TNAG-0316-FCO40-352-Reform-of-local-government-of-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 115

XCC(71)20

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(j)

(k)

(1)

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An alternative would be 5 additional unofficials, all to be elected (i. e. 15 elected and 10 appointed) giving a 3:2 ratio, but this would reinforce the Council's elective nature, and an equal number of elected and appointed me nbers seems preferable.

Official membership: there are at present six officials on the Council; the Chairman appointed by the Governor, who is traditionally the Director of Urban Services; the Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services (statutory Vice Chairman), the Secretary for Home Affairs, the Director of Public Works, the Director of Social Welfare and the Commissioner for Resettlement. Seen as a functional body, the normal arrangement would be for officials to con- tinue to serve on the Council, perhaps however limiting membership to those concerned substantially with the Council's statutory work, i. e. Director of Urban Services; Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services; Commissioner for Resettlement whose future on the Council does of course depend on the control of public housing. However, for the following reasons the removal of all officials from the Council is recommended:

(i) it might discourage councillors from trying to score debating points against Government and departments generally;

(ii) it would demonstrate Government's willingness

to give the unofficials a completely free hand in the discharge of the Council's duties; (iii) it would make the unofficial members solely

responsible and accountable for the Council's actions.

The Council would be empowered by legislation to co-opt the Director of Urban Services and other staff of the Urban Services Department onto its Committees, and the Commissioner for Resettle- ment, as well as (with the Colonial Secretary's approval) public officers from other Government departments from time to time as the need arises.

Communications between Council and Government; communications between Government and the Council should be from the Chairman or Secretary to the Colonial Secretariat, and not (as suggested in the Urban Council's 1969 Report) direct to the Governor.

Debates on extra-statutory topics: consideration has been given to whether Urban Council Standing Order 10(1) (itself an ultra vires provision) should be amended to put an end to the present anomaly whereby the Council can discuss any subject

CONFIDENTIAL