TNAG-0614-FCO40-762-Visit-by-delegation-from-Heung-Yee-Kuk-(Rural-Consultive-Cou-1977 — Page 191

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PART III

NT 3908/C II

Acting Chairman and Vice-Chairman New Territories Heung Yee Kuk 47 Cumberland Road

Kowloon Tong

Kowloon

Gentlemen,

CHIEF SECRETARY'S OFFICE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT HONG KONG

8 March, 1977

I have been authorised by His Excellency the Governor to reply to your letter of 30 December, 1976, to the Secretary for the New Territories enclosing your observations on the Governor's Speech to the Legislative Council on 6 October, 1976.

The Role of the Heung Yee Kuk and the Rural Committees and the Town Manager System in Tsuen Wan

2,

The New Territories Heung Yee Kuk is a statutory body, with a statutory duty to represent the views of the indigenous residents of the New Territories. The network of village representatives and Rural Committees, which covers much of the New Territories, has in the past provided an effective consultative system by which the New Territories Administration is kept informed of the needs and opinions of villagers. The Kuk and the Rural Committees have made a valuable contribution to the welfare and progress of the New Territories and have given loyal support to the Government, particularly during the difficult days of 1967.

3.

However the New Territories are now subject to dramatic change. The development of the three new towns of Tsuen Wan, Sha Tin and Tuen Mun has meant that many thousands of new residents have moved into the New Territories; in Tsuen Wan the indigenous villagers form only a very small proportion of the population; in Sha Tin and Tuen Mun a similar situation will develop as the construction of the new towns proceeds.

4.

It is the practice of the Hong Kong Government to consult as wide a range of people as possible, so as to ensure that its policies are acceptable to the population as a whole. Since the Rural Committee in Tsuen Wan represents primarily the indigenous villagers, it has been found necessary to encourage the formation of other advisory bodies, with a wider representation, to assist in the administration of the new

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