(11)
433
(3) The Registrar General who is the officer entrusted with the adminis-
tration of Chinese affairs and who requires a special knowledge of local affairs and requirements. The present holder of the post, has been in the Colony fifteen years, and has held his present post for seven years.
(4) The Colonial Treasurer who is entrusted with the collection of
revenue, &c. and who has been in the Colony 13 years.
(5) The Director of Public Works who has been in the Colony seven
years.
(6) The Harbour Master who has been in the Colony ten years.
As a matter of fact the Official Members of the Legislative Council not only now are, but during the last twenty years have as a rule been long resident in the Colony, their residence being as a rule of as long duration as that of the Unofficial Members, who, as has already been pointed out, do not generally remain perma- nently in Hongkong.
A
Petitioners quote Malta, Cyprus, Mauritius and British Honduras as examples of Crown Colonies enjoying more liberal forms of Government than those enjoyed in Hongkong and add that in none of those Colonies are the commercial and industrial interests of the same magnitude and importance as those of Hongkong.' But Petitioners might at the same time have pointed out, as the late senior Un- official Member Mr. RYRIE used to say: "Hongkong is a place sui generis."
In none of the Colonies mentioned are the conditions either of population or situation the same as those of this Colony, nor is the Imperial position of them like Hongkong 'which," to quote the words of the petitioners, "is at once a frontier fortress and a naval depôt, the head quarters of Her Majesty's fleet, and the base for naval and military operations in these Far Eastern waters and of which Petitioners are not "so umpractical as to expect that the Queen's Government could ever give up the "paramount control." But notwithstanding this disclaimer, petitioners who include not only British subjects but also Americans, Portuguese and Chinese pray consultative voice in questions of an Imperial character; and claim the com- mon right of Englishmen !
16
*4
for
The Petitioners also pray for unofficial seats on the Executive Council. There are obvious objections to giving a seat on the Executive Council to private indi viduals with personal interests in the Colony. At the same time such a departure from the usual constitution of Crown Colonies would have its advantages. Unofficial Member of Executive Council would form a link between the Executive. Council and the Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council, which might lead to beneficial results in the adininistration of affairs, but such a member would have to be a resident of experience, well-known for his public spirit, and ready to subor- dinate his own interests and personal considerations to the general welfare of the Colony. Such residents, no doubt, there are in Hongkong, but it will not be casy to induce them to come forward, for, as has already been stated, British residents in this Colony are engrossed in their own occupations, which so monopolize their attention that they are not ofteu able, even if they are willing, to give up much time to the discussion or consideration of matters of public importance, which do not immediately concern themselves or their business.
To sum up, the petition is signed by certain residents in Hongkong, includ- ing British subjects and aliens, who desire the free election of a majority of Unofficial Members, who are to be British subjects. Petitioners do not state clearly in whom the free election of such a majority of members is to vest, or what is to be the basis of representation. If representation is to be based on taxation and the right of election is to extend to all nationalities alike, the Chinese, who so largely outnumber all other nationalities, will be able to carry the clection of any member for whom they may vote. If the so-called free election of members be