On June 30, a columnist of the Centre Daily News described the proposals outlined in the Green Paper as the "greatest reforms in the history of Hong Kong. Analysing the political significance of the Green Paper, the columnist felt that the Green Paper, which was meant to create a sense of belonging among the local population, was a tactic to make it more difficult for China to take ack Hong Kong after the New Territories lease expired.
At a dinner meeting of the Rotary Club of the New Territories on July 1, Urban Councillor Dr. Denny Huang criticised the Green Paper for increasing Government control and further weakening democracy in Hong Kong, several Chinese papers and two English papers reported the following day.
Dr. Huang suggested that future district management committees should be chaired by elected councillors to give local residents a greater say in their Government.
On July 2, a columnist of the Hong Kong Economic Journal saw the Green Paper as a milestone in the building of a well-integrated community with its own characteristics. Another columnist of the paper argued that the proposals in the Green Paper would simply take Hong Kong back to the 19th century when local dignitaries dominated the community and blocked communications between the small people and the central government.
In London, Lord Trefgarne told the House of Lords that the lease on the New Territories would probably be re-negotiated "long before it expires," the South China Morning Post and a few Chinese papers reported on July 2 and July 3. The paper said Lord Trefgarne was replying to a statement by Lord Brockway during a discussion on the proposals for district administration reforms. The question of the reconstruction of the Urban Council was also raised during the discussion, the papers added.
Articles in Chinese Magazines
Bi
Four Chinese magazines carried articles or reports on seminars on the Green Paper on district administration in their July issue. The magazines were The Seventies, The Ming Pao Monthly, The Hong Kong Economic Journal Monthly and The Chung Pao Monthly.
In a seminar organised by the Ming Pao Monthly on June 15, panelists felt that the extension of the franchise might not be able to arouse the interest of the public in elections. Two panelists, who were lecturers at the University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Polytechnic respectively, believed that the Green Paper was a step taken by the Government to stabilise the situation in the New Territories and was somehow con- nected with the question of the New Territories lease.
Mr. Andrew Wong of the Chinese University felt that the proposed district management committees would not work but would only give rise to more administrative problems.
To remedy shortcomings in the Green Paper, a panelist suggested that the terms of reference of district management committees should be made clearer and that seats should be reserved for elected members.
Another panelist said it would be better to widen the powers of city district officers than to set up district boards if the Government was to strengthen administration at district level.
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