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CONFIDENTIAL
31/3.30
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ак
A17. Kelly
& HILLOD 14245
(M4632)
31/10
MR ROYLE'S VISIT TO HONG KONG:
11-15 NOVEMBER 1972
Urban Council Reform
Department
1. The Hong Kong Government's proposals for the
reform of the Urban Council, which were the outcome
of some five years' deliberation, were published as
a White Paper in October 1971. The Paper made
proposals for putting an end to the long debate on the proper aéreas of activities for the Urban Council
and sought to make that decision more palatable to
the councillors and the public by giving the Council
more autonomy, both financial and otherwise, within
its proper sphere. In general, the aim is to reduce
possible areas of friction between the Government and
the Urban Council and to give the latter the maximum
discretion in planning and executing their activities.
2. The White Paper was supported by an over-
whelming majority of unofficial members in Legislative
Council as being in general a practical proposition
under Hong Kong's present economic and political
on 1 March 1972 atmosphere. Its proposals were accepted w
with one
exception, which was dropped because of criticism by
all interested parties. This was the proposal that
in future the Urban Council's Standing Orders should
be subject to Legislative Council's approval.
3.
The date for the implementation of the proposals
/and the
CONFIDENTIAL