Page 4. THE STAR, Hongkong, Thursday, October 14, 1971.
What The STAR thinks
Who'll put the rates up?
T
HE CONSIDERABLE degree of financial
autonomy proposed in yesterday's White Paper is quite enough power for our Urban Councillors to digest for a few years be- fore we listen to any clamour from some of them for more reform.
It would be unfair to suggest all our Councill- ors are more like critics than men of act- ion.
But the wide range of subjects some of them are all too ready to discuss publicly does reflect an element of confusion as to their municipal functions.
This has been our Government's fault as much
as theirs.
Now there is to be proper definition - and the Council's Standing Orders are to be approved by Legco, doubtless also to en- sure there will less future treading on other people's corns.
This ought to result in more concentration, particularly on the part of some Elected Councillors, on the subjects for which they are responsible.
Ratepayers, particularly, will watch to make up their individual minds about whether their money is squandered,
This alone, ultimately at any rate, should tend to make at least the Elected Councill- ors sit up and take more notice of the peop- le who provide them with their spending
money.
Still there are 23 categories of Urbco voters, including a lot of people whose interests are not necessarily identical with our rate- payers,
Compared with the franchise of most muni- cipalities abroad Urbco voters are perhaps now too liberal a list?
Only time will tell whether or not this proves
to be true.
At least, a more involved franchise can soon be expected to register as voters in in- creasing numbers - and to oust those among the Elected they feel are likely to put the
rates up.
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