CONFIDENTIAL
(a)
(6)
Ever since the last century the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce and the Justices of
the Peace as a body have each had the
privilege of nominating one of their body
for appointment to the Legislative Council.
Any attempt to abolish this privilege
would undoubtedly be bitterly contested:
but the fact remains that the privilege
is an anachronism which it is difficult
to justify under present conditions and
which constitutes a factor in restricting
the Governor's freedom of choice in the
making of such appointments.
The possibility has also been considered
of appointing one or two elected members
of the Urban Council.
The Governor's
view is that although such a course
would be possible in principle, members
of the Urban Council cannot be said to be
in any way representative of anyone other
than the Westernised middle class and
that they are, if anything, drawn from a
narrower field than are members of the
Executive and Legislative Councils.
has he a high opinion of the present
elected members of the Urban Council.
Nevertheless, if there were a worthwhile
candidate amongst that Council's members,
there seems no reason why his membership
of that body should debar him from
appointment to the Legislative Council
6
CONFIDENTIAL
/provided
Nor
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