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as the present LEGCO; but they were sometimes of a lower
calibre.
5.
On the question of the powers of the Urban
Council, Sir Murray commented that, in Hong Kong, there was
not scope for a second tier of Government with wide powers.
Hong Kong was too small for fragmentation. The Urban Council
franchise might be extended but not its functions.
If an
extension of franchise gave rise to claims for an extension of
functions or power it would have to be resisted. Village
and Mutual Aid Committees, representing about a million people
were, in fact, a more genuine expression of popular opinion
than the Urban Council which represented about ten thousand
voters.
6.
Lord Goronwy-Roberts agreed that we should
leave the Urban Council where it is as to function, but
should consider expanding the franchise.
In case of a move
on the latter he accepted that any expansion of function must
be resisted. The degree of existing public participation
through Village and Mutual Aid Committees was not fully under-
stood in the UK. He would be able to explain the true
situation on his return. He accepted the difficulties of
changing the method of appointment to LEGCO. If, before the
end of his visit, there were other thoughts about possible
developments, there would be time to discuss them later.
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