TNAG-0115-FCO40-151-Departmental-briefs-for-Commonwealth-Prime-Minister-s-and-ot-1969 — Page 135

CONFIDENTIAL

ANNEX

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS IN MR. W. V. DICKINSON'S REPORT ON LOCAL ADMINISTRATION IN HONG KONG

The City Council

(a) would have 22 elected, 20 nominated members,

would select own chairman;

(B) would be elected on present franchise to

start, limited to residents of urban area;

(c) would have initially certain new non-mandatory

and non-exclusive powers - clinics, schools, adult education, personal welfare service, car parks;

(d) would have wider licensing duties, and be given wide discretion in interpreting the limits of its powers;

(0)

would have significant freedom in determining its revenue (shares of rates, fees, service

charges, plus grants-in-aid for schools etc. and loan-raising powers);

(f) would be consulted on appointments to key

(8)

posts and could lay down policies within which staff must work;

would be subject to general control or inspection by government (through Home Secretary) of major projects, records, by-laws and procedures, to financial control (through approval of rates, estimates, loans and major tenders, and through audit), and to dissolution or loss of function in case of

misfeasance;

(h) should be bi-lingual and develop the "ward

system" (eventually if practical by electoral districts).

CONFIDENTIAL

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