II'd
10
favour of change. Not surprisingly, the majority of Urban
Councillors who commented on this subject considered there
should be no change, while most District Board Members
favoured expanding the Urban Council to include a
representative of each urban District Board. However,
submissions to the Survey Office showed that individuals,
groups and
and associations were strongly in favour of
change. Public opinion surveys showed a wide range of
results; with the overall picture being in favour of
expanding the Urban Council to include District Board
representatives.
The
Public comments
comments since then have confirmed a
strong feeling that the change we propose to make, is in
the right direction and will strengthen, the link between
the Urban District Boards and the Urban Council.
change also means that the Urban Council, with full
responsibility for large areas of public policy, will have, for the first time, a majority of elected members.
This is a major step forward in Hong Kong's political
development and the workings and performance of the Urban
Council under these new arrangements will, I am sure, be
of great interest to the community. The Urban Council has
a fine record of service to the people of Hong Kong and I
have no doubt that, taking account of this, and in the
interests of a more "effective
effective relationship, Urban Councillors will make the new arrangements work, and work
wall.
MH SI9 21:21 88. 91 JUW