HONG KONG CONSTITUTION
18
1. Present position.
Législative Council has 9 official and 8 nominated
unofficial members.
Urban Council is a nominated body with very limited
powers.
2.
3.
The "Young" Plan.
On re-occupation in 1946 it was proposed to develop
municipal government and delegate very wide powers to a
municipal council elected on a basis of universal adult
suffrage.
Recent developments.
In 1949, legislation to implement the Young plan was
published and evoked much criticism. In particular, it
would mean virtually handing over the internal administration
of the Colony to a body largely elected by non-British and
possibly anti-British voters. In June, the Legislative
Council, at the instance of the unofficial members, proposed
that policy should be reversed, and that the Legislative
Council should first be reformed and then should itself con-
sider what changes if any should be made in the constitution
and functions of the Urban Council. The Governor supported
this in principle and has made detailed recommendations for
the reform of Legislative Council on the basis of an un-
official majority of 11 to 6 including on the unofficial
side 6 members elected on a franchise restricted to British
subjects (both Chinese and non-Chinese). It is estimated
that this would provide the following electorate:
Portugue se
3,000
Indians and Pakistanis
2,500
United Kingdom and
Dominion subjects
6,500
Chinese prepared to
declare themselves
British
5,000
The se