during the last two years (in February 1968 and in January 1969) and the reply now proposed by the Governor reiterates the replies sent on those occasions.
6.
The Heung Yee Kuk's requests should be viewed against the general constitutional and political background in the Colony. The absence of any elected representation on the central councils of Government and the impossibility of providing for any constitutional development inevitably create a hiatus between the Administration and the general public. The Government are well aware of this and are constantly seeking ways and means of enabling the people of the Colony to partici- pate to the maximum extent possible in the machinery of Government. Against that background, the arguments for and against accepting the Heung Yee Kuk's requests can be summarised as follows:
7.
8.
This could
be stretched to support H.4.Kis
request.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT OF HEUNG YEE KUK'S REPRESENTATIONS
(1) The New Territories comprise 365 sq.miles out of the Colony's total land area of 400 sq. miles; and they contain a substantial and growing proportion of Hong Kong's industrial activity (including the Colony's international airport). They also contain approximately one quarter of the Colony's total popu- lation of 4 million people.
(2) The Heung Yee Kuk is a statutory and properly elected body which can truly claim to represent the indigenous population of the New Territories (although in the opinion of the Governor its members often take the maximum personal advantage of their position).
(3) The fact that unofficial membership of the Executive and Legislative Councils is virtually confined to persons resident in the urban areas makes it difficult for the people of the New Territories to be convinced that their interests are given full regard when the policies of the central Government are determined. Specific representation of the New Territories on those Councils, by one means or another, could therefore have considerable advantages, presentational and otherwise.
ARGUMENTS AGAINST HEUNG YEE KUK'S REPRESENTATIONS
(1) Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils are not, and never have been, appointed on a geographical basis. Nor are they appointed to represent sectional interests (there are two exceptions to this rule: ever since the last century the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the Justices of the Peace (as a body) have had the right to nominate one represen- tative each for appointment to the Legislative Council). are appointed by the Governor on a personal basis and as being those people most likely to make the maximum contribution to the deliberations of the Council by virtue of their personal attri- butes, experience and standing in the Colony.
Members
(2) If either of the Heung Yee Kuk's requests were granted, there would undoubtedly be similar demands from other bodies
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