TNAG-0316-FCO40-352-Reform-of-local-government-of-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 24

INTRODUCTION

In the past, the functional responsibilities of the Urban Council have not been wholly defined and various other questions, including the possible grant of wider responsibilities to the Council, have been raised but not decided. This White Paper sets out for general information proposals for the future organization and financing of the Urban Council. These proposals not only demarcate and, to a certain extent, enlarge the Council's responsibilities but also, within the limits per- mitted by the constitution of the Colony, give the Urban Council a substantial degree of financial autonomy: something which it has not previously enjoyed.

2. Between 1966 and 1970 the opinions on the future of the Urban Council which have been put forward from time to time by individuals and organizations have covered a wide spectrum. On the one hand the view has been expressed that in Hong Kong there is no place for a body such as the Urban Council and, on the other, it has been argued that the powers of the Urban Council should be extended to include many of the functions now performed by the Central Government.

3. Three Reports have been published in recent years, one in 1966 by an ad hoc Committee of the Urban Council, a Report in November 1966 by a Government Working Party on Local Administration (which was published in February 1967) and the Urban Council's March 1969 Report on the Reform of Local Government. These Reports have one feature in common, namely, that their primary purpose is to consider the future development of the Urban Council together with other possible forms of representative Local Government. It is however doubtful whether proposals along these lines would bring greater efficiency to the administration of the urban areas or provide the general public with better services, and there has not been evidence of much, if any, public interest in the introduction of such systems. However, Government is aware that, apart from considerations of administrative efficiency, there is a need to encourage the development of the community spirit and a sense of belonging. It is the Govern- ment's view that a system of Local Government, that is the grant of executive powers to local representative bodies, is not the only way to

1