TNAG-0201-FCO40-237-Local-government-reforms-1969 — Page 127

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Paras. 75-78 Rating.

The

I am a little puzzled at the problem raised here about the effect of rate fixing (as very sensibly proposed) on rent control legislation. While the percentage has remained constant, revaluations have taken place and these must surely have been upwards in many cases thereby having the same effect as an increased percentage would have had on the old valuations. need to levy a rate to meet the cost of services based on estimated expenditure for the new financial year has to be faced unless the rate income from the council's area, on the "constant" percentage (aided by new valuations) in fact more than covers Urban Council expenditure, and the surplus can be regarded as a government rate for its services, thereby avoiding any political/ rent repercussions. No citizens like to see ever-upwards moving rates and can best understand constancy even perhaps if this results in a surplus to actual recurrent needs. Possibly Hong Kong is able to achieve this latter state of affairs through the duality of Council and Government rating.

Paras. 84-89

Franchise.

While it is considered that in present circumstances the franchise cannot be liberalised, it would be a pity if the opportunity of interim reform were not used to try to simplify the somewhat incongruously complex set of qualifications now in force. This is no doubt much easier said than done and without local knowledge I would not presume to suggest a formula.

Paras. 89-94 Composition of the Council

The difficulties of a three-hatted Chairman have already been noted in para 20. yet it is suggested here that the Director of Urban Services should either be appointed Chairman, or if Councillors are to be free to elect their own Chairman, they should not be confined to council members in their choice but should be able to choose an "outside" Chairman such as the D.U.S. If it is felt premature to allow the council to elect its own Chairman, then surely it would be better for the Governor to appoint an unofficial "elder statesman" rather than a civil servant who has considerable departmental responsibilities for the urban area such indeed that the opportunity of reform must surely see the separation of Chairman and Chief Executive.

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The need to associate a Councillor with a ward area is stressed in the report and I am sure this is most desirable. If the number of voters even for the 10 existing "wards" (let alone the 22 electoral districts) is too disparate for this purpose, perhaps an alternative grouping could be worked out. If this, too, is not feasible, then perhaps a local citizen in each of the wards could be specifically nominated thereto by the Governor.

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