2
The Governor and his Advisers held these consultations
and after considering other alternatives he came to the
conclusion, with which I agree, that
(a) a Municipal Council should be set up in
Hong Kong on the widest representative basis possible.
The majority of the members will be elected, and the
Council will gradually assume as many of the present
functions of the Central Government as can appropriately
be assigned to it. The Municipality will include
Kowloon, but not that area of the New Territories outside
Kowloon which by reason of its rural character is not
entirely suitable for immediate inclusion in the area to
be administered by the Municipal Council.
(b) That the constitution of the Legislative
Council should be modified with the object of securing
on that body a more direct and a proportionately increased
representation of the unofficial community. Under his
recommendation, which I have accepted, the official members
will be reduced to seven, and of the eight unofficial
members two will be directly nominated by the Municipal
Council, and one each by the Hong Kong General Chamber of
Commerce and the unofficial Justices of the Peace. The
remainder will continue to be nominated by the Governor.
His Majesty's Government are satisfied that these
measures constitute the best means of achieving their
genuine desire and intention to give the people of Hong
Kong a practical and effective share in the management
of their own affairs,
[Ends].
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