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Education, Medical and Health and Social Welfare Departments. Such, I think, is not the intention of the report, and in this connection a question may be asked: Has the Urban Council ever tried to take over the day-to-day administration of the Urban Services Department: Another question may be asked: What useful purpose can the proposed Greater Hong Kong Council serve if it has no say in the planning of the services which are in the United Kingdom the normal functions of every County Council? Indeed, such a Greater Hong Kong Council will be a unique oddity in the British Commonwealth.

In discussing this report, indeed any other report on local govern- ment in Hong Kong, let us put aside prejudices and keep an open mind. Let us approach the problem in the spirit of service, of personal sacrifice, of harmony and of sincerity so that we may reach a decision beneficial to the whole community in general and to the less fortunate members amongst us in particular.

Sir, I have pleasure in supporting the motion.

MR. WILSON WANG:-Mr. Chairman, this report has in fact been prepared in a four-cornered, water-tight compartment. I hope that members will note the fact that it had to be complied within a period of four months, and it would inevitably necessitate the work to be done in a rush. And it is for this reason that the four members have made it understood in the Committee that they would not be in a position to express their opinions throughout the discussion as representatives of their respective parties or their colleagues of whom they might be regarded as their representatives. For, to do so, it would have to require series of consultations and meetings to be held with their respective groups. Therefore, at the best, this Report should be taken as the work of the four individual members for what they were able to contribute. The Committee had never intended that this Report should contain only the unanimous views of the four members but rather be satisfied with having their compromised views. It is for this reason that none of us found it necessary to attach to it any minority view on any point on which they might not entirely agree.

I must say that high tribute must be paid to the Chairman of the Committee Mr. SALES, for it was due to his able leadership, his usual tact and skill, and ability to sense the compromised feelings of the Committee, that this Report was successfully completed.

Bearing in mind the background work of this Committee, I for one have a feeling of satisfaction that the Report is now being tabled for debate today; and that indeed is all I believe that the Committee can best hope to achieve. In fact; there are indeed many parts of the Report which the Committee would have wanted more time to go into further study. For this reason, it is expected that quite a number of parts will be subjected to much criticism and query as indeed it has

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been. I for one would be very much surprised if this Report could be accepted by anyone without reservation.

However, I can safely say that one point, which is unanimously agreed upon by all members of the Committee, is that we all believe that the establishment of a system of local government in which local people shall be given more opportunity to serve and to share its responsibilities, is a subject which we must encourage the public to study and consider seriously. For indeed two very distinct progresses are being developed here which would make one feel that the time is coming for us to work along this course.

First, it is most noticeable that people including many who have just recently moved in to live in Hong Kong have now settled down accepting Hong Kong as their permanent home; and they would naturally be more civic minded and more prepared not only to share the prosperity and happiness that Hong Kong offers, but also the responsibility to contribute towards the building up of an even better place to live and work in.

Secondly, the increase in education opportunity among our rising generation leads us to expect that they will be conscious of their privi- leges as well as their obligation as citizens toward the community.

These two developments well indicate the trend that more people will want to serve and to be responsible in the administration of local affairs which are closely connected with their day-to-day life.

In keeping with this progress, it is therefore necessary that we must provide in our local administrative set-up, more and more opportunities for local residents to participate in it. This, in fact, is the main objective of this Report. Details apart, I fully support this objective.

However, I must emphasize that in this Report we merely suggest

a course for Government to set. Needless to say, a lot of details contained in the Report would still require careful study, particularly of the stages in which the various recommendations are to be imple- mented.

I am sure none would want to introduce a new government system just for the sake of having a change. The practical side of its each and every stage of implementation should first merit our consideration as no rash radical change can be justifiably said to yield any good result. It is advisable that changes should be effected at the appropriate stages; and at each stage the progress should be followed closely with full consideration of local conditions, needs and resources so as to guarantee the future success in administration.

With these words, I have great pleasure in supporting the motion.