TNAG-0267-FCO40-303-Activities-of-Hong-Kong-Civic-Association-1970 — Page 7

HONGKONG CIVIC ASSOCIATION

G. P. O. BOX 920

HONG KONG

(

10

September 12, 1970

DISCUSSION POINTS raised with Mr. E.0. Laird, C.M.G., M.B.E., Head of the Hong Kong Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office From Hong Kong Civic Association

1. On July 10, 1970, the Chairman of the Hongkong Civic Association, Mr. Hilton Cheong-Leen, called on the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the Hon. Anthony Royle, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and presented a Memorandum concerning various matters relating to administration in Hong Kong.

2. Common Market One of the matters raised concerned Hongkong's position if and when Britain joined the Common Market. The Civic Association emphasizes at this stage the responsibility of the Hong Kong Department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to ensure that Hongkong's vital economic interests will be fully protected, and that Hongkong be given Associated Territory status under fair and viable conditions.

3. Urban Council

Another matter raised with Mr. Anthony Royle was that of expansion of the Urban Council's scope. The Hongkong Civic Association wishes to reiterate its position as follows:

(A) Appoint four Unofficial Urban Councillors to the Education Board, with consideration to be given to having the primary education system under the Urban Council.

(B)

Put the Social Welfare Department under the Urban Council.

(C)

Give two elected Urban Councillors seats on the Legislative Council.

Eshail

HKK

8/1

(D)

(E)

Allocate a portion of the rates to the Urban Council.

Increase the number of elected Urban Councillors from 10 to 14, the election

of the additional 4 members to take place in 1972.

(F) Set up the machinery for the automatic registration of voters preferably by 1972, or in time for the 1973 Election at the latest.

(G)

Change the name of the Urban Council to "Hong Kong City Council" once a portion of the rates has been allocated.

(H) Integrate the Housing Authority and Resettlement Department into a Department of Public Housing under the Hong Kong City Council by 1973.

46 Chinese as Official Language For many years past, the Hongkong Civic Association had urged the Government to take progressive steps to recognize Chinese as an official language. There has been over the years various exchanges of correspondence between the Government and the Civic Association on this subject. Because 98% of Hongkong's four million population are Chinese it is logical and reasonable that sooner or later Chinese should be recognized as an official language. The question is what are the steps which should be progressively taken towards this desirable objective.

5.

The Civic Association had also continuously urged that Government departments should make it a rule to conduct correspondence in Chinese with members of the public who do not know English. Practically all Government Departments have now introduced this practice, and it has improved communications between Government and the people.