CO537-2188 — Page 78

114. Hong Kong Yel 1323 115 Ministry of Health

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Mr. Roberts Wray.

15.8.47

·11·9.47

1.

You will recall that, in paragraph 3(0) of our despatch to Hong Kong at No. 86 on the constitutional changes, we promised a further communication to the Governor on the important question of whether or not the affairs of the Municipal Council should be subject to any form of external control within the sphere of the functions which are to be allotted to it. You will see from No. 114 that the Governor wishes to have our views on this subject as soon as possible.

2. On my return from leave a fortnight ago I took copies of Sir M. Young's original despatch at No.69 on 54145/4/46 Part II and of our reply at No. 86 on this file to the Ministry of Health, and asked them for information as to how administrative control is exercised over local authorities in England and Wales. They agreed to prepare a brief memorandum on the subject, which has only just been received and is registered at No. 115. I suggest we send a copy of this memorandum to the Governor for his information.

3. It was Sir M. Young's desire that the Municipal Council should be given the maximum responsibility, and that it should be as free as possible from any form of external control: see in particular paras. 34 and 42 of his despatch, a copy of which I have placed loose in the file for convenience. On the other hand, in the confidential despatch which accompanied his open despatch, and is registered at No. 70 on 54145/4/46 Part II, he drew attention to certain dangers, principally (a) that there can be no doubt that political parties from China will seek to use the Municipal Council for their own ends, and (b) that equally there can be no doubt that there will be corruption.

4. In our despatch at No. 86 we have already laid down certain stipulations as to the degree of control to which the Municipal Council is to be subjected. These are as follows:

(1) Paragraph 3(g) states that the Municipal Council will be expected to act in conformity with any general policy laid down by the Central Government, with special reference to town planning, education and social welfare.

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(2)