TNAG-0115-FCO40-151-Departmental-briefs-for-Commonwealth-Prime-Minister-s-and-ot-1969 — Page 133

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completed in March, 1968, and in the summer of that year the

Urban Council was given in confidence a summary of

Mr. Dickinson's recommendations (as they related to the Urban

Council) and was asked for its comments on them. Those comments

are now awaited. Similarly, the views of the Heung Yee Kuk

have been sought, in confidence, on proposals relating to the

New Territories and Government Departments most directly

concerned have been asked for their comments. There is

therefore some way to go before any conclusions are reached.

A summary of the recommendations in the Report is given in the

annex to this brief.

3.

It is suggested that in reply to any comments by

Mr. Cheong-Leen on the above matters, the Minister might say

that he has noted with interest the views expressed by

Mr. Cheong-Leen; that he assumes that those views will be

brought to the notice of the Hong Kong Government; but that

Mr. Cheong-Leen will undoubtedly realise that any conclusions

on such a wide-ranging subject must of necessity await the

outcome of the Hong Kong Government's study of the whole

question.

4. (b) remains a possibility which the Governor still has

under consideration. It is considered that this fairly radical

change in the basis of Legislative Council membership should

await the reorganisation of local government.

5. As regards (c), the Minister is aware of the criticisms

that have been levelled at the emergency regulations, particularly

at Regulation 31, both in certain quarters in Hong Kong and in

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