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Hong Kong to be maintained, and by this they mean that they would not
accept any advancement of the Colony along the normal progression towards
self-government and independence. All the evidence suggests that any
major constitutional changes on these lines (which might imply that
Hong Kong could have a future other than re-incorporation with China)
would provoke a violent reaction from the C.P.G. and precipitate action
for the return of the Colony.
9.
Present policy as approved in an exchange of unpublished despatches
by the then Secretary of State in April, 1962 is, in the Governor's own
words; "In the future we should consider changes to the constitution of
Hong Kong (insofar as they affect the Executive and Legislative Councils)
only in relation to the necessity for the improvement of the machinery of
government in terms of benefit to the community as a whole and that, since
representative government with eventual independence is not a possibility
for Hong Kong, we should not indulge in the pretence of appearing to advance,
by constitutional reform, towards any such goal". In accordance with these
principles the Legislative Council was increased by five unofficial nenbors
and the three official nenbers in July, 1964 in order to provide
opportunities for the views of a wider cross-section of the Community to
be represented.
10.
Mrs Hart pointed out in the House of Commons on 21st March, 1967,
that "Because of Hong Kong's special circumstances it is not possible to
think of self-government in the Colony, or to consider an elected
Legislative Council
the situation in Hong Kong is unlike thet
anywhere else in the world. Nevertheless, the Government of Hong Kong are
considering an extension of the system by which people can be elected to
deal with local authority matters".
Possibilities for Constitutional Change
11.
Much thought has been given since 1962 to ways of inproving the
representative character of the administration, short of introducing an
/electoral
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