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owners could be included in the franchise, which would probably bring the total number eligible to vote up to 100,000 people.
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(iii) Referring to Mr. Sales mention of the enlargement of
the scope of the Urban Council (paragraph 9(ii)), Mr. Cheong-Leen said that he did not think that the Council should be developed on exactly the same lines as a local authority in the United Kingdom, but that development should be adapted to local conditions.
(iv) Referring to Dr. Woo's mention of representation on
Boards and Committees (paragraph 3), Mr. Cheong-Leen said he was curious to know why Elected Members were not given the opportunity to sit on the Legislative Council.
General discussion ensued on the following matters:-
(1) Now Territories.
Mr. Wilfred Wong emphasized the need for care in considering the question of jurisdiotion in the New Territories and suggested that the Treaty leasing the New Territories should be carefully studied in view of the political implications. He mentioned the case of the Mowloon Walled City in this regard. However, Mr. Cheong-Leen pointed out that the Council already operated in Kwun Tong and New howloon which were part of the New Torritories.
(ii) Scope of the Urban Council and Franchi se. Mr. Sales asked ir. Higham whether he supported the Unofficial Members' views on the question of administrative advance. In reply, Mr. Higham said he could not give an immediato answer as the matter would have to be discussed first. He asked however, what Members' views were on the timing in regard to extending the scope of the Council and enlarging the franchise. He suggested that if the scope were first extended, it might attract more people to register as electors. Mr. Cheong-Leen said that the extension of scope of activity should come first and suggested that an ad hoc committee should go into the question of enlarging the franchise.
(iii) Government Boards and Committees. Mr. Sales said that
if the Unofficial Members were appointed to more such Boards and Committees, the Urban Council would then take a more intimate part in the life of Hong Kong. He gave a specific instance of the Town Planning Board on which the Council was not represented. In regard to this, br. Highan said if the Council were given more scope, then it would follow that there would be more represen- tation on other Boards and Committees.
Mr. Higham said that he was very glad to have had the opportunity of woting the Unofficial Members personally. He had found the discussion vory useful but he did not think that Members expected him to comment in detail on all the matters they had raised. He was sucing Hill. the Governor after the meeting and would tell him of the discus sion..
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