TNAG-0201-FCO40-237-Local-government-reforms-1969 — Page 101

Guide Lines for Discussion

3. General Considerations.

Improvements in the machinery of local

government (or local administration as Hong Kong prefer to call it, with one eye on Chinese susceptibilities) are seen as :-

(a) a means of associating people more closely with the conduct

of public affairs in a Colony where progress towards representative and responsible central institutions of government cannot be achieved;

(b)

a safety valve for political aspirations that might develop

in a community increasingly thrown in on itself in the

twenty years since the communists came to power in China, and containing a fast growing proportion of people educated

on Western lines.

Nevertheless problems of electoral apathy and the Chinese disposition to avoid involvement with authority could impair the development of sound and effective local authorities (as also could communist interference see paragraph 6 below). The Urban Council's record of performance in the limited range of functions it undertakes is, with all its long experience, not an impressive one. Although there can

be no guarantee that local authorities will attract the services of a

sufficient number of able members of the community, the situation might in some measure be improved if wider functions and more financial

responsibility could be devolved at local authority level.

4. Need for Caution. The Minister has expressed the view that Flag D

having regard to the susceptibilities of communist China any rapid or

imposed solution is to be avoided; that progress should be made by

way of the gradual implementation of proposals that have been

discussed with representative bodies in Hong Kong; and that he would

prefer to take the initiative in the matter rather than wait upon events, by beginning discussions in Hong Kong during his forthcoming

visit. These discussions might be followed by further talks at the

end of the year when firmer proposals might be presented. What we know of the Governor's views indicates that his thoughts are running

on similar lines.

/5.