The Governor recommends increases in both the Legislative and Urban (but not the Executive) Councils, This will be the first effective change in the legislature since the war, although proposals for change have previously been approved but, owing to the Communist takeover in China, have never been implemented.
2.
There has for some time been growing criticism of the restricted field from which nominated unofficials are drawn; the unofficials themselves have been conscious of this and of the increasing burden that the present 8 members have to bear if they are to discharge their duties adequately. Sir John Martin wrote to the Governor last November
10) saying that we should like his thoughts on broadening the basis of representation.
3. Sir David Trench has now said (26) that he has no comments on the Governor's proposals.
If Ministers decide that these proposals, as they stand, are acceptable the way is now clear for an announcement of the changes before Sir Robert Black's departure on 1 April. The Governor and his unofficials strongly urge this timing (24).
4. Mr Carter's minute summarises the proposals (para.7) and analyses their weaknesses (para.9). As regards timing it is somewhat unusual to make constitutional changes of any substance at the very end of a Governor's term particularly as the incumbent has been in office since 1958 without recommending any changes either in the legislature or the Urban Council. Indeed he argued strongly against any changes in his letter of December 1961 ((112) on Part C, 60/62 file). The impression may be given that changes announced now are designed to delay more far-reaching modifications following on a thorough review of the position by the new Governor.
I
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5. It has long been recognised however that any constitutional moves in Hong Kong must represent improvements in the machinery of government rather than progress towards self-government. see advantage in giving the new Governor the opportunity to benefit by the "improvements" now proposed at the outset of his tenure of office. will have the opportunity of showing, by the additional nominations to Legislative Council, that he would make with effect from July, how he intends to carry out the intention of drawing representatives from a wider field. It is a pity that this intention cannot be specifically defined in any statement made now, but I agree with the Governor's view that it would not be desirable to have nominations made by corporate bodies or interests. I am not convinced however that it would be dangerous to accept that the Governor ought automatically to appoint to Legislative Council a number of elected members of the Urban Council (or even that the Urban Council should select a panel from which the Governor could nominate one or two). Recent experience has shown that much of the drive for an improved squatter and housing policy comes from the elected members of the Urban Council, and although the elections are on a very Page 14 of 344
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