in a position to accept those recommendations in full subject
to the comments set out below (the references are to the
paragraphs of Sir Mark Young's despatch No.145):-
#..
*
(a) Distribution of seats on the municipal bone 11.
(paragraph 15). I accept the recommendation that the
number of seats on the Council should be divided
equally between the Chinese and non-Chinese communities.
This and other features of the scheme will, of course,
be subject to review from time to time in the light of
experience.
(b) Residential qualifications for non-British nationals
(paragraphs 17(c) - (e) and paragraph 24(vi)).. I agree
with your view that it is desirable that the non-British
European and American communities should be allowed to be
represented on the Council, and I appreciate that the
requirement of any lengthy period of residence for such
persons might have the effect of depriving the Council
of the services of valuable potential members. I have
therefore given careful thought to the suggestion that a
shorter period of residential qualification, Both for
membership of the Council and for the franchise, might
properly be required of members of these particular
communities than of non-British Chinese citizens.
however, my considered opinion that any differentiation
in this matter as between the non-British Chinese community
on the one hand, and the non-British European and American
communities on the other, would be open to substantial
objection; and since I understand that a general reduction
in the period of residential qualification for all persons of other than British nationality is not recommended,,
i
It is,
I consider that this period will have to be, for all such
persons, 10 years out of the 15 preceding nomination for
membership of the Council, and 6 years out of the preceding
10 for the franchise.
(c) Special provision relating to the period of the
japanese occupation in rosnet of the residenZANI qualification period (paragraph 25)
Su (1)J
79
Lu (6)* (?) 979
I agree