CO537-2188 — Page 116

54145/4/47.

21st July, 1947.

103

Thank you for your letter of the 10th July about the

I am very proposed constitutionai chan es in Hong Kong. glad you did not hesitate to write to me on the subject. no you know, it has been our concern throughout to seek the she and advice of all who, like yourself, combine real owledge and experience of conûilione in the cast with a true interest in the fortunes of ilong song.

The three points mentioned in your letter are substantially those which were reported to me after the discussion which ... Kitchell had recently in the Colonial office. ith my advisers, I have senin given careful and earnest thought to those atters in the light of the views expressed by yourself and fr. Mitchell,

r. Mitchell, but the conclusion I have reached in that, in the spirit of our declared intention of giving to the Lahabitants of the Colony a fuller and more responsible share in the management of their own affuira, I must adhere to the recommendations made to me by Sir Kark Young, particularly since Sir Mark Young has assured me that his recomendations can be rearted 26 carrying the assent of the Lajority of those who displayed an interest in the subject.

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It is, as you know, the late..tion that both Sir Mark Young's despatch contuining his detailed recum endations and my despatch in reply shall be published

The date fixed for publication is the 24th July am on the 3rd July 7 Lope to make a further announcelicnt in the House. I chal. of course see that

There is cupics of these documents are sent to you. consequently no point in cy explaining in detail in this letter why we have decided to adopt 30 as the correct number for the unicipal Coun il, since the reasons for this decision are Liven fully in Sir Mark Young's despatch,

W. J. Keswick, Esq.

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