CONFIDENTIAL
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES
ORIS ON FED 175/400104
Page 119′
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
Cypher
D. 10th February, 1965.
11
!!
R.
10th
05.00 hrs.
IMMEDIATE CONFIDENTIAL No. 169.
Your telegram No. 239.
FED 175/40/17 Coun
Urban Council.
As regards responsibilities, the Council recently requested that it should be formally represented on certain boards and committees, including the Board of Education, the Medical Advisory Board and the Town Planning Board.
It
seems likely from minutes of Urban Council meetings that this is a first step in a campaign; the next step would be the inclusion of certain additional heads of department in the Council, leading to the Council assuming responsibility for the functions of those departments. Reply has been sent that I consider it wrong in principle that the Council should be formally represented on boards and committees whose main functions fall outside the statutory responsibilities of the Urban Council, but that I hope to be able to continue to draw on the individual knowledge and experience of unofficial members in a personal capacity when considering appointments to public or other bodies.
2. I do not propose to extend the major functions of the Urban Council, but their work constantly grows by the establish- ment of new public gardens, libraries, multi-story car parks, and other public amenities which it is appropriate to place under their control.
3. As to the franchise, you will be aware that the largest category in the Register of Electors consists of jurors, who are automatically included in the register, and persons qualified for but exempt from jury service. All these require a knowledge of English. In addition certain other categories, such as teachers, some taxpayers, members of the Defence Force and the auxiliary services may apply for inclusion in the register; knowledge of English is immaterial.
4. The Urban Council in an interim report proposed that the electorate be enlarged by the automatic inclusion in the register of certain new categories such as doctors, chemists, professors, lecturers and full-time university students. I am much opposed to any material extension of automatic inclusion, but am in favour of a modest increase in the electorate by the inclusion of new categories (irrespective of liability for jury service and consequently knowledge of English). I am consequently setting up a working party to examine the question of extending the franchise and simplifying the procedure for registration, and have invited the Urban Council to propose the names of two unofficial members to serve. This might possibly result in the inclusion in the register of additional persons such as, for instance, civil servants, doctors, university staff and students, nurses and midwives, justices of the peace and members of various professional bodies, who are at present enfranchised only if they qualify as individuals for jury service. Page 119 of 344
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