TNAG-0353-FCO40-389-Reform-of-local-government-in-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 76

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HONG KONG

STANDARD

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40 Cents

Thursday, April 6 1972

Kaifongs hit at Urbco's seat on Legco

plan for seat

by

Jeff Wells and Tim Lam

A SUGGESTION that elected Urban Councillors be allotted seats on the Legislative Council was given a cold reception yesterday from unofficial members and kaifong leaders.

The suggestion was made by elected Urban Councillor, Mr Hilton Cheong-Leen,{ at the council's Tuesday meeting.

He suggested that the move is necessary to get more support for Urbco from the Government.

He also said that it is necessary because Whitehall dictates that there will be no clections to the Legislative Council,

Mr Cheong-Leen's comments came at the tall of a speech in which he supported the majority council view that standing orders should be amended to restrict debates to matters within the council's jurisdiction.

Scopo

Unofficial member of Legco Mr G.M.B. Salmon said that it is paradoxical for Mr Cheong-Leen to want to restrict the scope of the Urban Council's debate and at the members Lime to want elected

their overlapping

function into the Legislative Council.

same

Ile suggested that, with its new financial responsibilities granted under the Government's White Paper on the council, the council should concentrate on re-organising itself.

"I think it will find enough on its plate without wanting to sit in on Legco as well," he said.

Mr Salmon said that the two councils are different organizations with different functions → the one a legislator and the other an administrator, **

He wild that the budget speeches of unofficial members showed that they have the same ideals as the elected members of Utbco.

Mr Salmon also said that it would take somebody with an exceptional job that would allow the time for both councils.

Mr P.C. Woo, a former elected member of Urbeo and now an appointed unofficial member of Legco, said that it was wrong for Mr Cheong-Leen to demand seats from the Governor.

I

not

He said that in his position he could

that say

he was

the against appointment of elected members to Legco, But. he said, the appointments are a matter for the personal discretion of the Governor.

He said that it was also foolish to

petition the Governor for the appointment of elected member Mrs Elsie Elliott to Legco.

Mr Woo said that there were many considerations in deciding who should be appointed to the Legislative Council,

But members are not appointed as representatives of anybody even though they may be connected with commerce, industry or a profession,

On that basis, he said, elected members should have no right to seats on Legco as representatives of the Urban Council,

Exclude

Mr Oswald Cheung said that he could see no reason to exclude elected members from Legco.

"It depends on who they are, I would welcome some but I think others would be disruptive," he said,

He said that the appointments should

decision remain the

of the Governor without elected members having any automatic claim on seats,

Mr Cheung also said that he doubted that even if Mr Cheong-Leen's suggestion was adopted there would be an unofficial majority in Legco by the addition of new sca 13.

500

Mr Yan Chikit, chairman of the he Taihang Kaifong Association, said

elections to the would prefer to Legislative Council because appointed members

representing public opinion.

are not

He said he was sure there would be an enthusiastic vote at such elections,

in

But, he said, people are not interested Urbco elections because the elected members themselves do not reflect the opinions of the people,

Unfair pestä t

&

of

Mr Yan also said that if Urbco members are allowed to sit in Legco it would be unfair if Legco members were not given seats in Urbco,

Mr Yu Lok-yau, chairman

the Tsimshatsui Kaifong Association, said members of both councils should concentrate on their own responsibilities. Urbco members themselves have many things left undone, he said,

A lone voice in support of Mr Cheong-Leen was that of Mr Yip Chuen-yin, chairman of the Shekkipmei Kalfong Association, who said that the responsibilities of both councils are the to improve the Colony's social

same

conditions.

He said the councils should be able to sit together for "mutual understanding" in determining Government policies.

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