CO537-2188 — Page 323

(Subject to further conson in the lighty The retly to

55.

при

"

or are ignorant of The English lauquage

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 long delayed.

(c) Other electoral qualifications (para. 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

1 Service qualification, I accept the view that these

additional qualifications are desirable at this stage,

except that I feel that persons who can satisfy the

Registration Officer that they are excluded from the

Jury List solely on the grounds that they are over

60 or on account of deafness, blindness of other like

infirmity, or because they are females (see Section 3 of

the Jury Ordinam,188, ought also to have the vote. I

would ask

1

gensider that the proposals in Sir Mark Young's

may

despatch No. 145 should be modified accordingly.

The whole question of electoral qualifications

should, of course, be kept under review as education

spreads and illiteracy is reduced.

(a) Special provision relating to period of Japanese

Occupation in respect of the residential qualification

period. (para. 25). I agree that, in connection with

the proposed residential qualification for Chinese

subjects, some special provision should be made, on

the lines proposed in para. 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. I feel however that

consideration should be given to the extension of this

concession