office London S.W.1
CONTIDENTIAL
SAVING DESPATCH
HKK 18/2
(3)
From the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
To the Acting Governor, Hong Kong
18 June 1971
No. 198
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THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE SCOPE FOR LOCAL ADMINISTRATION
I have studied with very considerable interest the
Memorandum for Executive Council, number XCC(71)20 of 22 May,
and I have noted that with comparatively minor reservations your
Council advised that the proposals in that Memorandum should
be accepted.
2. It is clear that a great deal of work has gone into the
preparation of the Memorandum and those responsible are to be
congratulated. I am in general agreement with the conclusions
reached although I am somewhat disappointed to see that you have
felt able to recommend the addition of only a small number of
new functions of a relatively minor nature for the Urban Council
to undertake. It seems unlikely that these additional functions
will, in themselves, be sufficient to generate a sense of
responsibility on the part of the Council. entire agreement with the concept of giving the Council limited
but specific financial powers. It appears that this approach presents the best hope of making the Council more efficient in
carrying out the duties for which it will be publicly seen to be
responsible.
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