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2.
of making the selection himself the then Governor invited the JPS to nominate two of their own number for his and the Secretary of State's consideration. In the course of time the custom was changed so that the Governor invited the JPS to nominate one and the General Chamber of Commerce another. Subsequently of course the unofficial membership was greatly increased, but the tradition covering these two seats persisted.
The situation with regard to the JP seat is almost grotesque. Currently all unofficial members of Leg. Co. and Ex. Co. happen to be JPS, and sooner or later someone is going to ask why on earth the 170 JPs in the Colony should have the right in addition to nominate one of their own members to seat yet another JP on the Council when, for instance, even the Urban Council has not. But of course most unofficial members of Leg. Co. and Ex. Co. have served on the Urban Council.
The method of initiating a JP
nomination is for a notice to be published in the Gazette stating that a vacancy has occurred in the Legislative Council owing to the expiry of the appoint- ment of Mr. X and inviting the JPs to nominate someone for the Governor's consideration, and adding that in the event of there being more than one nomination an election will be arranged.
The claims of the General Chamber of Commerce are in many ways stronger in that it does represent over 2,000 firms and has a very considerable position in the Colony. But its members are pretty well represented both on Leg. Co. and Ex. Co., and again the question arises th the General Chamber of Commerce has the right of a nomination why should not, e.g. the Chinese Manufacturers' Association, or the
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