SECRET
54145/4/50
F4185/14/3A
The Church House,
Great Smith Street,
S.W.1.
14 November, 1950.
Si
Dear Miss Storar,
With reference to my letter of the 23rd October, we have now had a reply from Mr. Nicoll about the interest of the Government of India in the proposed constitutional change in Hong Kong.
Mr. Nicoll states as follows "The point about representation through nominated members of various communities has now been considered. The view taken is that it would be preferable not to commit ourselves on the races of the nominated members. The Governor would thus have the opportunity of adjusting the balance of the Council so as to provide as wide a representation as possible after he knows what members had been elected by the various bodies. For example, if the Urban Council elected a Portuguese, the Governor need not necessarily nominate a Portuguese".
This information should not, of course, be disclosed to the Government of India, at this stage.
Yours sincerely,
(H. P. Hall)
MISS L. E. T. STORAR,
COMMONWEALTI KELATIONS OFFICE.