TNAG-0441-FCO40-506-Visits-of-leading-personalities-of-Hong-Kong-to-UK-1974 — Page 28

CONFIDENTIAL

REPRESENTATIVE INSTITUTION: THE HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

1. The Urban Council is the only representative institution

in Hong Kong. It was reconstituted in 1973. The refo rmed

Council was inaugurated by the Governor on 10 April 1973. Its

incorporation, constitution and functions are provided for in

the Urban Council Ordinance 1973.

2.

The Ordinance provides for there to be 12 elected members

and 12 members appointed by the Governor. Elected members

normally hold office for 4 years. There is a restricted and

complicated franchise.

Details are set out in Part I of the

First Schedule to the Ordinance.

Briefly, to qualify as an

elector, a person must fulfil one of a number of qualifications

such as being a juror, or paying tax, or being a member of a

He must also have lived in the Colony

prescribed profession.

for at least 3 years.

3.

Ordinance.

The functions of the Council are set out in Part V of the

Briefly, it is concerned with duties conferred or

imposed by the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, and

other municipal matters such as car parks, entertainment

licensing and the provision of facilities for recreation, sport

and cultural activities. The principal executive officer of the

Council is the Director of Urban Services.

4. The Council is financially autonomous. Its budget in 1973

amounted to HK$ 266 million (about £20 million).

of about 15,000.

It has a staff

CONFIDENTIAL