COLON SECRETARIAT FILE
No. CR 1/511/60 II
No.
CONFIDENTIAL
The Beaten
M. High
女
Page 237
Pium
-24
Jilin 12/2
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONG KONG.
65$
February, 1964
(18)
(10)
Dear Martin,
اتساعه
You will recollect my letter, dated 18th November, 1963, in reply to yours (FED 36/400/01) dated 7th November. In a despatch to the Secretary of State of today's date, I have now submitted recommendations for increasing the membership of the Legislative Council by 8 seats, 5 unofficial and 3 official, and of the Urban Council by 4 seats, 2 elected and 2 nominated un- official. On the strong representations of the Unofficials, with whom I have had discussions, I have suggested that, if the Secretary of State accepts these proposals, he might consider giving them his approval in principle now with a view to announcing the changes before my departure on 1st April. The Unofficials have expressed themselves emphatically on this point. There is a very considerable measure of agreement amongst the Unofficials in support of the proposals themselves, and they see a disadvantage in letting them rest until after David Trench has arrived, when he would most naturally have to take stock of the situation, which would mean the passage of more time than they think desirable. They would much prefer to secure your agree- ment and that of Trench to the proposals now. It would then lie with Trench to carry them into effect, and this, if the suggested timing is accepted, could take place at the end of June, some two and a half months after his arrival, and on the date of the renewal of the present Unofficial appointments to Legislative Council dealt with in correspondence, ending with your telegram 217.
My
37; on
FED 50/400/01
If this course merited consideration, you would wish to bring Trench in on the discussions right from the start. purpose, then, in writing is to say that I am copying this letter to David Trench and will be enclosing with it a copy of my despatch, knowing that you will bring him in on any subsequent exchanges, whether by letter or telegram.
Sir John Martin, K. C. M. G.,
C. B., C. V.O.,
Colonial Office,
London, S. W. 1.
Page 237
Yours Sinauch
Romin Baren
Page 237