CO537-2188 — Page 18

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5.4.47.

I am afraid that I shall have to bother you with these files now.

The present position is that the Secretary of State has announced in Parliament (see No.17) his acceptance of the Governor's recommendations for (a) setting up a Municipal Council (two-thirds elected) for Hong Kong Island and Kowloon; and (b) modifying the Constitution of the Legislative Council with the object of securing a more direct and a proportionately increased representation of the unofficial community.

Sir Mark Young's recommendations are put forward and discussed in a long despatch registered at No.69 on Part II of the 1946 volume of this file (flagged A). There is a summary of these proposals at No.73 on the same file (flagged B).

We have now to deal with the points of detail arising out of the Governor's long despatch, on some of which we have already consulted the Governor, and any other matters that ought to be taken up at this stage. Mr. Seel has minuted that this should be given the first priority in my Department and Sir Thomas Lloyd has expressed the hope that the reply will be agreed with the other Departments concerned (Treasury and Foreign Office) and got off to Sir Mark Young by the middle of April. I feel, therefore, that I have no option but to send this file on to you in red and ask you to deal with it as quickly as possible, much as I feel that this is too important a matter to be rushed through in red in this fashion.