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3.
Chinese General Chamber of Commerce the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, etc., etc.?
In short both these traditional, but anomalous, semi-electoral processes contain the seeds of political discord which could well germinate in the very near future.
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The method of seeking a nomination from the General Chamber has been for the Governor to write to the Committee asking for one when a vacancy
occurs.
In making appointments it seems to me that one is on safe enough ground in sticking to the archaic principle of selection by the Governor.
But once one adopts systems of nominations by others one is in serious trouble in present circumstances, though in former days I can see that the arrangement was a sound and practical one. But of course these are only customs. The Royal Instructions make no mention of these arrangements, and as far as we can discover the custom is based only on the Governor's discretion to submit names for the Secretary of State's approval as he thinks fit it being open to him to seek such assistance in making his selection as he likes.
After consultations, including discussion in Ex. Co., in which I was surprised to find I had the support of Unofficials, I spoke to the current Chairman of the General Chamber, Mr. Salmon, and to his successor elect, Mr. Peter Williams, the head of Dodwells, and explained the problem as I saw it. was to find some means of continuing the substance of the previous arrangement, i.e. the representation of the Chamber's interests in Leg. Co., but by a
This
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