TNAG-0279-FCO40-315-Visit-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Aff-1970 — Page 43

CONFIDENTIAL

New Orritories

4.

The New Territories are administered by District Officers

under the District Commissioner, with the assistance of rural

committees elected by and from village representatives.

There is

also a consultative council for the whole cf the New Territories

(Heung Yee Kuk); its functions are entirely advisory.

Proposals for Reorganisation

5.

In view of the spread of urban development into the New

Territories and of pressure from the elected members of Urban Council

to extend their authority into those areas, the Governor announced

early in 1966 that he had decided to institute a re-examination

of local government generally, As a first step an official

working party was set up to gather information on the possible

forms of local government suitable to Hong Kong and to suggest

The Working lines of development for further study and debate.

Party's report was published early in 1967.

6. At the same time an ad hoc committee of unofficial members

of the Urban Council produced its om report for the future

scope and operation of the Council. This report was accepted by the Urban Courcil in October 1966 (official members abstaining).

The two reports were the subject of official examination and

of public comment in Hong Kong, but developments were delayed by the communis confrontation in the Colony during the last eight

months of 1957 and it seemed clear that once the situation had

returned to normal a fresh look at the question would be necessary in the changed circumstances. Accordingly, early in 1968 a Secretariat Officer (W. V. Dickinson) was directed, working

/ independently

CONFIDENTIAL