CO537-2188 — Page 165

the 15 preceding nomination for membership of the Council, and 6 years out of the precoding 10 for the franchise.

(e) Special provision relating to the period of the

Japanese occupation in respect of the residential qualification period (paragraph 25)

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agree that, in connection with the proposed residential

qualification for members of the Chinese community, some special provision should be made, on the lines proposed in paragraph 25 of Sir Mark Young's despatch No. 145, in order that

those persons who left Hong Kong during the period of the

Japanese occupation should not be penalised. In conformity with my comment in sub-paragraph (b) above, however, I consider that this concession should equally be extended to members of the non-Chinese communities.

(d) Minimum qualifying age for Councillors and Voters (paragraphe 17 and 24). In paragraph 17(a) or his despatch No. 145 Sir Mark Young recommended that the minimum qualifying age limit for election as a Councillor should be 30, and, in paragraph 24(1) of his despatch, that the minimum qualifying

ago limit for voters should be 25. Subsequently he felt able

to recommend that the minium qualifying age for Councillors should be reduced to 25, and advised that the weight of local

opinion would not at present favour any further reduction in the minimum qualifying age limit for both Councillors and voters. In the light of this advice I am prepared to accept the age of 25 as the minimum qualifying age for both, but I trust that a reduction in both cases to 21 will not be lung delayed.

(e) Other electoral qualifications (paragraph 24).

I agree to the proposed literacy and residential qualifications.

As regards the proposal that voters should, in addition, possess a property or the Jury Service qualification, I accept

the

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