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CONFIDENTIAL
stage of Regional Consultative Councils to educate the public in democratic procedures.
8.
At the same time, an ad hoc Committee of Unofficial Members of the Urban Council produced its own report on the future scope and operation of the Urban Council. This report was accepted by the Urban Council in October, 1966 (officials abstaining). It proposes that there should be a "Greater Hong Kong Council" or "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 subordi- nate District Councils established initially for Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories. The report is in essence another bid by the Urban Council unofficials to extend the Council's authority and it bears many signs of over hasty preparation. Press comment on its publication was critical particularly in regard to the coat and complications of the proposals.
9.
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 Hong Kong during the last eight months of 1967, and it seemed clear that once the situation in the Colony had returned to normal, a fresh look at them would be necessary in the light of the changed circumstances. 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 institu- tions. This Officer completed his report in March, 1968. In the summer of that year, the Urban Council and the Heung Yee Kuk (the Rural Advisory Council for the New Territories) were given a summary of Mr. Dickinson's recommendations and were asked for
their comments on them. These comments are now awaited. Similarly, the comments of those Government Departments most directly concerned have also been called for. There is, therefore, still some way to go before any conclusions are reached.
10.
The Governor has emphasised that the development of Local Government should in his opinion be approached with caution; there is very little pressure for change particularly in the New
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CONFIDENTIAL
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