-
- 5 -
(60)
the reference to the usual condition regarding the duration of leases in the New Territories (for the reason given in the penultimate paragraph of the Foreign Office letter at No.32).
•
In regard to (b) Sir M. Young said he did not think there was any real danger of this reference being misinterpreted in the way the F.0. had suggested. In the circumstances we can only, I think, accept his advice on this point.
In consequence of (a) now being retained in Sir M. Young's despatch, it will be necessary to add to paragraph 3 of our despatch two further sub-paragraphs. I deal with these in (7) and (8) below.
(7) Residential qualifications
is not
Goundered recommended.
1
Insert as paragraph 3(b):
"Residential qualifications for non-British nationals (paragraphs 17(c)
paragraph 24(i).
(e) and
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 lengthyperiod 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 Chineșe citizens. It is, however, my considered opinion that any differentiation in this matter as between/Hof-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 it to be your view that a general reduction in the period of residential qualification for all persons of other than British nationality would not be feasible,
I consider that this requirement will have to be,for all such persons, one of 10 years out of the 15 preceding nomination for membership of the Council, and one of 6 years out of the preceding 10 for the franchise.
(8) Special provision relating to the period of Japanese
occupation in respect of the residential qualification period.
Insert as paragraph 3(c):
"Special provision relating to the period of the Japanese occupation in respect of the residential qualification period. (paragraph 25)
I agree that, in connection with the proposed residential qualification for members of the Chinese community, some special provision should be made, on the lines proposed in paragraph 25 of Sir Mark Young's despatch No.145, in order that those persons who left Hong Kong during the
/period