TNAG-0201-FCO40-237-Local-government-reforms-1969 — Page 21

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members) on the lines of English practice though

with somewhat reduced powers and functions and a

greater degree of supervision and control by the

li

central Government. They envisaged the setting

up of a Municipal Council for the urban areas of

Hong Kong and one or possibly two others for

Kowloon and New Kowloon. The Report was not

unanimous.

96. At the same time, an ad hoc committee of

unofficial members of the Urban Council produced

its own Report for the future scope and operation

of the Council. It proposed that there should

be a "greater Hong Kong Council" covering the

whole of the Colony which should have administra-

tive responsibility for "strictly internal

matters" other than security. The Report was in

essence a bid by the Urban Council unofficials

to extend the Council's authority and press com-

ment was critical particularly in regard to the

cost and complications of its proposals.

o. 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. The Report was completed in March

1968 but was not published. Its recommendations

which were designed to produce interim measures

for early implementation, do not imply the rejec-

tion of some of the wider proposals canvassed in

the Working Party's Report.

When Lord Shepherd visited Hong Kong in

June 1969, he held discussions with the Urban

Council, with the unofficial members of

Legislative and Executive Councils and the

Governor and his officials. In general the

Minister made it clear that he favoured a gradual

and cautious approach to the development of a

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