THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 1947. [
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EDITORIAL
Calling Whitehall
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the Colonial Office, by custom and tradition, insists upon having a finger in Hong- kong's administrative pie, it should also be made to under- stand that this colony expects co-operation, not obstruction and procrastination from Whitehall. The Colonial Office succeeded in persuading the Hongkong au- thorities into believing that im- mediate direct taxation was a necessity for the colony; but our Colonial Secretariat does not ap- pear to have managed to convince Mr Creech Jones that immediate implementation of the Municipal Council blueprint is just as ur- gent. The Colonial Office delay in sanctioning the proposals put forward by Sir Mark Young six months ago only makes His Excellency's position at this time invidious. Sir Mark came back to Hongkong as Governor with an important mandate--the creation of an effective instru- ment which would start the colony along the road to self- government. He and his advisers went about that task with an absorption and thoroughness that resulted towards the end of last year in the completion of a com- prehensive scheme, cordially sup- ported by the entire thinking community. Since then Hong- kong has heard nothing about constitutional reform, but has seen put on the statute book tax
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legislation, not only thoroughly unpopular, but for which Govern- ment had no mandate. Naturally the public feels it is being treated rather shabbily, Twelve months ago it had held out to it a juicy, luscious plum, only to find that at the appointed time it gets a sour and indigestible crab-apple. Sir Mark Young tomorrow gives his farewell broadcast to Hongkong, and it can be assumed that his greatest regret will be that he cannot announce the date for the establishment of the colony's first municipal administration. The blame is not his. Under his guidance a full and practicable scheme was worked out months ago and submitted to London. Something has happened to it in the interval. Possibly Mr Creech Jones's colleagues are tinkering about with it, trying to add or subtract; if that is so they should have sent forward a report for His Excellency to give to the public. Perhaps it has just been pigeonholed; in which case a strong protest should go from here to Whitehall, In any event it should be made clear to the Colonial Office that Hongkong is interested in this constitutional reform; feels that in view of direct taxation it is a top priority subject; and that further delay in implementing the scheme will bály
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