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certain British subjects, who would have been able to vote under the 1949 proposals, would no longer be eligible to ão so.
The Secretary of State thought that it would be extremely difficult to defend such a situation in Parliament if he was questioned on the point and Grantham whom we consulted, said that he saw no objection to extending the franchise for the Urban Council to include British subjects who were not eligible for the Jurors' List but who would be sufficiently interested to take the trouble to have their names put on the electoral role for the Urban Council. This step would remove the objections which the Secretary of State sees in the latest proposals as they stand.
7. You are, of course, free to discuss this matter with your Executive Council in strict confidence as we do not wish to send a despatch to Hong Kong about the publication of which there would be difficulties.
8.
I should be grateful if you would let me have your comments as soon as you conveniently can so that we can discuss them further with Grantham if necessary before he leaves for the United States. He has seen this letter and agrees with what I have written.
i da
(J.J. PASKIN)