CO537-2188 — Page 322

area of the New Territories had been excluded for the

present for the reason that it is rural in character

and therefore not suitable for immediate inclusion

in the area to be administered by the Municipal Council.

I further announced my acceptance of the proposal for a

modificacion in the constitution of the Legislative Council

so as to secure on that body a more direct and proportionately

increased representation of the unofficial community.

3. Since then further consideration has been given

to the details of Sir Mark Young's proposals, as set out

in his despatch No. 145 of the 22nd October, 1946, and I

am now in a position to accept those recommendations in

full, subject to the comments set out below (the references

are to the paragraphs of Sir Mark Young's despatch No. 145):-

(a) Distribution of seats on the Municipal Council

(para. 15). Whilst I accept the recommendation that the

for the present number of seats on the Council should be divided equally

between the Chinese and non-Chinese communities, I

consider that this arrangement should be regarded as

subject to review in the light of experience and

changing conditions.

(b)

Minimum qualifying age for Councillors and Voters.

(paras. 17 and 24). In paragraph 17(a) of his despatch

No. 145 Sir Mark Young recommended that the minimum

qualifying age limit for election as a Councillor

should be 30, and, in para. 24 (1) of his despatch,

that the minimum qualifying age limit for voters should

be 25. Subsequently he felt able to recommend that the

minimum 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