TNAG-1719-FCO40-2399-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1988 — Page 57

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favour of change. Not surprisingly, the majority of Urban

Councillors who commented on this subject considered there

should be no change, while most District Board Members

favoured expanding the Urban Council to include a

representative of each urban District Board. However,

submissions to the Survey Office showed that individuals,

groups and

and associations were strongly in favour of

change. Public opinion surveys showed a wide range of

results; with the overall picture being in favour of

expanding the Urban Council to include District Board

representatives.

The

Public comments

comments since then have confirmed a

strong feeling that the change we propose to make, is in

the right direction and will strengthen, the link between

the Urban District Boards and the Urban Council.

change also means that the Urban Council, with full

responsibility for large areas of public policy, will have, for the first time, a majority of elected members.

This is a major step forward in Hong Kong's political

development and the workings and performance of the Urban

Council under these new arrangements will, I am sure, be

of great interest to the community. The Urban Council has

a fine record of service to the people of Hong Kong and I

have no doubt that, taking account of this, and in the

interests of a more "effective

effective relationship, Urban Councillors will make the new arrangements work, and work

wall.

MH SI9 21:21 88. 91 JUW