10. IN ORDER TO ALLOW SOME WORKING EXPERIENCE TO BE GAINED BEFORE THE FULL COUNCIL COMES INTO BEING IN APRIL 1986, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO ESTABLISH A PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL IN EARLY 1985 OF APPOINTED MEMBERS, ALTHOUGH THE PRECISE DATE IS NOT SETTLED.

11. ELECTIONS FOR THE 12 DIRECTLY ELECTED MEMBERS WILL DE CONDUCTED AT THE SAME TIME AS THOSE FOR THE URBAN COUNCIL IN MARCH 1986 AND THEY WOULD HOLD OFFICE FROM 1 APRIL 1986 WHEN THE NEW COUNCIL WILL BE FORMALLY ESTABLISHED.

12. THE PROPOSAL TO RE-DRAW THE BOUNDARIES OF THE URBAN COUNCIL'S JURISDICTION LOOKS ATTRACTIVE ON THE MAP. ALL THE ISLANDS TO THE SOUTH AND WEST OF HONG KONG HAVE EASIER AND MORE DIRECT COMMUNICAT- IONS WITH HONG KONG ISLAND THAN WITH THE NORTHERN NEW TERRITORIES. ALSO THE DEVELOPMENT STARTED AT JUNK BAY WILL TEND TO MAKE IT MORE OF AN ADJUNCT TO KWUN TONG THAN THE CLEAR WATER BAY PENINSULA AND SAI KUNG. HERE AGAIN THE VIEWS OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS WERE UNEQUIVOCAL. THERE SHOULD BE NO CHANGE, NOR DID THE URBAN COUNCIL PRESS FOR THIS ADJUSTMENT. SO THE PRESENT BOUNDARIES WILL BE RETAINED.

13. THE PROPOSAL THAT SOME OF THE SERVICES OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE BROUGHT UNDER THE TWO REGIONAL COUNCILS HAS BEEN WELCOMED. THE DISTRICT SERVICES CAN READILY BE TRANSFERRED. CENTRAL SERVICES SUCH AS LIAISON WITH THE AMATEUR SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS WILL BE KEPT SEPARATE AND THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT AND THE COUNCIL FOR PERFORMING ARTS WILL REMAIN IN BEING TO ADVISE ON MATTERS WITHIN THEIR TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG.

14. TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY EXECUTIVE SUPPORT FOR THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE NEW REGIONAL COUNCIL THE PRESENT URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT WILL BE FORMED INTO TWO NEW DEPARTMENTS EACH HEADED BY A CHIEF EXECUTIVE - ONE SERVICING THE URBAN COUNCIL AND ONE THE REGIONAL COUNCIL. THERE WILL ALSO BE A NEW SECRETARY - PROBABLY TO BE KNOWN AS THE SECRETARY FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES - WHO WILL HAVE POLICY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE MATTERS, AND CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL SERVICES, AND WHO WILL EXERCISE A COORDINATING FUNCTION TO ENCOURAGE COOPERATION, CONSISTENCY AND THE BEST USE OF RESOURCES BETWEEN THE TWO COUNCILS. HE WILL ACT AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AND THE TWO REGIONAL COUNCILS. THERE WILL ALSO BE SOME CONSEQUENTIAL ADJUSTMENTS TO THE SCHEDULES OF RESPONSIBILITIES OF SOME OTHER SECRETARIES.

15. LEGISLATION WILL BE REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH, FIRST, THE PROVISIONAL COUNCIL AND THEN THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AND WILL BE INTRODUCED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR DEBATE IN THIS COUNCIL IN THE USUAL WAY.

16. LET ME NOW TURN TO THE THREE LESS CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSALS.

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CONFIDENTIAL

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