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(g)
The character of the Councils
must be such
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
as to avoid any need for the over frequent
employment of the Governor's original and
casting votes to ensure the official majority.
5. There can clearly be no quarrel with these principle
ว
although there may be some reservations as regards the
rigidity with which certain of them should be applied.
Nevertheless there is little doubt that some change is
desirable in the character of the membership of the
Zentral Councils of Government.
aw
The following criteria indicate
are suggested in the attempt to undertake the type of
change which the Department believes to be desirable:
(a)
(b)
Change is required not so much in the spheres
of activity and knowhow represented by
members as in the backgrounds, attitudes and
values of those appointed. It is important
In the absence of elected representation, that the general public should be brought to
hat/the
a realisation that the Legislative Council
is a forum for genuine cut and thrust debate
on matters directly affecting them and not
merely a body for rubber stamping decisions
previously taken by "the Establishment".
This will become even more important if the
Governor's proposals for removing all
officials from the Urban Council and for
curbing the scope of debate in that Council
are adopted.
Those appointed should undoubtedly be people
who fulfil the principles set out by the
Governor (paragraph 4) but they should also be
persons of truly independent mind and approach
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/who will