TNAG-0353-FCO40-389-Reform-of-local-government-in-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 7

Mr Crowson

کہے

8/11

Reference HKK 18/3

THE URBAN COUNCIL HONG KONG

You asked whether one of the proposals contained

in the White Paper (1971) on the Reform of the Urban

Council took away from Urbco its responsibilities in

connection with public housing. The answer is no:

the White Per stated that the Council's present

sp

interest in public housing was to remain unchanged

until such time as a decision is taken on the

co-ordination of efforts in this field.

as from

However, that time has now arrived. In his

speech at the Opening Session of the Legislative

Council on 18 October, the Governor announced the

proposal for an expanded Housing Authority

next April which will have all the powers and

functions now divided between the Housing Board, the

Urban Council, the Commissioner for Resettlement and

the present Housing Authority.

It looks, therefore, as though the date of the

'new' Urban Council (to be set up in April 1973) is

going to co-incide with the setting up of the 'new'

Housing Authority, and will therefore no longer have

any responsibilities or functions in connection with

public housing.

P.M. Kelly

P. M. Kelly (Miss)

30 October 1972

DD 897152 154596 500M 2/72 GM 3643/2