ה
(paragraph 1
of 30)
two sub-paragraphs on page 7 and the
substitution of the following:
"Lest there should be any tendency on the
part of irresponsible persons to procure
an excessive number of nominations,
might be desirable to require the
it
nomination papers to be signed by the
proposer and seconder and 18 (instead of 8)
other electors".
These three amendments have also been suggested
from the point of view of international presentation and were discussed with, and agreed by, Hazlerigg.
You should alse know that The amendments
proposed both to the despatch and to Enclosure 7
have all been agreed by MacDougall by telegram.
Coming now to our draft despatch, the
principal points which still remain for settlement
after you had sent us your last telegram on the
Constitution before leaving Hong Kong were,
(a) the proportion of Chinese seats on the Council,
(b) the allocation of nominated seats to the
trades unions, and (c) the question of electoral
qualifications. You will see from the draft
that on the first two of these questions
Mr. Creech Jones has accepted the advice contained
in your telegram. In regard to (a), however,
there are two points I should mention. Our
original suggestioh, to which you agreed, was
that the Secretary of State's despatch should
express the view that this decision must be
regarded as subject to review, in the light of
experience and changing conditions. You will
see from paragraph 3(a) of the draft despatch
that the words "for the present" have now been
introduced