AN
MONDAY, BETMBER 30, 1905
THE JLG HELD ITS FIRST MEETING IN LONDON AT THE END OF JULY AT WHICH WORKING PROCEDURES WERE AGREED. IT ALSO AGREED ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG CONTINUING TO BE A MEMBER OF THE ADB AND PRELIMINARY EXCHANGES WERE MADE ON HK'S MEMBERSHIP OF THE GATT. THE SECOND MEETING WILL BE HELD IN PEKING IN NOVEMBER, WHERE GATT WILL AGAIN BE DISCUSSED AND A START WILL BE MADE ON CONSIDERING THE WIDE RANGE OF INTERNATIONAL TREATIES AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS IN WHICH HK PARTICIPATES.
THE JLG HAS THUS GOT OFF TO A GOOD START. IT HAS EVOKED LIMITED AND RESTRAINED INTEREST AND COMMENT IN HK. DESPITE THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE BRITISH TEAM EARLIER THIS YEAR.
LAND COMMISSION
ANNEX III OF THE J.D. GIVES DETAILS OF THE SINO-BRITISH L.C. WHICH HAS NOW HELD THEIR MEETINGS IN HK,
- IT THIS ORGANISATION IS NOT PERIPATETIC LIKE THE JLG IS ESTABLISHED FULL-TIME IN HK. IT IS HOUSED IN A CONVERTED PRIMARY SCHOOL. THERE ARE THREE OFFICIALS ON EACH SIDE AND THEIR FUNCTION
IT MONITORS THE AMOUNT IS SET OUT IN SOME DETAIL IN ANNEX 11. OF LAND TO BE SOLD EACH YEAR AND AGREES SALES WHICH WILL RESULT IN A TOTAL IN EXCESS OF THE AGREED LIMIT (50 HECTARES A YEAR). IT ALSO MONITORS THE DIVISION AND USE OF PREMIUM INCOME DERIVED FROM LAND SALES.
BECAUSE LAND IS SUCH A VITAL MATTER FOR HK AND ITS ADMINISTRATION SO COMPLEX, WE THOUGHT, BEFORE THE L.C. WAS ESTABLISHED THAT ITS FIRST MEETINGS WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT AND DRAWN OUT. IN THE EVENT THIS HAS NOT PROVED TO BE THE CASE. PROSPECTS FOR THE COMING YEAR ARE VERY GOOD AND THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THIS GOOD START HAS CONTRIBUTED TO HK'S CONFIDENCE.
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PROGRESS IN CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT HAS NOT BEEN DELAYED. EVEN WHEN THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE IN PROGRESS PLANS WERE DRAWN UP. AND THIS YEAR THE NUMBER OF ELECTED MEMBERS OF DISTRICT BOARDS HAS BEEN DOUBLED AND A NEW REGIONAL COUNCIL HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO COVER THE NEW CITIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES NOT PROVIDED FOR BY THE EXISTING URBAN COUNCIL. LAST WEDNESDAY THE POLLS CLOSED FOR THE ELECTION OF 24 NEW MEMBERS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHICH WILL BE STARTING ITS NEW SESSION IN ITS NEW FORM NEXT MONTH, TWELVE OF THESE 24 NEW MEMBERS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BY FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES (COMMERCE, INDUSTRY, FINANCE, LABOUR, SOCIAL SERVICES, EDUCATION, LEGAL, MEDICAL, ENGINEERING, ETC.); THE REMAINING 12 HAVE BEEN ELECTED BY THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND COUNCILS.
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