TNAG-0201-FCO40-237-Local-government-reforms-1969 — Page 108

Committee of Urban Council

functions and a greater degree of supervision and control by central

government. Under their proposals a Municipal Council would be set

up for the urban area of Hong Kong and one, or possibly two, others

for Kowloon and New Kowloon. An Urban District Council was

suggested for Tsuen Wan but apart from this the working party saw no good reason for changes in the New Territories' administration which

was generally regarded as satisfactory by the inhabitants. A11

the new Councils would have a majority of members elected on a

liberal franchise but a system of appointed members would be retained

to guard against the possible failure of the elective principle.

The report was not unanimous, one member being in favour of a single authority for Hong Kong and Kowloon and three members suggesting an interim stage of Regional Consultative Councils to

educate the public in democratic procedures.

Report of 18. At the same time, an ad hoc committee of unofficial members Ad Hoc of the Urban Council produced its own report for the future scope

and operation of the Council. This report was accepted by the Urban Council in October 1966 (official members abstaining). It proposed that there should be a "greater Hong Kong Council" or

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NWB18/7 "municipal assembly" covering the whole of the Colony which should have administrative responsibility for "strictly internal matters" other than security. This Council would be supported by

subordinate District Councils established initially for Hong Kong,

Kowloon and the New Territories. The report was in essence another

bid by the Urban Council unofficials to extend the Council's

authority and it bore many signs of over-hasty preparation. Press comment on its publication was critical particularly in regard to

the cost and the complications of the proposals.

19.

The two reports were the subject of official examination and of public comment in Hong Kong, but developments were delayed by the Communist confrontation in the Colony during the last eight

months of 1967 and it seemed clear that once the situation had

returned to normal a fresh look at them would be necessary in the

light of the change in circumstances.

Dickin-

20.

son

Report

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AKKI8/12 ANNEY

Early in 1968 a Secretariat Officer (W. V. Dickinson) was directed, working independently, to work out a possible alternative to large-scale changes, based on improving the existing institutions.

in the summer of This officer completed his report in March 1968;

/that year