TNAG-0269-FCO40-305-Reform-of-local-government-of-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 7

OUR REF:

YOUR REF:

UBIMUS & COC!

HKFS

hong kong federation of students

IN

香 港 專 上 學生聯會

51

Member Unions:

Chung Chi College Student

Union

崇基學院學生會

Hong Kong Baptist College

Student Union 香港浸會書院學生會

Hong Kong Technical College

1.07.20

4KK 18/12

23c waterloo road, kowloon hong kong tel. k-888137, 840048, 840049

telegram "HKFSTUDENT"

Memorandum on REFORM OF THE URBAN COUNCIL of the Hong

Kong Federation of Students to Mr. Anthony Royle,

Parliamentary Under-secretary of State at the Foreign

and Commonwealth Office

Students' Union 香港工業學院學生會

Hong Kong University

Students' Union

香港大學學生會

Lingnan College Students

Union

嶺南書院學生會

New Asia College Student

Union

新亞書院學生會

Northcote College of Education Students' Assn. 羅富國師範學院學生會

Sir Robert Black College of

Education Student's Assn.

柏立基師範學院學生會

United College Student Union

聯合書院學生會

Executive Committee:

President

Mr. David Yip Chi Ying

Deputy President

Mr. Mo Yiu Chor

General Secretary

Mr. Law Yu Fai

Financial Secretary

Mr. Yip Hak Kwong (Acting)

Local Affairs Secretary Mr. Kwong Hoi Ying

International Affairs Secretary Miss Violet Chan Yin Fai

Student Welfare Secretary Mr. Tam Hall Ping

Press Secretary

Mr. Wong Chung Ying

Sports Secretary

Mr. Henry Shum Chin Man

The Hong Kong Federation of Students believes that the guiding principle in reforms of the local government set-up is acceptance of the Colonial form as the broad-framework within which changes directed towards democracy are effected. As the first step, reforms of the Urban Council which is the only channel of popular representation, should be carried out immediately. It cannot be over-emphasized that reforms are directed to bring people and government closer, and by providing for the greatest possible amount of popular participation in the local administration, Government will be adequately informed of the areas of need in its fulfillment of the responsibility towards the people,

The Hong Kong Federation of Students maintains that the following changes be made as soon as possible:

1. The guiding principle in the expansion of scope and

power of the council is to place all responsibilities connected directly with the livelihood of the people under the council. As such, education (primary and secondary), Traffic and transportation, social welfare and medical should be placed under the jurisdiction of the council.

The Hong Kong Federation of Students believes that the

limited scope and power of the council is the chief reason for public apathy in the election.

2. The number of seats of elected councillors should be

doubled.

3. The minimum age of candidates should be lowered from 25 to 21 to provide for participation of the younger generation in local affairs.

4. The Council should have the right to administer its own finances with sources of income established from the government.

5. The franchise should be expanded so that those who have

been staying in Hong Kong for 3 consecutive years are eligible to vote.

Young people over the age of 18 should also be eligible to vote. as in the recent election in England.