CO537-1651 — Page 166

Extract.

Colonial Office,

Downing Street,

S.F.1.

13th November, 1946.

Many thanks for your letter of the 25th October.

I have not yet seen the details of the proposed con-

stitutional reforms in Hong Kong, but I gather they are

rather unusual. For that reason it is a little difficult

for me to comment on the appropriate procedure. I under-

stand that certain powers are to be handed over to a

Municipal Council: such a Council would, as you contemplate,

normally be constituted by Ordinance, in which case the

drafting would fall to the lot of the local law officers.

I assume, however, that the reforms will in part at least

have to be brought into effect by Letters Patent or by

Order of His Majesty in Council, and such documents are

usually drafted by the legal staff in this office. Even

if the whole Constitution were to be set up by Order in

Council or Letters Patent it would be in accordance with

our present pratice to leave electoral machinery to be dealt

with by local Ordinance which would be drafted by the legal

staff in the Colony.

It seems, therefore, that there will be some work for

the Hong Kong law officers to do, and I enclose some Pre-

cedents which may help them.

T. Hazelrigg, Esq., C.B.E.

K.0. Roberts-Wray.

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