TNAG-0353-FCO40-389-Reform-of-local-government-in-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 58

362 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL - 9th February 1972.

[MR LO] White Paper on the Urban Council

(c) that during the initial and transitional stage, the Director of Urban Services should be made answerable to the Council, until such time when the transfer of staff from the Depart- ment to the Council has been completed. For this reason, he should remain as a member of the Council, though not neces- sary its chairman;

(d) that the new chairman, or one of its Council members, should be appointed to sit on the Legislative Council. This is neces- sary in order to maintain a better understanding and to pro- mote a smoother working between the two Councils;

(e) that the composition of the Council should, for the time being, consist of equal numbers of appointed and elected members. But the ultimate aim is to have all elected members sitting on the Council. This can be achieved by replacing two appointed members at a time as and when their term of appointment comes to an end. There is, however, nothing to prevent them from running for election, and I think most of the present appointed members will stand to be elected if they are willing to run.

I have two very strong reasons for suggesting a totally elected body. Firstly, I doubt that the present system of balancing between the appointed and elected on a 50/50 basis will work in the manner that the authorities envisage. Even at the present time those who are appointed do not necessarily toe the Government line. So with the complete withdrawal of the official members, there shall be no more official line for them to toe. For this reason, it would appear irrelevant to even retain the appointed members. At best it will leave two opposing parties in the Council, without any hope of either side gaining an upper hand and thus assume the full responsibility for the Council's administration. Since neither side can be held fully responsible for the consequences and results of the work performed by the Council, it will either hamstring the work or produce irresponsible actions. It is, therefore, desirable to give one side a majority in order to produce a responsible body, who can be held accountable for its action to the community.

My second point is that as more than 50% of our popula- tion are local born, they are entitled to have a say at least in the management of local affairs. And as they are being better and better educated in years to come, they will be expected to press for this right, whether we like it or not. Therefore a truly representative body in the form of a local govern-