TNAG-0269-FCO40-305-Reform-of-local-government-of-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 47

LPP SUBMIS

BACKGROUND

Urban Council

Existing Local Government Bodies

10. The Urban Council has statutory responsibility for

operating the basic sanitary services in the urban areas of

Hong Kong/Kowloon and also a variety of other duties in the

field of public health, such as the supervision of food

premises, hawkers, operation of slaughter houses and pest

control; it also has responsibilities for the removal and

re-settlement of squatters within the urban areas. It is

empowered to make byelaws for the regulation and control of

these matters, subject to the approval of the Legislative

Council. It has, however, no rating powers and its respon-

sibilities are carried through the Urban Services Department (a Government Department) the Director of which is Chairman

of the Council.

11. In addition to the Chairman, the Council consists of

five ex officio and twenty unofficial members, of whom ten

are elected and ten are appointed by the Governor.

The term

Urban

of office of the unofficial members is four years.

Council elections, at which half of the elected seats are

contested are held bi-annually. In spite of considerable

coverage in the press and radio, public interest is low.

12. In 1965 the decision was taken to extend the franchise

for Urban Council elections to an estimated 240,000; in the

event, less than 30,000 persons registered as electors. The

number of voters in the 1969 elections was 8,178 or 23.80% of

registered electors.

New

Territories

13. The New Territories are administered by District

Officers under the District Commissioner, with the assistance

of rural committees elected by and from village representatives.

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