CO537-2188 — Page 200

Wt. 41936/587. 1/47. 50m. S. & S. Ltd.

Wt. 47799/614. 2/47, 30m. S. & S. Ltd.

54145/4/47.

C. O.

Mr. Galsworthy.

Mr...

Mr.

Mr...

Mr.

-f5.24/6/47

Permi. U.S. of S.

Parly. U.S. S.

Secretary of State.

DRAFT. LETTER.

Your Reference.......

For Mr. Galsworthy's signature

L.N. HELSBY, ESQ.

TREASURY.

Dear Helsby,

June, 1947.

(64)

copy of new revise draft despatch

FURTHER ACTION.

Constitutional changes in Hong Kong

I am sorry to have to trouble you

with yet another version of our draft despatch

Ou Manday on the Hong Kong Constitution. Yesterday,

however, we had a long discussion with Sir Mark

Young on the draft enclosed in my letter to you

of-the 18th June, as a result of which we have

made a number of further amendments. The se

amendments are sidelined in the enclosed

revised draft which is now being submitted to

higher authority here.

The only variation on matters which are,

I think, of direct concern to the Treasury

is that in paragraph 3(i) of the revised draft.

The new version brings out more clearly that

the levying of rates and fixing of fees will

be a matter within the discretion of the

Municipal Council, but that it would be open to

objection if the Central Legislature were to

transfer to the Municipality any authority

in respect of other taxation.

Should there be any further

substantial amendments to the draft before it

is finally approved by all concerned, I will

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