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on the practicability of particular aspects of a reform programme, are genuinely representative of Hong Kong opinion. It follows that institutional change is the key to the harmonious development of Hong Kong as an urban industrial society.
20. The first priority is thus in our view the extension of the policies of institutional change being developed by the present Governor. The consolidation of the system of Mutual Aid Committees; the promotion of natural leaders emerging at this level to the Legislative, and later the Executive, Council should thus be accelerated and thought given now to the next stage of institutional reform. The expansion of the Legislative Council to perhaps 50, (which would be more commensurate with the ratio of MP to the population in the UK) may need to be considered. Such a move might be necessary to enable LegCo to deal with the increasing sophistication of Government and to permit the appointment of tesponsible "Ministers" with executive
but care powers over some of the major government departments: will need to be taken to avoid misunderstandings with the Chinese. There is a case for considering greater differentiation between ExCo and LegCo with less emphasis on the executive functions of the latter aimed at producing more public discussion of Government policies on LegCo. If so "Ministers" may need to be drawn from the Executive Council. It is improbable in either case that representatives emerging from the lower income groups will be able to undertake the duties of LegCo and ExCo membership without payment; and it may be that the two bodies could become more effective with effective secretarial help and research assistance. Government expenditure for these purposes will need
It would to be regarded as a necessary burden on the taxpayer. in any case be small compared with the cost of the Government Service as a whole which absorbs 38% of total revenue.
21.
There may be opposition in Hong Kong to changes of this nature and the process will need to be evolutionary rather than revolutionary in character; but if the Governor manages to effect the first step in June without difficulty (by the appointment
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