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in the Colony. In particular the Urban Council would be likely to revive their own long-standing request for a number of their
bein press). members to be appointed to the Executive and Legislative Councils.
why?
framing
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the
(3) Although the New Territories as such are not specifically represented on either the Executive or Legislative Council, District Commissioner of the New Territories is already an official member of the Legislative Council and is able to represent the interests of the New Territories on that body. In addition, he is invited to attend those meetings of the Executive Council at which matters affecting the New Territories are discussed. The Governor has considered the possibility of appointing the District Commissioner to be, in addition, the one official member of the Executive Council. However, he decided against doing so because he thought it more appropriate for him to be left on the Legislative Council alone.
(4) Although the Heung Yee Kuk can be regarded as truly represen- tative of the indigenous inhabitants of the New Territories, a growing proportion of that population is comprised of newcomers from the urban areas, who, with the spread of industry into the New Territories, are taking up residence there.
I do not think that we can consider acceding to the petition of the Heung Yee Kuk until we have fully explored the consequences of such a course with both Sir D Trench and Mr MacLehose. I am there- fore attaching a separate submission about the future composition of the two Councils.
8 February 1971
thick that we
forward
while
consideration writt
Maria
E O Laird
Hong Kong-Department
Met this reply go
keeping the matter unter M: Madehrse.
192
Kim Wilf Kun
-3-