TNAG-0353-FCO40-389-Reform-of-local-government-in-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 57

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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL-9th February 1972.

361

On the other hand, if it is the Government's intention that the present Urban Council should be eventually developed into a responsible and autonomous local government, than it should be given a fair chance to succeed right from the start.

There are several indications in the White Paper which lead one to believe that that is the intention. For example, it says that the Council will be given its share in the rates to be collected, and will be authorized to raise capital funds in the market. It even went as far to say that in due course it would be expected to set up its own architectural section. Furthermore, that in future the Council will be free to select its own chairman; that all present official members will be withdrawn; that proceedings will be conducted in Cantonese and English.

I suggest that there is no need for such changes, unless it is the Government's intention to develop the Council into a local govern-

ment.

If that be the case, then surely it must be vested with the authority to exercise control over its own staff. For I personally cannot see how it can be held responsible for the performance of its statutory functions unless it can also exercise control over its own staff.

But in the White Paper under paragraph 20 it says "The Urban Council will continue to work through its present executive arm, the Urban Services Department, and the staff of this will continue to be answerable to the Director of Urban Services . . ." The question I would like to ask is, to whom is the Director of Urban Services answerable?

I realize that in the initial and during the transitional stage, the Council must work with the present staff in the Urban Services Department. But the White Paper must make it plain that within a specified period of time it is the intention of the Government to transfer the staff in the Urban Services Department to be part and parcel of the Council's own staff.

After weighing the pros and cons, I am of the opinion that it would be of greater service to the community if the Council were developed into an autonomous local government and I would like to see it proceed along the following lines:

(a) that legislation should be drawn up to make the Urban Council into a statutory local government with well defined scopes and functions as listed in paragraphs 7 and 8 of the White Paper;

(b) that detailed financial arrangements should be worked out in advance between the central government and the Council on the sharing of rates and the annual grants for capital works;