CO537-2188 — Page 394

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transferred should be passed to the municipal Council, and my Committee supports the detailed suggestions on this subject

advanced by the Committee of the Hong Kong General Chamber of

Commerce, viz: that the following Departments should be taken

over by the Municipal Council :-

1. rublic Works

2. Education

3. Health & Sanitation

4. Finance & Revenue

5. Fire Brigade

6. Prisons.

I now wish to place before you some more specific con-

siderations which my Committee would like to call to your atten-

tion.

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Council.

In the first place I refer to the size of the proposed

In the course of the exploratory consideration in Hong

Kong, the view was expressed by the Hong Kong General Chamber of

Commerce that a Council of not fewer than 16 members would be necessary,

but the Governor, in a broadcast which he made on August 28th last,

referred to a Council of 48 persons.

In the view of my Committee, it is of the first importance

that the n-mber of this Council should be kept down to a level which

will permit of it conducting its deliberations as a "Committee" rather

than as a "Parliament". By this I mean that the number should be

such that they can conveniently be accommodated round a "Board table",

at which discussion can take place freely and with despatch, rather

than that the body should sit as a deliberative assembly in which

discussion is by speeches.

My Committee has in mind that the special difficulties

inevitable to any governing body made up of individuals from more

than one rade can normally be met and overcome in the compact and

friendly atmosphere of a round table is cussion, but they are liable

to be enhanced, if not aggravated, by the opportunities for the

poseur and propagandist, and also for delay which a debating assembly

provides. Furthermore, although Hong Kong has a large population,

the proportion of those whose mental and moral equipment fits them

for the responsibility of administration is but slight, so the larger