TNAG-0213-FCO40-249-Appointments-of-membership-to-Executive-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 57

Sir L. Monson

CONFIDENTIAL

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Appointments to the Hong Kong Executive Council

With the exception of the ex-officio members, the appointments

of all members of the Hong Kong Executive Council expire at the end of this month, and it is now necessary to make new appointments from

1 July.

Recommendation

2.

I recommend that the Governor's proposals, as set out in paragraph 4 below, be approved.

Background

3.

A list of the present members of the Executive Council is attached. The list also gives the date on which each member was first appointed to the Council.

4. In a recent letter to you the Governor has made the following

recommendations:

5.

(a) That Mr. G. T. Rowe, Director of Social Welfare, be

appointed in place of Mr. P. Teng, Director of Medical Services (who retires from the Service in July, 1970).

This appointment would be for a period of one year, the normal period for such appointments.

(b) That all eight of the present nominated unofficial members

of the Council be reappointed for a period of eighteen

months, i.e. until 31 December, 1971.

As regards (a), in addition to the reasons advanced by the Governor for this recommendation (see paragraph 7 of his letter), there is the fact that social welfare activities are beginning to play a more prominent part in the programmes of the Hong Kong Government (a development which is to be welcomed); and that the Government is planning to introduce an extended scheme of public assistance. The presence of the Director of Social Welfare on the Executive Council should lend added weight to any proposals put forward in this sphere. There are accordingly good grounds for

supporting the proposal.

CONFIDENTIAL

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