GPS...1300
SECRET
SECRET
HICK
FM HONG KONG 010505Z FEB 94
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 262 OF 1 FEBRUARY 1934
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
Rr
TORICOPY
RECEIVED IN AFGISTRY
-2 FEB 1984
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PEGISTRY
Sation Taken
PA
No
RA
HCEB
Shutter
25
See 35
MIPT.
24
THE FOLLOWING IS THE DRAFT OF THE STATEMENT IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE CHIEF SECRETARY SHALL MAKE IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON 15
FEBRUARY NEXT:
BEGINS:
-STATEMENT BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, 15TH FEBRUARY 1984
THE GREEN PAPER ON (NEXT 5 WORDS UNDERLINED) A PATTERN OF DISTRICT
ADMINISTRATION, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED IN JUNE 1980, SET OUT THE
REASONS FOR CHANGE IN THE SYSTEM OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION. IN
PARTICULAR, IT DREW ATTENTION TO THE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS OF ADMIN-
ISTRATION THAT HAD DEVELOPED IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF HONG KONG, TO
INCREASED PROSPERITY, BETTER EDUCATION, HIGHER ASPIRATIONS AND
THE NEED TO BUILD COHESIVE COMMUNITIES. SPECIFIC PROPOSALS TO
PRODUCE A MORE COHERENT FRAMEWORK WERE THEN EMBODIED IN THE WHITE
PAPER (NEXT 4 WORDS UNDERLINED) DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION IN HONG
KONG OF JANUARY 1981 AND THESE RESULTED IN THE FORMATION IN 1982
OF DISTRICT BOARDS, WITH AN ELECTED ELEMENT, IN EACH DISTRICT OF
HONG KONG, KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.
2. IN THEIR SHORT EXISTENCE THE DISTRICT 30ARDS HAVE DEMONSTRATED
THEIR VALUE AS AN ORGANISATION FOR QUOTE CONTACT, DISCUSSION,
STIMULUS AND ADVICE BETWEEN THE COMMUNITIES IN EACH DISTRICT AND
THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR MANAGEMENT AND
IMPROVEMENT UNQUOTE.
3. IN YOUR ADDRESS AT THE OPENING OF THE PRESENT SESSION OF
THIS COUNCIL YOU SAID, SIR, THAT WE MUST ENSURE THAT THE
DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME QUOTE REMAINS SUITED TO HONG
KONG'S CHANGING NEEDS AND CIRCUMSTANCES UNQUOTE AND ADDED
THAT YOU HAD CALLED FOR AN EXAMINATION OF QUOTE THE EXISTING
ARRANGEMENTS FOR LOCAL ADMINISTRATION AND THE ORGANISATION OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE DECISIONS
OF THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE ADVICE OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS UNQUOTE.
4. DURING THE COURSE OF THIS REVIEW THE DISTRICT BOARDS
THEMSELVES AT A SERIES OF RECENT MEETINGS HAVE BEEN GIVEN
AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR OWN VIEWS AND IDEAS FOR
THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION. THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOW, THEREFORE, COME CERTAIN CONCLUSIONS.
SECRET
15.