TNAG-1220-FCO40-1530-Democratic-representation-and-reform-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 44

міз

GPS 490

SECRET

CEORET

FM HONG KONG 2008O5Z DEC 83

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1985 OF 20 DECEMBER 1983

IOR COPY HKK 011/3

A

20 DEC 1983

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

37

MY

MY TELNOS 1714 AND 1973 (PARAGRAPHS 14 AND 23)

25

N

Аз

FUTURE OF HONG KONG: CONSTITUTIONAL AND GOVERNMENTAL

DEVELOPMENT.

see (49)

FOLLOWING THE REVIEW ANNOUNCED IN PARA 103 OF MY ADDRESS TO LEGCO

ON 5 OCTOBER 1983, I NOW PROPOSE, AS A FIRST STEP, TO PUT TO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ON 3RD JANUARY PROPOSALS FOR THE CREATION OF A

REGIONAL COUNCIL TO SERVE THE NEW TERRITORIES AND FOR CHANGES IN

THE COMPOSITION AND PROBABLY FUNCTIONS OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS.

(NEW TERRITORIES IN THIS CONTEXT MEANS THE ADMINISTRATIVE AREA

WHICH IS NOT COINCIDENT WITH THE QUOTE LEASED AREA UNQUOTE).

2. THE FUNCTIONS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES COUNCIL WILL BE SIMILAR

TO THOSE OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, 1.E. ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH, SANITATION AND HYGIENE: RECREATION, AMENITIES AND ENTERTAINMENT: AND PROVISION OF CULTURAL SERVICES. AS IN THE URBAN AREA, DISTRICT BOARD CONSTITUENCIES WILL BE GROUPED TOGETHER TO CONSTITUTE ELEC- TORAL DISTRICTS FOR THE RETURN OF ELECTED COUNCILLORS. THE SECOND COUNCIL MAY HAVE TO BE LARGER THAN THE PRESENT URBAN COUNCIL, BUT THE RATIO OF ELECTED TO NOMINATED MEMBERS WOULD BE 1:1. INCOME FOR THE NEW COUNCIL WILL BE A PROPORTION OF THE NEW TERRITORIES RATES. ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS AND STATUTORY POWERS WILL BE SIMILAR TO THOSE PRESENTLY APPLYING TO THE URBAN COUNCIL.

3. FOR THE DISTRICT BOARDS, I AM PROPOSING TO DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF ELECTED MEMBERS TO GIVE THE BOARDS A MORE REPRESENTATIVE STATUS. NOMINATION OF APPOINTED MEMBERS WILL CONTINUE, BUT THE RATIO WILL BE 2 ELECTED MEMBERS TO 1 APPOINTED. OFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL, IN FUTURE, BE 'IN ATTENDANCE ONLY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE DISTRICT OFFICER WHO WILL BECOME EX-OFFICIO VICE CHAIRMAN AFTER THE NEXT DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS IN 1985 WHEN THE BOARDS WILL ELECT THE IR OWN CHAIRMEN.

4. EXTENSION OF THE FUNCTIONS OF DISTRICT BOARDS REQUIRES FURTHER EXAMINATION AND IS BEING CONSIDERED. INVOLVEMENT IN BUILDING MANAGEMENT, URBAN RENEWAL, LOCAL HAWKER CONTROL AND THE USE OF LOCAL FACILITIES SUCH AS COMMUNITY HALLS AND SPORTS GROUNDS ARE POSSIBILITIES I HAVE IN MIND.

5. CERTAIN CONSEQUENTIAL CHANGES TO THE ORGANISATION OF GOVERN- MENT'S OWN INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION WILL BE NECESSARY. FOR

SEORET

See

INSTANCE

६.

F

441