TNAG-1843-FCO40-2618-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 55

4. History of the development of representative government in Hong

Kong

(a) Constitutional Progress to early 1980s

EARLY POST WAR REFORM PROPOSALS

In July 1947 the then Governor, Sir Mark Young, announced

proposals for introduction of direct elections to a Municipal

Council and indirect election (by Municipal Council) of two members of Legislative Council.

Members of then Legislative Council counter-proposed, in 1949,

that their own Council should be reformed, with an elected majority.

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None of these proposals was pursued. Reasons: lack local support; preoccupation with problems of absorbing very large

numbers of migrants from China; fear of the danger of destabilising Chinese Communist -Kuomintang (KMT) confrontation in Hong Kong.

BEGINNING OF DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT

Before 1970, Urban Council, comprising elected and appointed

members in addition to government officials, acted as consultative

body on provision of urban-services.

S

In New Territories there was formal system of consultation

involving Village Representatives, Rural Committees and the Heung

Yee Kuk. (a Council composed of Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the

Rural Committees which promotes cooperation between Hong Kong

Government and people of New Territories).

Hong Kong Government also drew on advice of individual members of community, through wide range of Advisory Boards and Committees and through close contacts with kaifongs (local committees in urban

areas elected by residents of a few streets and other similar

associations.

In early 1970's, Hong Kong Government began to place increasing emphasis on encouraging local residents to become directly involved