Basic Local Government
CONFIDENTIAL
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15. How are we to give the individual people of Hong Kong a
greater say in running their affairs, without this starting a slide
towards unacceptable moves? I suggest that we ask the Governor
to examine ways of making the most basic institutions of local
This is an area to which he has
There are a number of bodies,
government more representative.
himself devoted much attention.
many relatively new. They include the District Advisory Boards in
the New Territories and functional advisory committees covering
the territory as a whole. In addition the Governor announced in 013 6his speech to the Legislative Council in October 1979, plans to (1979)
improve local consultation in urban areas, starting with an experi-
mental strengthening of the City District Office at Kwun Tong and
D
013/6his
a review of consultative systems in the district. At present members
of these various consultative bodies are appointed. It would be
worth considering whether a significant elected element could be
introduced.
16.
This would not necessarily be easy, or entirely acceptable
to the Governor. However, the idea would meet two of the objections
which Sir Murray has raised. In the first place, by concentrating
on the basic level a logical case could be made for restricting the
development of the elective system to that level although the problem
of relations between the local bodies and the Urban Council would be
difficult. Secondly, the system need by no means be insignificant
or cosmetic. It could bring greater communication between the public
and government on everyday matters. If the functional advisory
committees were developed at the local level some of the problem
of popular apathy could also be avoided eg local school boards
would attract attention
from parents who had an
-
and votes
interest in school matters.
CONFIDENTIAL
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