CONFIDENTIAL
supposed to be monitoring the work of all parts of the Hong Kong Administration but the implementation of the measures contained in the Planning Paper and, in particular, those summarized in paragraph 23 of Annex C to the Paper. The measures in question fall within the competence of the Social Services Branch (above all), the Housing Branch, the Finance Branch (though the two measures on their front are particularly tricky and are not, I think, susceptible to treatment in the form of quarterly reports) and the Councils' Branch (though half or more of the "institutional" measures have already been implemented). While we should follow the work of the other branches as part of the department's general "watch dog" role in relation to Hong Kong, I do not think that we need to monitor their reports in order to satisfy ourselves (and the Standing Committee) that the Planning Paper is being put into
effect.
4. Of the two solutions that I have suggested it would be easier in the first instance to restrict our task to monitoring reports I that are central to the implementation of the Planning Paper. would therefore suggest that action on the reports enclosed with Mr Ardley's letter should be limited to sending copies of those from the Social Services Branch and the Economic Services Branch to the OLA and to the Economists Department respectively with a request for their comments. As for the rest of the reports, I suggest that we in this department should have a look at them and note any points of interest but should not submit a summary of them to the Standing Committee. Instead, I would suggest that you tell the Planning Committee that we have received reports covering most of the branches in the Hong Kong Government but that since the majority deal with matters outside, or peripheral to, the Planning
You could mention Paper we have not provided a summary of them. any particular point of concern or interest in these reports under the "Any other Business" item.
5. I have amended Mr David's draft minute accordingly. that the draft letter to Mr Ardley can stand.
14 January 1977
I think
D.F. Milto
D F Milton
CC:
Mr David
2
CONFIDENTIAL