C.O.
DRAFT AND RECORD COP¥lonial Office Church House,
REGISTERED No.
54345/4/48
LETTER SENT
4
Great Smith street,
3.1.
23rd March 1948.
DRAFT
Dear Pitblado,
MR. Mayle
Hong Lon
MR.
MR.
ENCLOSURES
FURTHER ACTION
unicipality
Thank you very much for your letter of the 13th March and for your comments on our draft despatch.
It is the case that the general policy is to make the Municipality the main instrument for coastitutional advanoo in Hong Ko• This policy Emplies that the tunicipality will eventually be siven some of the powers and functions which are normally retained by the Central Coverment, and, as you indicate, will thus create an unusual situation. Fortunately we shall have an opportunity of judging how the new Municipality is working before the time comes to transfer to it powers and responsibilities normally outside the province of Municipalities.
I appreciate your objection to the grant in ald aystem, but I am afraid that the alternative you mention of dividing out functions and revenue es between the central Government and the unicipality is not a practical proposition, apart from the variations which are likely fron year to year in returns Trom specific revenue items, to which reference is made in our draft despatch.
To meet the other points raised in your let I suggest the invertion of a passage on the follow
D. . PITILADO, 23
To
11ne
[4556B] Wt. 26930/440 50m. 9/45 C.N.Ld. 748