this letter with a minute dated 6 June suggesting
two alternative replies. A reply to Mr Vine's
letter is outstanding.
Research Department have now done a good
deal of work on this (Miss Warman's minute
giving an account of their findings is attached).
in
The system was first put into effect in Hong
Kong in 1883-4 by Sir George Bowen. His intention
was to give Hong Kong a semblance of "popular
election" without the disadvantages which were
usually held to accompany it. In informing the
Chamber of Commerce of his proposals in May 1883,
Sir George Bowen said that the nominations would
be called for "as a general rule" and/his despatch
of 14 May 1883 to the Secretary of State, he said:
"of course, the final appointment would continue
in every case, to rest absolutely with the
Governor, subject to the approval of the Crown."
The proposal had a mixed reception at the Colonial
Office but in the scheme was in the end accepted.
The Colonial Office then fully understood that
the system was not designed to give the Chamber
of Commerce or the JPS "an absolute right of
nomination".
The general conclusion is therefore that the
practice was never enshrined in the consi tution
of Hong Kong and was simply a convention.
Since
that convention is not anachronistic and, in the
contains
Governor's view, could hold the
discard, wted could political dispute,it would be
end the custom quietly now.
seeds of potential
arell advisable to
germinate
I recommend therefore
Pore
te rear
F
E
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN