having regard to the number of European official members
not be better to restrict Gordon's re-appointment to 1 year? I note that you have not consulted JPs about possibility of change, but action of this kind now might perhaps indicate your intention to give the present system a
thorough re-examination.
of conse
4. We accept that British business interests
on the Council
should be represented, but we wonder whether there istification for a European
appointment in the additional seats It seems to be accepted that for the present at
least the Chamber of Commerce nominee will be
European (para. 5 of your letter) and we should like you to consider whether it would not be better to put forward another Chinese, linking the question of European representation with that of the Chamber of Commerce/ when you take this point up again?
(as in the day
t' lettin)
5.
Page 155
are not
out
further
established
However, the principal difficulty that we see
in your recommendations is the one that has
obviously given you some concern, i.e. that
further you have not been able to go as far as you would have wished in breaking new ground. We que realise that, in Hong Kong in particular,
it is difficult for someone without
reputation to find acceptance. We should however like you to consider/whether you could not make an experiment with, someone of potential rather
In any case we should be reluctant. than achievement, even if you are not abi też do
to accett this we would hope that a way would be found of avoiding the requirement that a person must be of "sufficiently independent means to devote adequate time to public affairs". criterion in particular makes it seem unlikely that you would ever be able to put forward. salaried professional men and women or others from the middle income bracket. Given that we ought to mt seek to include people in these categories as soon as possible we would hope that your influence could where necessary ensure that employers would cooperate in arranging for the
person concerned to have reasonable time and
opportunity for public duties, Would it perhaps be possible to have a shot at securing the, services of Miss Kotewall if you feel that is too early to print " Mrs Ellen Lirem it would be unwise to
might exclude
"fe
This
Page 155
CONFIDENTIAL & PERSONAL
6.%
age 156 of 344
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