CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY F C O
TELNO 32
OF 06025OZ JANUARY 92
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY FROM EXCO
SUMMARY
WE ARE INTRODUCING PROPOSALS FOR DELEGATING EXCO'S POWERS IN RESPECT OF CERTAIN ROUTINE MATTERS, SO THAT IT CAN HAVE MORE TIME TO FOCUS ON THE BROADER STRATEGIC ISSUES OF THE DAY.
DETAIL
2. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THREE AREAS WHERE DELEGATION IS CONSIDERED TO BE DESIRABLE:
(A)
(B)
(C)
EXERCISE OF MINOR STATUTORY POWER OF A ROUTINE NATURE UNDER VARIOUS ORDINANCES, EG. MAKING OF REGULATIONS GOVERNING TECHNICAL MATTERS, PRESCRIPTION AND EXEMPTION OF STATUTORY HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS, EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF OF CLAIMS, APPROVAL OF MAPS OR STATUTORY FORMS, AND REGISTRATION OF MEMORIALS ETC. THESE POWERS SHOULD BE DELEGATED TO THE RELEVANT POLICY SECRETARY OF HEAD OF DEPARTMENT.
THE SETTING OF MISCELLANEOUS STATUTORY FEES (OF WHICH THERE ARE 5000). THIS POWER IS PROPOSED TO BE DELEGATED TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY. THE POWER TO SET THE MORE CONTROVERSIAL FEES AND UTILITY FEES (EG. WATER CHARGES) WILL NOT BE DELEGATED: NEITHER WILL WE SEEK DELEGATION OF POWERS OVER FEES CONTAINING A TAX-LOADING ELEMENT (EG. DRIVING LICENCES) WHICH WOULD CONTINUE TO BE APPROVED DIRECTLY BY THE LEGISLATURE: AND
DETERMINATION OF ROUTINE APPEALS WHICH DO NOT INVOLVE THE CONSIDERATION OF COMPLEX SOCIAL OR POLITICAL ISSUES (EG. APPEALS IN RESPECT OF THE ISSUE OF AMUSEMENT GAMES CENTRE LICENCES, TIMBER STORE LICENCES ETC). IT IS PROPOSED TO TRANSFER THE HEARING OF SUCH APPEALS TO A CENTRALISED
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