TNAG-0270-FCO40-306-Policy-on-housing-and-resettlement-in-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 120

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

W(B)L 51-7406

CONFIDENTIAL

there have been frequent and plain indications

that the Chinese Peoples Government expects

the constitutional status quo to be maintained.

Moreover, introduction of the electoral princ-

iple into the Legislative Council would

inevitably import the politics of the "two"

Chinas into the conduct of the Colony's affairs.

The Chinese Peoples Government would not

tolerate this and the outcome might well be a

determined communist bid for control of the

institutions of central government, which could

succeed, in conditions of electoral apathy. Local Government

In view of the obvious limitations Ow

constitutional development in the sphere of

central government, the Hong Kong Government

has been examining the possibility of using

the machinery of local government as a medium

by which the people of the Colony might be

given greater opportunity of associating

themselves with the conduct of their affairs.

This matter has been under examination for a

considerable time and we now await the Gover-

nor's proposals on the subject. However, in

view of the dangers referred to in paragraph

above, the Governor's approach to the matter

will be a cautious one and it is likely that

his proposals will be confined to a modest

increase in the functions and powers of the

Urban Council (the only existing local govern-

with execution functions

ment authority which contains elected members),

Λ

with a measure of financial responsibility,

and for the rest will do no more than envisage

the establishment of other local authorities

with similar functions and responsibilites for

the growing concentrations in the New Territ-

ories.

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19.

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