G.F. 323
CONFIDENTIAL 機密
Recreation
10.
As their agricultural use has decreased, the recreational use of these same areas has increased enormously in the last few years. Hundreds of thousands of people now visit the New Territories every weekend.
The Heung Yee Kuk and Representation
11.
The principal consultative body is the Heung Yee Kuk, or Rural Consultative Council. This has been in being since 1923 and is now the statutory advisory body on New Territories matters. It consists of Councillors elected by 27 Rural Committees, of specially elected Councillors and Justices of the Peace. However its base is the indigenous population, who constitute a minority generally, and who are overwhelmed in towns such as Tsuen Wan. This disparity will increase in the other new towns and elsewhere as time goes on.
In order to develop community relations in general as well as with the indigenous people, the formation of other bodies is encouraged: Hutual Aid Committees, sports and cultural organisations, Chambers of Commerce, etc. These exist alongside the Heung Yee Kuk and Rural Committees.
12.
13.
In Tsuen Wan a Recreation & Amenities Committee has been appointed, including officials and nominated repre- sentatives of various groups in the district, as well as the Rural Committee. The Tsuen Wan District Office has been expanded to improve liaison with the new urban population and a Town Manager has been appointed.
14.
The Heung Yee Kuk sees these developments as a threat to its traditional position. But the Kuk can no longer expect to enjoy the exclusive position it formerly held; however it has been assured that there will continue to be a place for responsible local leaders who, because of their local knowledge and tradition of public service, will continue to play an important part in local affairs. The inclusion of such leaders on bodies such as the Recreation & Amenities Committee in Tsuen Wan, with a larger representation than their numbers would warrant, reflects this.
Urban Council and Urban Services Department
15.
The Chairman and some other members of Urban Council have recently suggested that the Council's jurisdiction should either be extended to the New Territories, or the Urban Services Department should exclusively serve the urban area. The Heung Yee Kuk has always resisted any extension of the Council's powers. Indeed the Kuk has several times proposed that there should be an autonomous New Territories Administrative Council. This has been turned down because with the urbanisation the New Territories is being more and more integrated with Hong Kong and Kowloon.
CONFIDENTIAL
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