CO537-2188 — Page 154

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4.

(a) For Councillors

P]

For British subjects, a total period of residence of not less than 1 year since attaining the age of 23.

For non-British subjects, a total period of residence

of 10 years out of the 15 preceding nomination.

(b) For electors

For British subjects, 1 year's residence since

attaining the age of 23.

For non-British subjects, 6 years residence out of

the preceding 10.

A special provision is being included under which any period of absence from the Colony during 1942, 1943, 1944 and 1945 will be reckoned as a period of residence in the Colony in the case of persons who were resident in Hong Kong for a total of 4 years between 1936 and 1941 inclusive and have resided in the Colony for 1 year since August 1945. The object is that persons who left Hong Kong during the period of the Japanese occupation shall not be penalised.

Sir M. Young's despatch (para. 17(c)) stated that it was generally agreed that a lengthy residential period should be required of non-British Chinese. His original proposal was one

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of six years out of the last ten for both Councillors and electors: his recommendation for a lengthier qualification for Councillors was made in the light of the majority of the views expressed to

him.7

The Municipal Council should have not less than 16 and not more than 24 members.

Sir M. Young originally proposed a membership of 48, but eventually recommended that the number should be 30. His reasons are given in para. 14 of his despatch. They are mainly:-

(a)

any smaller number would provide an inadequate number of elected representatives for wards containing in all well over 1 million persons, and would involve the Councillors in so much work on Committees that many valuable men might not come forward as candidates because of the likelihood of excessive demands on their time

/(b)