It was agreed that Mr. de Basto should on his return to Hong Kong send
his written comments on this point to Sir James McPetrie via the Attorney-
General of Hong Kong, with examples of what he thought was needed and of the
he
particular difficulties that they had in mind.
10.
Unofficial Appointments to the Legislative and Executive Councils.
Mr. de Basto said that his Association felt that appointments to the
Legislative and Executive Councils should be made from a wider cross-section
of the Community. He considered that the present Chinese members of those
Councils were largely inarticulate and he wondered whether the Government
realised that four of those members were inter-related, either by blood or
by marriage. He thought that an appointment from the Bar might perhaps,
produce someone who was capable of expressing himself more fluently and
Chinese easily than were present/members of the Council. The command of English of
some of the present members was so poor that it was difficult at times to
understand what they were saying.