CO537-2188 — Page 327

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regard will have to be, paid to the Colony's financial

position at the time and to the question of whether

il

any replacements will be necessary for Central

Government purposes.

JJ

(1) Secondment of staff to the Municipality (para. 40')

I agree that this question should be referred to the

Commission proposed in paragraph 33 of Sir Mark Young's

despatch, but it will be necessary to consider very

carefully whether, without prejudice to the interests

of the holders, the posts of seconded officers should

be retained on the Colonial Establishment once the

duties of those posts have been transferred to the

Municipality.

(m)

Secondment of an experienced Town Clerk. (para.41)

As you will be aware, Sir Mark Young subsequently

suggested, after further consideration, that steps

should be taken to select and engage an experienced

Town Clerk from the United Kingdom for a period of

approximately two years to supervise the establishment

of the Municipal Government in Hong Kong. I agree

with this proposal, and enquiries are now being made

for a suitable officer.

(n)

External control over the affairs of the

Municipality (para.42). The question of whether or

not the affairs of the Municipal Council should be

subject to any form of external control, within their

allotted sphere, gives rise to a number of important

legal and financial problems and questions of policy,

which I desire to reserve for further examination.

•

I shall accordingly address you separately on this

question as soon as I am in a position to do so.

meanwhile,