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to give the District Boards the power to direct actions of government departments, as this would unnecessarily further complicate their relationship with the Municipal Councils and the Central Government and exacerbate the jealousies already in existence between the Boards and the Municipal Councils. With reference to the elections to the Urban Council, I believe that Option (iii) (a) of Clause 62 would provide a logical re-arrangement, remove the anomalies now existing in the structure of the two Municipal Councils and assist in the grooming of future local leaders through work in the Urban Council. There would not necessarily have to be an increase in overall membership of the Urban Council if there was a proportional reduction in the numbers of both appointed and directly-elected members. Adoption of this option might also remove the need for a change in the committee structure of the Urban Council as discussed
in Clauses 68-73 of the Green Paper. It is pleasing to learn that there are few problems with the Regional Council and for that I would like to congratulate its Chairman, Mr. Cheung Yan-Lung.
Sir, only time will tell whether the course we will eventually be pursuing turns out to be the right one. I am no prophet but a pragmatist and a democrat at heart
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appearances
notwithstanding so if my arguments are not convincing I
shall accept the verdict of the people as established by the Survey Office. I sincerely hope however that we shall embark on a development that Hong Kong will have no reason to regret in
the years to come.
Sir, I support the motion.