Annex D
(i)
Report by Mr. W.V. Dickinson (submitted in
1968 and unpublished
Structure of local administration. The report
leaves untouched the area of jurisdiction of the present Urban Council (to be re-named Municipal Council) and has proposed only one new creation, that of a local authority for the "new town" of Tsuen Wan in the New Territories. (ii) Franchise. The existing franchise should be continued for at least four years, until a much more soundly conceived and rational basis can be found.
(iii) Composition The Municipal Council should have a majority of elected members (22 elected: 20 nominated)
and officials should cease to be members. For Tsuen Wan where, under the existing franchise, only a small fraction of the residents (who are mainly of the artisan class) would qualify to register as voters, the District Officer should be constituted the local authority assisted by an Advisory Council of officials and a majority of nominated unofficial members.
(iv) Functions A wider range of functions is proposed for the Municipal Council, some mandatory (e.g. existing public health functions) and some permissive (e.g. in the fields of education and medical services). The report expresses the hope that this would be regarded as only an initial allocation of functions, additions being made as circumstances and standards of performance allow.
(v) Financial Responsibility. Councils should have their own estimates, financial control being exercised by the Central Government through approval of esti,ates. Revenues from rates should be shared between Central Government and local authorities, collection remaining the responsibility of the former. Certain forms of licensing revenue might be paid to local authorities. Grants in aid should be payable by the Central Government which should provide facilities for loans to finance capital development. The embryonic Tuen Wan authority would, however, at this stage, need to be financed by subventions from public funds.
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