}
. 2
*
Sir A. Grantham
not be out of line with their general recommendations.
concurred in this. He thought, however, that the franchise under the
1949 proposals was very narrow, and it would be preferable to go for
indirect elections which would throw the net much wider and, at the same
time, we could increase the duties of the Urban Council. He had proposed
that two of the Members of the Legislative Council should come from the
Urban Council, but he was prepared to make this three. He suggested
that the form of the draft reply might be that, in view of the narrow
franchise, the direct election proposals were not acceptable and that
Hong Kong should be asked to think again. For example, the Unofficial
J.P.'s do already nominate a Member to the Legislative Council, although
he is appointed by the Governor, and it might be suggested that this
procedure could be extended. It might also be said that the Unofficial
proposal that the Municipal scheme should be in abeyance was not
acceptable, and the Secretary of State would like to see an increase in
the Elected Members of the Urban Council and an increase in their functions.
The proposals should be such that they could be put into effect straight
away in view of the long delay which had already occurred.
Sir Charles Jeffries suggested that in these difficult times it would
be useful to use existing organisations who are in a position to put up
Members. Mr. Sidebotham said that, even if the 1949 proposals were
accepted, there would be considerable delay before they could be implemented.
possibly
It would take at least six months for them to be got ready, and/a further 6 months or more
year before the election machinery would be in working order and elections
could take place. Sir Alexander Grantham pointed out that a further
difficulty was that no one with sufficient experience was available to
undertake this work at the present moment.
draft despatch
It was decided that a memorandum should be prepared, which would
include a rough draft of a possible answer to the 1949 despatches. The
that
memorandum should bring out/the Secretary of State was not being asked to
approve or disapprove those proposals, but to point out that they envisaged
a very narrow franchise and the temporary abandonment of the Municipal
proposals. Hong Kang should be asked whether it would be possible to
/ extend