SECRET
27.
communist and KMT is very small indeed, and when
Government servants are excluded amounts to only about
20,000 or well under 1% of the work force. Quite apart
from their numerical insignificance, any attempt to
inflate the standing of the independent trades unions
or of persons drawn from them would have to be undertaken
with care if it were not to be misunderstood by the
Chinese as an intention to undermine the influence of
their own communist unions. This does not exclude the
possibility of elevating a person with such a background
to the Legislative Council, but it does exclude doing
so if he has not qualified through the locally accepted
progression of public service or service on advisory
committees.
28.
The normal Westminster pattern of elected
government is barred by the attitude of the Chinese
(the argument is developed in Annex C). On the other hand
Parliament will wish to be convinced that the appointed
members of Councils are as representative of Hong Kong
opinion as circumstances permit. In our view the best way
of achieving this lies in the policies of institutional
change being developed by the present Governor. The
consolidation of the system of Mutual Aid Committees;
the promotion of natural leaders emerging at this level
to advisory committees and eventually to the Legislative
Council should thus be encouraged. Some expansion of the