CO537-1651 — Page 68

4.

the Legislative Council of that Colony: this

will involve the creation of an unofficial

majority and the election on a non-communal basis

of a substantial proportion of the members by an

adult electorate for which there will be no

property or literacy qualification;

(b) the unexpected apathy towards proposals for

constitutional change in Hong Kong discussed in your

confidential despatch.

These factors have led me to give particular

consideration to the question of whether the object of

H.M.G. (viz. to meet such aspirations as exist among the

people of Hong Kong to manage their own affairs and to

create the opportunities of developing their capacities

for self-government and the necessary sense of responsibility)

can best be met by way of Municipal Government, or whether

in the light of these factors, development should be

along the lines of broadening the basis of the Central

Government.

5. It has been suggested that if the general public

in Hong Kong is luke-warm about this project, it might

be represented that a facade of local Government is

being created, for which there is no demand, in order

to avoid introducing a greater element or democracy into

the central Government. I should be glad to know if,

having regard to the fact that the population in

Singapore is also largely Chinese, you consider that the announcement referred to in paragraph 3(a) above is

likely to cause the general public in Hong Kong to think

that there is some substance in this view and to be still

less interested in the proposals for the creation of a

Municipality.

./I should