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CONFIDENTIAL
assess
assist the impact of Government policies on the people of
their districts and will undertake a number of simple services,
such as mediation in labour disputes. Experience obtained from
the operation of the scheme may assist in the development of
local authorities in due course. A brief description of the
scheme was given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
(Mr. Whitlock) on 12 March, 1968, in reply to a question by
Mr. Anthony Royle.
CONFIDENTIAL
NOTES FOR SUPPLEMENTARIES
Constitutional Change.
Q.
Admmurative Government
Review of Structure of
Does the Minister not think it high time that the
political structure of the Hong Kong Government was
brought up-to-date to cope with the demands of a modern
and highly sophisticated community?
A. If, by the modernisation of the political structure the
hon. Member is referring to the introduction of elected
representation, I have nothing to add to my reply to his
Q.
A.
Q.
original question.
Could there not be a small number of elected representa-
tives in the Government?
We do not see this as a possible development in Hong Kong's
circumstances.
[ Take in X and YJ
Does the Minister not think that there is need for a
review of the administrative structure of the Government?
A. The Hong Kong Government is already conducting an
into
investigation of this matter.
Local Government.
૨.
What progress has been made by the Hong Kong Government
in considering the report of the Working Party on
Local Government?
A. Certain proposals are now being formulated but I am not in
a position to give any details at this stage.
Q. Do these proposals follow the recommendations in the
A.
Working Party's report?
Since the proposals are still in their formative stage, I Can
Live
Ce further information about them.
2. Could some of the Members of the Legislative Council be
A.
nominated from among the elected members of local
government bodies?
This is a possibility which has been considered, but the
I would need to examine such a suggestion very carefully.
an elected element by whatever means
to serious difficulties.
introduction of
Corlet Gue
/Q. What
Q.
A.
What is the extent of the local demand for greater
participation in Central Government?
The limitations of political development are generally
understood in Hong Kong and there is very little demand
for a change.
Q. Does the Minister not think it high time that the
ordinary people of Hong Kong were given greater oppor-
tunity of making known their needs and desires to the
Government?
A. The Government of Hong Kong is very conscious of the
need to maintain contact with the citizens of the Colony
and is constantly seeking methods of achieving this
object. I invite attention to the special District
Officers' scheme as an example. A brief description
of this scheme was given by my hon. friend, the
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 12 March,
in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Richmond.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.