SECRET
12. SIR, THIS STATEMENT HAS BEEN MADE TODAY IN ORDER TO EXPLAIN
THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS AS REGARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR
SYSTEM OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION. THE OBJECTIVE, I HOPE, WILL BE SELF-EVIDENT: IT IS TO CREATE MORE EVEN AND SYMMETRICAL ARRANGE-
MENTS FOR THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG AND TO BRING ABOUT A GREATER
DEGREE OF DIRECT PARTICIPATION IN THE RUNNING OR OUR INCREASINGLY COMPLEX SOCIETY. NEEDLESS TO SAY, PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PROPOSALS WILL BE WELCOMED AND THE FURTHER ADVICE OF DISTRICT BOARDS, AND THE ADVICE OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK, WILL BE SOUGHT AS WILL THE VIEWS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL. IF THE PROPOSALS COMMAND SUPPORT, IT IS INTENDED THAT THE CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS SHOULD BE INTRODUCED IN TIME FOR THE ELECTIONS IN 1985 AND THAT ELECTIONS FOR THE SECOND QUOTE REGIONAL UNQUOTE COUNCIL SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN 1986 WITH A PROVISIONAL, APPOINTED COUNCIL TAKING OFFICE IN 1985.
13. MEANWHILE, PRELIMINARY WORK IS IN HAND ON THE ORGANISATIONAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, LEGAL AND FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THESE PROPOSALS SO THAT, IF THEY DO COMMAND SUPPORT, THE TIMETABLE ENVISAGED FOR
THEIR IMPLEMENTATION MUST BE MET.
YOUDE
ENDS
FUTURE OF HONG KONG LIMITED
ED/PLANNING STAFF
ED/PUSD
D/ED/PUSD (MR FLOWER)
RES.B. (
TALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/IR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
SIR W HARDING
MR DONALD
MR WRIGENT
SIR C TICKELL
-4-
COPIES TO:
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS NEWS D
MR BURROWS
LEGAL ADVS
MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST
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MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE
MR BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
SIR P CRADOCK RM K195
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