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CYPHER/CAT A
PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM HUMBER 349
CONFIDENTIAL
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
29 MAY 1973
IG.
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY NO.51
J
OPY
LAST
KIF.
12
17
CONFIDENTIAL
YOUR TEL. 317.
HKKI/A
APPOINTMENTS TO EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS.
15
I HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING HOW TO OVERCOME THE DIFFICULTIES CREATED
DY THE SHORT PERIOD LEFT BEFORE THE APPOINTMENTS OF ALL
UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ON BOTH COUNCILS EXPIRE ON 30TH JUNE, AND
ALSO BY THE FACT THAT SEVERAL SUBSTANTIVE MEMBERS ARE PRESENTLY
TRAVELLING ABROAD AND OUT OF EASY TOUCH.
2. FIRST, HOWEVER, MAY I ASSUME THAT THE RE-APPOINTMENT OF
THE PRESENT OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL BE AGREE-
ABLE TO YOU, FOR THE USUAL PERIOD OF ONE YEAR OR FOR SO LONG
AS THEY HOLD THEIR PRESENT OFFICES?
3. IN REGARD TO THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
PLEASE NOW REFER TO THE ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS CLAUSE 14. 1 AM
ADVISED THAT WHEN ALL THE UNOFFICIAL'S SEATS BECOME AUTOMATICALLY
VACANT ON 30TH JUNE, THERE IS NOTHING TO PREVENT PROVISIONAL
APPOINTMENTS BEING MADE TO ALL THE SEATS IN QUESTION. I AM FURTHER
ADVISED THAT IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO INDICATE ANY PERIOD FOR SUCH
PROVISIONAL APPOINTMENTS AND THAT THEY CAN BE EXPRESSED AS VALID
UNTIL HER MAJESTY'S PLEASURE' BE KNOWN.
CONFIDENTIAL
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