COPY
Hon. C.S.,
1.
You asked me to put up a note as to the steps
which might now be taken towards expediting the
formation of the Municipal Council.
I want to make it clear that I have NO
experience whatsoever of the registration of electors
and that my experience of the conduct of elections is
limited to acting as Presiding Officer and participating
in the "count" to help the Returning Officer.
2.
Our procedure for registration will necessarily
differ greatly from that in England. The qualifications
of electors are much more complicated than in England
and we must have written applications by those claiming
to be registered. We do not know how much interest will
be evinced and how many of those qualified will trouble
to apply for registration. Until well on with the work
of registration we shall be quite in the dark as to the
probable number of electors in any given area.
Our methods must necessarily be empirical.
3.
In the Second Schedule to the draft Municipal
Council Ordinance, suggested ward boundaries are
prescribed.
These were prescribed on data as to population,
&c. supplied by Mr. L. Brewer. They affect Chinese
electors only.
U
I would suggest that as a first step these
boundaries might be considered by a small committee
consisting of an officer of the Secretariat for Chinese
Affairs and two or more Chinese members of Executive
Council, Legislative Council or the Urban Council,
with Mr. Brewer.