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on this Council by five and the official seats by three.
"Subject to Her Majesty's approval of these proposals it is proposed
to advise Her Majesty that, in the latter category, the officers serving as
Director of Commerce and Industry, District Commissioner, New Territorios,
and Commissioner of Labour should be appointed to the Council.
"On the floor of the Council there would thus be 13 unofficial and
twelve official seats, but the Goverror's powers under the constitutional
system would be maintained by virtue of his original and casting vote.
"Arising out of the same discussions to which I have already
referred I have also indicated to the Secretary of State that it is desirable,
on similar grounds, to expand the Urban Council, and the Secretary of State
has intimated his approval of a proposal to increase in due course the
unofficial membership of Urban Council by 4, namely 2 elected and 2 nominated
members.
"I need hardly add that my successor, Sir David Trench, has been
consulted about these proposals and has expressed his complete agreement
with the recommendations.
"And so the time has come for me to depart from the scene. You all
know how I feel about Hong Kong and is people, and you all have a pretty
good idea of the warm regard and profund respect in which I hold them.
"I should like to express ag in my grateful thanks to my colleagues
on Executive an' Legislative Councils, to the members of the Urban Council,
and to all who have served on so many Boards and Committees during the period
of my admiration.
"And I very much wish to tale this opportunity of paying tribute to
the Garison in Hong Kong and to ack owledge to my honourable and gallant
friend, General Craddock, Commander ritish Forces, the part which the three
Arms of the Fighting Services, the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air
Fo? ce play in our life here and on our behalf. They fulfil their
osponsibilities with understanding and in an admir ble spirit of co-operation.
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/"I have
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