TNAG-0353-FCO40-389-Reform-of-local-government-in-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 95

· 8.

May I quote from part of a Report of the Royal Commission on Local

Government in Greater London 1957-60.

"Local government.. is not just a machine or a piece of organisation.

If one is dealing with a machine or a piece or organisation, one can take

each part separately and look at it separately. Local government seems to

us to be much more like a living thing, an organism, in which each part or

function is not self-contained or connected externally with other parts.

Each part is integrally concerned with each other part. The nature and

function of each part affects, and in some degree determines, the nature

and function of each of the other parts. The whole is not just a conglomeration

of the parts .... Local government is with us an instance of democracy at

work, and no amount of potential administrative efficiency could make up

for this loss of active participation in the work by capable, public-

spirited people elected by, responsible to, and in touch with those who

elect them."

Now, gentlemen, I have finally run out of steam.

Thank you again for allowing me to be with you today.