J
proceeding by two stages is, as I have indicated above, that it obviates a further iong delay in getting anything actually done.
10. It would, of course, be the case that when the electorate for the Urban Council is expanded to include British subjects not otherwise included, the qualifications for those electors would be the same as was originally proposed under the "Young Plan".
11.
On a minor point, I had originally proposed that both official and unofficial members of the Urban Council would be eligible to vote and to serve as members of Legislative Council. Members of Executive Council advise, however, and I agree, that official members should have a right to vote but should not be eligible to serve as members of Legislative Council. If, for example, one of the official members were elected as an unofficial member of Legislative Council, his position might on occasions be embarrassing.
12.
I was also advised by Members that the Governor should have a casting but not an original vote. I agree with this suggestion since the occasions would be indeed rare, under the proposed constitution, where the Govern- ment would be outvoted by one vote only. In any event, I consider that for the Governor to forego an original vote would provide a small but tangible indication of the development which we all hope to see, namely, that the Governor should gradually withdraw into the background as an active member of Council, leaving the way clear for the appointment of a Speaker as presiding officer.
13.
Finally, members suggested that in the penulti- mate sentence of paragraph 4 of the draft despatch which the Secretary of State proposes to send, the words "the Legislative Council" should be inserted after the words "an electoral law for..
14.
(45) letter.
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11
I agree with paragraph 8 of Sidebotham's
15. I think the way is now clear for the Secretary of State to send his proposed despatch, amended as suggested in paragraph 13 and in Nicoli's letter of 6th September, 1950. For ease of reference I enclose a copy of that despatch with the proposed amendments made.
Yours ever,