would
(c) perhaps the most serious objection to the appointment of be the resentment this might cause in Hong Kong if it is seen as something done without regard to local requirements and under pressure from HMG. However, as this appointment will be one of nine new appointments, we believe that attention will probably focus on the reforms as a whole rather than on anyone individual new appointment. To this extent, the ground in Hong Kong has been well prepared and the expansion of the Council with the appointment of Unofficials from a wider social background will come as no surprise.
7. The Governor has stated in his letter that this final appointment is for discussion with the Secretary of State. This matter will be included in the brief for the Secretary of State; but meanwhile Lord Goronwy-Roberts will wish to discuss the question before deciding what he wishes to recommend to him.
8.
There
The Governor's proposals for ExCo (paragraph 11 of his letter of 6 July) seem conservative. Mrs Symons is on the whole a sensible person and would be a distinct improvement on PC Woo. The appointment of QW Lee to the Executive Council would follow the usual practice of grooming the next Senior Member of LegCo. is a case for dropping Sir Sydney Gordon who is the oldest serving member and represents the European establishment. Mr Bembridge, who has more liberal views, would be a good substitute. We will certainly want to look at ExCo again in due course; but it seems best at this stage to concentrate on a successful transformation of LegCo which has been a subject of lively controversy here.
9. With reference to the postcript to the Governor's letter of 7 July the departmental Legal Adviser has confirmed that Article XIIof the Royal Instructions does not exclude persons holding office under the Crown from being unofficial members. legal objection to the appointment of to the Legislative Council.
There thus appears to be no
the Trade Union candidate,
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