TNAG-0353-FCO40-389-Reform-of-local-government-in-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 109

9

Wednesday, February 9, 1972

ESSENTIAL TO ENLARGE URBAN COUNCIL FRANCHISE

To Arouse Public Interest In Local Affairs

*******

The Hon. Wilfred Wong said today that the enlargement of the

franchise of the Urban Council was essential to arouse public interest

in local affairs.

Supporting the motion before the Legislative Council to adopt

the White Paper on the Urban Council, he said that not only the categories

for qualifications should be increased but additional voting stations

should be established in the proper localities for the convenience of the

residents of the area.

On Standing Orders, Mr. Wong believed that the Urban Council

should be allowed to make their own standing orders, just as commercial

firms were allowed to make their own by-laws.

He said the wiggest contribution the White Paper had made was

in the field of finance.

"It is an essential principle that for organizations which spend

money, they must also receive their own revenue, thereby establishing a

co-relation between revenue and expenditure."

He added that the attainment of substantial financial autonomy

would be in a form of a separate rate to be given to the council and would

be off-set by a corresponding reduction in the present general rate.

There had been no appreciable increase in the functions of the

Urban Council except for some new licensing duties which were environmental

in character, such as liquor licensing, cinemas, bowling alleys, skating

rinks, billiard saloons, barber shops and pingpong saloons, he said.

/"However,