Commonwealth Frime Ministers Conference 1969
Hong Konze
Constitutional Develomenta.
Hong Kong has an Executive Council consinting of
6 officials and 8 unofficials, and a Legislative Council
consisting of 12 officials (in addition to the Governor
who is both Fresident and a member of the Council) und
13 unofficials (10 Chinese and 3 Europeans). There have
been no Constitutional discussions or development since
September 1966, and none are expected in 1969.
It has been stated in Parliament on several oconcions
(the most recent of which was in reply to a Parliamentary
question on the 2nd July 1968) that beo use of Hong Kong's
special position, Constitutional development towards self
Government is not possible.
Because of the limitations on Constitutional development
in the sphere of Central Government, the Hong Kong Government
is examining the possibility of using the machinery of
Local Government as a medium through which the people of
the Colony may be given a greater opportunity of associnting
themselves with the conduct of their affsire. A report
of a Working Party on this subject was published in 1967 and
is being widely studied in Hong Kong. In present conditions,
however, the process of consultation is likely to be
Protracted.