TNAG-1230-FCO40-1543-Visit-by-Richard-Luce--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Com-1983 — Page 42

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among prominent members of the community (see Annex B). Elections

were held most recently, for the first time on a constituency basis,

in March 1983. URBCO's responsibilities are limited to the urban

areas of Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Kowloon (where, altogether, about three-quarters of the population live). Its main duties are public

hygiene, and the control of recreational and cultural facilities.

LUNCH WITH ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS: 28 SEPTEMBER

13.

The Administrative Service in Hong Kong, as in other former

Dependent Territories, is roughly the equivalent of the

administrative trainee stream in the Home Civil Service or

Administrative Stream Officers in the FCO. Its members fill all

posts at Secretary rank in the Government Secretariat and many Head

of Department posts. At a lower level, Administrative Officers work in a wide variety of Government Departments, especially the Government Secretariat and the City and New Territories

Administration. It is one of the very few grades in the Hong Kong Civil Service (the Inspectorate and above of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force being the only other important one) where it is still

the Government's policy to retain an expatriate element. At present about 55% of the Service are local officers (as opposed to 45% in

1979).

14. The Administrative Officers with whom Mr Luce will have lunch

will probably not press for details of the talks in Peking as they

will know that Mr Luce will not be able to tell them much. Their

main concerns are likely to be the security of the Pensions (see

Brief No 11) and whether HMG will be prepared to register local

officers as British citizens under the British Nationality Act in the

event of a Chinese takeover (see Brief No 3).

MEETING AND DINNER WITH MEMBERS OF DISTRICT BOARDS: 28 SEPTEMBER

15. District Boards consist of Government officials, elected

members, appointed Unofficials and members of the Urban Council (in

the urban area) or rural committees (in the New Territories). Their

terms of reference enable them to advise the Government on all

matters affecting the inhabitants of their District, on the provision

of public services and priorities for new services. They also have the power to dispose of funds (approximately $30 million in 1982/3)

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