TNAG-0937-FCO40-1156-Visits-of-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-th-1980 — Page 245

7.

CONFIDENTIAL

-2-

Governor has already done much to improve consultative

processes at local level through Advisory Boards in New

Territories and now in the urban areas (examination of

consultative arrangements in Kwun Tong).

8.

Grateful for views on ways of building on this.

lines of study are:

9.

a) elected element in advisory boards;

spread of system further to urban areas;

b) local elected branches of functional advisory

Possible

committees. Could, for instance, a school board

system be developed?

Realise problems. Not least would be relations of local

bodies with the Urban Council. Do we need ultimately to contemplate

replacement of Urban Council by smaller more local units?

10.

Would a confidential study of the subject by officials be

But

a starter? Clearly a public enquiry would be difficult.

Ministers, and presumably the Governor would need to say something

publicly.

CONFIDENTIAL