CO537-1651 — Page 106

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13. The suggestion had been made to me from more than one quarter

that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Municipal Council should be

members of the Legislative Council by virtue of their office. I came to

the conclusion that this would not be practicable in view of the possibility

that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman might not be British subjects, in which

case they would acquire membership of the Legislative Council but would be

unable to take their seats. It might be possible to provide that the

Chairman and Vice-Chairman should be members of the Legislative Council

only if they were British subjects, but I think that

.

the preferable course

is to allow the Municipal Council to nominate or elect its two

representatives on the Legislative Council and to provide in the Instrument

amending the Constitution of the Legislative Council that in the case both

of the Municipality and of the two other nominating bodies the nomination

of a person not qualified to take his seat in the Legislative Council

would be invalid.

14. I have considered whether it should be stipulated that of the two

members representing the Municipality on the Legislative Council one should

be Chinese and one non-Chinese. It is probable that this will in fact be

the usual arrangement, since the Municipal Council will consist of Chinese

and non-Chinese members in equal proportions, and I think it is perhaps

innecessary to legislate for it. Four of the unofficial members of the

Legislative Council will still be appointed on the recommendation of the

Governor, who will be able in making his recommendations to ensure the fair

representation of each community.

15. I trust that you will approve of the proposed alteration in the

relative numbers of official and unofficial members in the Legislative

Council. It constitutes a change which will undoubtedly give satisfaction

in most quarters, and I think it will hardly be considered as unduly

hazardous even by those who are most apprehensive of the effects of transfer

of power from the Government to the representatives of the unofficial

community.

The retention in the hand of the Governor of the power to

recommend the appointment of four of the unofficial members, and the