TNAG-0353-FCO40-389-Reform-of-local-government-in-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 40

2600224

C.S. 84

RESTRICTED

For discussion

on 18th April 1972

XCR(72,75 Copy No....

MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

URBAN COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1972

USE OF CANTONESE IN URBAN COUNCIL MEETINGS

Honourable Members will recall that on 11th May 1971, after considering memorandum XCC(71)17, at Annex A, they advised and the Governor ordered that the recommendations in the First Report of the Chinese Language Committee be accepted in principle, i. e. that simultaneous interpretation facilities should be made available in the Legislative and Urban Council Chambers and for the use of Boards and Committees presently utilizing the service of non-English speaking members (priority to be given to the provision of facilities for the Legislative and Urban Councils).

2

Before Cantonese can be used in public meetings of the Urban Council, section 45 of the Urban Council Ordinance (Chapter 101), which prescribes English as the only language which may be used in meetings and minutes, will have to be repealed and the Standing Orders of the Urban Council will also have to be appropriately amended.

B

3

Attached at Annex B for the consideration of Honourable Members is the draft Urban Council (Amendment) Bill 1972. Clause 2 of the bill repeals section 45 of the principal Ordinance and clause 3 replaces section 46 in a modified form which provides for the keeping of the minutes of meetings in accordance with Standing Orders.

9

4

Honourable Members will note that, after the enactment of this bill, the languages spoken at the Urban Council meeting will no longer be regulated by the Urban Council Ordinance (Chapter 101) since it is considered to be more appropriate that any such regulation should be effected by the Standing Orders of the Urban Council. The use of its Standing Orders for this purpose will bring the Urban Council into line with the Legislative Council on this matter.

5

Honourable Members may wish to know that at the present moment the Urban Council does not intend to use any language other than Cantonese in addition to English at its meetings. Cantonese will only be adopted when simultaneous interpretation facilities are available in its Chamber.

6

Honourable Members will be asked to advise:

(a)

whether the languages to be used in the Urban Council should be governed by its Standing

Orders;

and

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