C. Local Government
Normal constitutional advance is not practicable, but the field of local government (or "local administration" as they prefer to call it in Hong Kong) offers scope for wider public participation in the conduct of the Colony's affairs. Mr. Lee is on record as saying in Hong Kong: "I personally feel that there may be quite a lot of scope for adapting for use here models which are familiar in many countries so as to place more clearly defined responsibilities on the organs of local administration and to increase their elective representative character."
2. A report is shortly to be published setting out a number of possible forms of local administration suitable to the circumstances of Hong Kong. There will follow a process of public consultation and discussion.
3.
Unofficial members of the Executive and Legislative Councils will no doubt express reservations to the S. of S. on the wisdom of far-reaching changes in the elective character and responsibilities of such bodies; and there are ample grounds for caution (e.g. Communist penetration and domination, aided by public indifference). The small politically conscious element has on the other hand been calling for wholly elected bodies with wide powers.
To both the S. of S. might say that some changes are clearly desirable and that he will be following developments with interest.
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The Governor (who can be expected to raise this subject, if only to report progress) is understandably against rushing precipitously into such changes. The end result he has in mind is a form of blue-print for the development of local administration, providing for the gradual introduction of local authorities and the progressive transfer of a variety of agreed functions. We agree with this approach. But at the same time we feel that the initial steps must not be unduly delayed; advances on this front will help to meet the constant Parliamentary pressure for changes (which we cannot make) in the institutions of central Government. S. of S. might speak accordingly.
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