CO537-2188 — Page 26

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Mr. Seel

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Please see the last paragraph of my minute of the 18th April. The China Association have now weighed in with their representations, at,No.3, covering 7 pages. I have summarised and adds on these representations in my note at N6.35.

I would send a copy of the China Association's letter (of which extra spares should be made for use here) to the Governor, reference the Secretary of State's savingram at No.30, asking for his comments and advice as to the reply to be returned to the China Association. I would add that none of the representations appear to necessitate or justify any modification of the various proposals concerned as they stand at the moment, that is as formulated in the Governor's despatch and modified by the Secretary of State's savingram, with the possible exception of the suggestion that electoral colleges should be used instead of ballot boxes for the eletion of Chinese Councillors until such time as the general standard of literacy and political maturity is such that a form of general franchise can be introduced. On this latter point, I would say that if there is any serious risk,in the present circumstances and state of education and political maturity of the majority of the Chinese inhabitants in Hong Kong, of the introduction of the ballot box leading to the election of Councillors who would not be reasonably representative of the Chinese,community, the Secretary of State feels that serious consideration should be given to the alternative suggested by the China Association of electoral colleges.

I send this on in red as I think that we ought to get the China Association's representations out to the Governor by the next airmail, which leaves on Wednesday morning.

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2.5.47.

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