TNAG-0614-FCO40-762-Visit-by-delegation-from-Heung-Yee-Kuk-(Rural-Consultive-Cou-1977 — Page 12

THE HEUNG YEE FUK'S APPEAL FOR SOCIAL REFORMS.

(A)

I

"FUNDAMENTALS

THE SPECIAL STATUS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES

"FOREWORD" of the Representation

This is set out in detail in the

which accompanies this document.

II

THE POLITICAL SYSTEM OF THE NEW TERRITORIES

1.

The inhabitants of the New Territories are dissatisfied and resentful

of the manner in which they and their property are administered by the British

Government. They have no voice at the policy making level and thus have no control

over the manner of administration. They are still being administered under the

style of the old British Colonial system which has vanished in other parts of the

world and has been altered greatly with respect to the rest of Hong Kong.

2.

In 1937, New Kowloon was divorced politically from the New Territories,

and recently a Town Manager Scheme has been set up in Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung.

3.

The Heung Yee Kuk is of the opinion that the special status of the New

Territories should be preserved, that it should be administered as a whole, and

that it should be administered directly under the central Government of Hong Kong.

4.

The tendency to change the District Offices into sub-divisions of the

Secretariat for the New Territories should be reversed and the Heung Yee Kuk

should be vested with the status and right to participate in the formulation and

revision of laws and policies which concern the New Territories.

5.

The Heung Yee Kuk should also be vested with powers comparable to the

Urban Council over the Urban Services Department. Also, Rural Committees should

enjoy the status and right of participation in meetings of their local authorities.

6.

The Heung Yee Kuk is the only statutory body representing the whole of

the New Territories. Its status parallels that of a regional Council. The Rural

Committees are the only representatives of the people in their district, and their

chairmen constitute the basic membership of the Heung Yee Kuk.

III

1.

THE TRADITIONAL RIGHTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES VILLAGERS

According to the provisions of the Lease of New Territories, the Hong

Kong Government cannot carry out expropriation or expulsion of the indigenous

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