SECRET
FC 10117/2
PRINTED FOR USE,
Eastern
No. 182
FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.
28th December, 1950.
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On the 1st December, Hall wrote to Trench
Hong Kong about the proposals for constitutional reforms in the Colony.
(58) (34745/4/50) asking for comments on a draft despatch to
2.
On the assumption that neither the Foreign Office nor the other Departments consulted had any points to raise, I understand that the despatch would be sent to the Governor, and that, on its receipt, it would be published, together with the Hong Kong despatch to which it is a reply. It would then be considered in the Hong Kong Legislative Council.
3. The Colonial Office and the Government of Hong Kong are of course the best judges of what is desirable and feasible as regards changes in the Colony's constitution, and we therefore have no comments on the proposals as such. We do, however, feel misgivings about the advisability of bringing the question prominently before the public at the present juncture. We realise that, when the matter was last discussed with the Governor a few months ago, Sir Alexander Grantham was strongly in favour of pressing on with these constitutional reforms. We also appreciate that the evident intention of the Government to initiate reforms at this time may well act as a stimulant to morale in the Colony, since it is a clear indication that His Majesty's Government do not intend to abandon Hong Kong.
•
4. On the other hand, we can be fairly sure that, however excellent the proposals may be, they will be attacked by the Central People's Government (and very possibly by the propaganda of other Communist countries). The reforms may well be denounced as "undemocratic", as depriving the Chinese in the Colony of their right to adequate representation, and as one more instance of British imperialist hypocrisy and insincerity. It is true that the Communists may equally attack the Colony in due course for delay in introducing reforms. But in our view it may well be undesirable to take action which is virtually certain to provoke a propaganda attack at a time when the Far Eastern situation is particularly serious; and, moreover, to give them a handle on a matter regarding which they have been noticeably silent in recent months.
5.
We feel, therefore, that it might be useful to consult the Governor on this matter before the draft despatch is issued; pointing out that the general situation in the
J. B. Sidebotham, Esq., C.M.G.,
Colonial Office,
Whitehall, S.W.1.
Far/
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