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(b)

community or interest would not otherwise be adequately represented.

I presume that the association of unofficial members with the Government Executive, referred to in sub-paragraph (b) of the Secretary of State's minute, would initially take the form of appointment to the Executive Council. The arrangements under which unofficial members can assume some definite responsibility in the Executive for affairs of particular Departments will, however, require careful consideration in a place like Hong Kong and it may be desirable to make no public reference to this aim until the feasibility and political desirability of a development in this direction has been carefully examined. If this view is agreed, it may be desirable to mention the point in the last paragraph of the revised draft telegram.

The first six paragraphs of the revised draft are identical with the original draft, except that I have made an addition to the sentence! in brackets at the end of paragraph 5 referring to the necessity for consulting the Treasury on the financial aspect if we are going ahead with the project for an elected Municipality.

I am bringing sub-paragraph (f) to the notice of members of my Department who deal with Hong Kong, and I am arranging for all development, etc., projects which are under consideration or are being carried out to be reviewed in the light of it to see whether anything more can be done at this end. I think that the Secretary of State's instructions should also be brought to the notice of other Departments of the Office who are affected by this e.g. Social Services, Commercial Relations and Supplies, Finance and Development, Communications. Perhaps a minute by the Permanent Under Secretary to the Assistant Secretaries concerned would be the most appropriate way of doing this.

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21.1.47.

I have only three comments on the revised draft and points raised in Mr.Mayle's minute.

1) On his point (a), I agree that it may in fact be necessary to use the selection of nominated members to counter a Chinese preponderance on the Council, but my own belief is that it is much better not to say such things or be committed to them in any constitutional document, but simply to establish it as a practice by suitable instructions to the Governor.

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2) I am rather in agreement with Mr. Mayle's point (b). Indeed, I would with all respect go a little further. This matter of associating unofficiels with the execution of policy is one on which we are still

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