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authority, which is precisely the impression we wish to dispel. A measure of autonomy will have to be given to the District groups, whatever be the name they are eventually called and therefore anything which shows the common people that, not alone is there an effort being made by the central authority to get to know them and their problems better, but also there is a delegation of authority and responsibility for aspects of purely local affairs, will increase, overall, the respect for and co-operation with the Central Administration.

The general suggestions for the incorporation of the heads of the various departments deemed necessary for inclusion in the proposed expanded body are sound. I would however, take issue with one of the suggestions. Among Government Departments the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs has rightly been held in high esteem by the common man. In fact this Department has tried, down the years, to achieve and implement what our expanded body seeks to do, namely to get into closer contact with the common people the better to serve their needs. This it has done admirably and the community would be ill-served indeed, if this department were to be disbanded on the institution of our new body under discussion. Serving as I have from the beginning with the Kaifong Movement, I know only too well from long and varied experience how valuable has been the work of the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs and I submit, lest somebody deem the Secretariat an anachronism, that there are many more glaring anachronisms to be removed in streamlining our administration before we get anywhere near the necessity to remove this department.

I have spoken in this assembly before on the point of the official language in our discussions and I consider no apology necessary for raising the matter again, since I consider it to be a fundamental point underlying all our discussions on giving a greater share in local government to our people. Many fully competent and capable citizens would, and could, serve the Community usefully in civic government if the anachronism of holding solely to English as the official language of this chamber was removed. The fact is that, not to be able to express oneself in English is no shame to a person, especially if that person uses as his mother tongue a language that is spoken by 700 million people. We have tended, on this matter of the language to be used in this august chamber, to let the issue get somewhat out of focus. With simultaneous-translation techniques as advanced as they are today we have no right or mandate to adopt an ostrich-like attitude of pretending that they don't exist. Nor have we the right to insult nearly four million of our citizens by refusing to communicate with them in any language other than that understood and read by 1% of the populace; and, adding insult to injury, this on matters directly affecting their well-being. The time has come for us to insist that both Chinese and English be the official languages in this Chamber and written communications be both in Chinese and English. The respect we enjoy, and hope to increase, will certainly be helped by this innovation, which strictly speaking is or should be, by its nature, taken for granted by any normal group in this age.

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communications be both in Chinese and English. The respect we enjoy, and hope to increase, will certainly be helped by this innovation, which strictly speaking is or should be, by its nature, taken for granted by any normal group in this age.

The suggestion of having some form of self-financing in Local Government as outlined in Paragraph 66 in Part VIII, merits greater thought and consideration as such a policy would, indeed, help to concentrate interest in the respective districts on welfare and development. In conclusion, Sir, I wish to quote a famous passage from the sayings of Confucius, "Tse Ha, one of the disciples of Confucius asked about Government. The Master said 'Do not be desirous to have things done too quickly. Do not look at small advantages. Desire to have things done too quickly prevents their being done thoroughly. Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.'"

Therefore let us all join together in our efforts to strengthen the base of local Government in Hong Kong and to make Hong Kong a happier and better place for all of us.

With these remarks Sir, I support the motion.

MR. BERNACCHI: On a point of order, Mr. Chairman, I think written communications, including pamphlets on licensing procedure generally, have been in English and Chinese for many years now, after a motion in this Council about ten years ago.

MR. SALES: Sir, may I inquire whether the motion was put up by the Reform Club?

MR. BERNACCHI: It was, yes.

MR. PETER NG: Mr. Chairman, The report I have read is indeed a very comprehensive report. The committee must have spent much time and thought in its preparation and I must join in and congratulate the committee, and especially Mr. SALES for such a speedy and remarkable achievement. However, I would like to make a few remarks and reservations on a few particular points only.

First, I have some doubts as to the advisability to include New Territories in the proposed Greater H.K. Council. The geographical condition, way of life, way of thinking and habits of the many inhabitants in the New Territories are different and to include them in the Greater Council might prove to be very impractical. We should let the people in the New Territories elect their individual local Town Council following the present pattern of the Urban Council and place their Town Council under the direction of the Central Government, maybe with the assistance of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs. With