CO_1030_1459_HONG_KONG_CONSTITUTIONAL_DEVELOPMENT_1963_1965 — Page 309

NOTES FOR DEBATE ON THE QUEEN'S SPEECH

FRIDAY, 15TH NOVEMBER, 1963

URBAN COUNCIL: HONG KONG

Composition

Functions

Proposals for

Municipal

Council

It is understood that Mr Bottomley will urge the "strengthening

of urban government" as a basis for the development of democratic

government in Hong Kong. When Mr Healey visited the Colony in September

he was presented by the Hong Kong Civic Association with a memorandum

containing proposals of this nature (copy attached;) he undertook to

discuss it with Mr Bottomley on his return to the United Kingdom.

2. The Urban Council consists of an Official Chairman, 5 Official

members and 16 unofficial members (eight nominated by the Governor, eight

elected on a limited franchise.)

3. The Council has only limited functions, e.g. some duties in the

field of public health, sanitary services, the provision and control of

public amenities (parks, bathing beaches, etc.) and the resettlement of

squatters and the administration of resettlement estates. There is not

room in a city-state for both a central government (Legislative Council)

and a municipal government, both having extensive power. In Hong Kong

subjects such as, e.g. education, cannot be delegated to municipal

government because of the communist and Kuo-Min-Tang influence in schools.

4. Enlargement of the responsibility of urban government was a

feature of immediate post-war constitutional proposals. The establishment

of a Municipal Council (with two-thirds of its members elected) and the

progressive devolution to this Council of many of the Goverment's

functions (in the field of education, social welfare, town planning,

public works) was approved in 1949, but the scheme was later abandoned.

5. The last changes in the urban council were made in 1956, when

elected members were increased from 4 to 8 and nominated unofficial members

from 6 to 8. Further changes will have little significance unless

acco panied by a revision of the franchise and an enlargement of the Page 309 of 344 Council's responsibilities, which, as already explained, presents difficulty.

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