4.
the Legislative Council of that Colony: this
will involve the creation of an unofficial
majority and the election on a non-communal basis
of a substantial proportion of the members by an
adult electorate for which there will be no
property or literacy qualification;
(b) the unexpected apathy towards proposals for
constitutional change in Hong Kong discussed in your
confidential despatch.
These factors have led me to give particular
consideration to the question of whether the object of
H.M.G. (viz. to meet such aspirations as exist among the
people of Hong Kong to manage their own affairs and to
create the opportunities of developing their capacities
for self-government and the necessary sense of responsibility)
can best be met by way of Municipal Government, or whether
in the light of these factors, development should be
along the lines of broadening the basis of the Central
Government.
5. It has been suggested that if the general public
in Hong Kong is luke-warm about this project, it might
be represented that a facade of local Government is
being created, for which there is no demand, in order
to avoid introducing a greater element or democracy into
the central Government. I should be glad to know if,
having regard to the fact that the population in
Singapore is also largely Chinese, you consider that the announcement referred to in paragraph 3(a) above is
likely to cause the general public in Hong Kong to think
that there is some substance in this view and to be still
less interested in the proposals for the creation of a
Municipality.
./I should