Confidential
Constitutional Matters
Note No.
(as m
as we think it must given Chia's altitude to constitutional
advance
Because of the clearage Lack of cohesion
Possibilities of Constitutional Change
BACKGROUND
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Much thought has been given since 1962 to ways of improving
the representative character of the administration, short of
introducing an electoral system. The possibilities under con-
sideration have been:
(a)
(b)
in the Trade Unionst between Communist-
4
and wea
The
a Nationalist ve nesses, affiliationsh
movement cannot
throw up any one of acceptable presentative Capacity
stature,
The Enlargement of the Unofficial Element in the Legislature
The 1964 increase in membership gave unofficials a
majority, but not control because of the Governor's
original and casting vote. If official control of
the Legislature is to be maintained any further
increase in unofficial representation is limited
by the possibility for pari passu increase in the
official membership.
Broadening the Basis of Selection of Unofficial Members
The possibilities of broadening representation in
the Legislature are strictly limited. In recent
selections the Governor has cast his net a little
wider and has recently appointed a woman to the
Legislature for the first time. It is inherant
e
in the nomination system that the Governor should
make appointments from people who have made their
mark in the community; these are people from indus-
try, commerce and the professions. If he were to
appoint comparative nonentities to handle the
affairs of the community, the process of selection
would have a random and arbitrary nature that would
satisfy nobody. Moreover, service on the Central
Councils of the Hong Kong Government takes a great
deal of time and is unpaid.
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