ould give
similarly
ns which es for the Report, rrections s, House
p).
7-70.
6).
er only.
ring the
Debates, g Daily 90p (by
by both giving mittees
postage
FICE
IIJW
et, Bristol BSI 2BQ
t BT1 4JY
lers
་
M
2
P.Q
1469
Hong Kong and Kowloon
ملک
HOUSE OF LORDS
Tuesday, 24th June, 1980.
[24 JUNE 1980]
The House met at half-past two of the clock: The LORD CHANCELLOR on the Woolsack.
Prayers-Read by the Lord Bishop of Rochester.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE: THE
LORD CHANCELLOR
The LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone): My Lords, before the commencement of the business of the day I would like to take the opportunity to tell the House that, with the approval of Her Majesty, I have accepted an invitation from the Swiss Minister of Justice and Police to pay an official visit to Switzerland from this Thursday 26th June to Monday 30th June. I hope the House will agree to grant me leave of absence for Thursday 26th and also for part of Monday 30th. Although I shall be back in England on Monday, I do not think I shall be back in time to be on the Woolsack at 2.30.
HONG KONG AND KOWLOON URBAN COUNCIL
2.37 p.m.
Lord BROCKWAY: My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what proposals the Hong Kong Govern- ment have made for reconstruction of the urban council for Hong Kong and Kowloon,
Lord TREFGARNE: My Lords, on 6th June the Hong Kong Government published a Green Paper entitled A Pattern of District Administration in Hong Kong. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House, together with a summary of the proposals. Although the Paper deals primarily with district
по сей
Urban Council
4.12
9
3/12
1470.
including the reservation of seats for council members on district boards, an increase in elected and appointed member- ship and the introduction of adult suffrage.
VOL 410
DATE
24/6/80 administration there are some consequen-
No
152
tial proposals for the urban council, H.L. 41 F2
Lord BROCKWAY: My Lords, while welcoming the extension of the franchise which previously was restricted on edu- cational and professional grounds, I should like to ask two questions. First, in view of the responsible way in which the elected members have fulfilled their duties on the urban council under the inspiration of Elsie Elliot, why are half the members still to be nominated by the Governor? Secondly, are there any proposals to extend the functions of the urban council, which are now almost entirely restricted, and cultural to health, recreational amenities?
Lord TREFGARNE: My Lords, the functions of the council are a little wider than the noble Lord suggests. However, we do not propose—or at least it is not proposed under this document—to extend them further because of the need, as we see it, to maintain the efficiency of central Government throughout the territory. As for the ratio of elected and appointed members to the council, there is a need, as we see it, to maintain a wide range of experience on the council and we think that the present arrangements are working very well.
My
Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS: Lords, is the noble Lord-in-Waiting aware that we on this side of the House would support what my noble friend Lord Brockway has said as regards the general intention of the extension of elective democracy in the Crown Colony? We support him because he is always im- peccable as well as implacable on these Is he further aware that we are equally concerned that the Governor and the Government of Hong Kong-and equally the Government of the United Kingdom-should constantly bear in mind what the Chinese community in Hong Kong desire and what the authorities in Peking would deem to be generally in the interests of Hong Kong and, indeed, of themselves in this matter?
matters.
Lord TREFGARNE: My Lords, I am not able to comment on the views of the Government in Peking on this matter. We are not aware of those views. How-
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.