GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONG KONG.
February, 1964
PUA LASTE-
1
I have the honour to address you on the question of constitutional changes in Hong Kong. I last reported on this subject in my reply to Sir John Martin's confidential letter
(18) (c) FED 30/400/01 of 7th November, 1963. Since then I have con-
tinued to hold discussions with the Unofficial Members of both Councils and with my senior official advisers, and the proposals which I now put forward for your approval have their entire support.
2.
In these discussions I have kept in front of my advisers the view, which you yourself share, that it is unrealistic in Hong Kong to think in terms of "constitutional advance", since this implies progress towards a definite goal of self-government or independence. Bearing in mind this limitation we have attempted to assess the trend of Hong Kong public opinion on constitutional changes. My advisers are clearly in agreement that there is no deep current of feeling about constitutional change in the Colony. There are, it is true, certain fringe elements who affect to describe constitutional reform as a pressing and important issue, but the bulk of the population, so many of whom are new- comers with no claim to speak on constitutional questions, continues to be concerned principally, and realistically, with preserving conditions of stability in which they can improve their economic prospects. Nevertheless, there is clearly an increasing interest in the subject of constitutional change. There is no doubt that it is now more widely discussed than previously and that it continues to attract increasing attention outside the Colony. My advisers recognise these facts, and consider that intelligent opinion in the Colony would definitely welcome an expansion of the field from
/which
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE DUNCAN SANDYS, MP
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CHIEF REGISTRAR'S OFFICE
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