CO537-2188 — Page 35

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and 6 years out of the preceding 10 to qualify as voters:

(ii) for non-British Europeans and

Americans a total period of residence of not less than one year after the age of 23.

Paragraph 2(b) of our telegram at. No.4 pointed out that, whilst a differentiation between British and non-British would be fully defensible, we dould not justify discrimination between non- British Chinese on the one hand, and non-British Europeans and Americans on the other. The telegram suggested as a possible solution adding to the number of nominated non-Chinese members (five) at the expense of the non-Chinese elected members (five). In (b) of his reply at No.19, Sir M. Young stated that this solution would not be satisfactory, and repeated that the requirement of long term residence for Americans and non-British Europeans might deprive the Council of valuable members. In paragraph 3 of our savingram at No.30, however, we adhered to the view that there must be equality of treatment in this matter as between non-British Chinese and Americans and non-British Europeans, and enquired whether the proposed period of residential qualification for both categories could be reduced.

In No.49, Sir M. Young now accepts the principle of equality of treatment, but considers it would be most undesirable to reduce the period of residential qualification for all. Presumably, therefore, the residential qualification for all non-British subjects will now be:

(i) for Councillors, not less than 10 years out of the 15 preceding nomination:

(ii) for Voters, 6 years out of the

preceding 10.

This will mean the elimination of potentially valuable members of the Council, but as the numbers involved are in any case small ? we can accept Sir M. Young's view.

(d) The election of the 5 Chinese nominated seats

Sir Mark Young's despatch of 22nd October recommended (paragraph 29) that the nominating bodies for the 5 Chinese nominated members of the Council should be:

The Chinese Chamber of Commerce The recognised trade unions The Hong Kong University... The unofficial Justices of the Peace

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1 member

2 members

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1 member

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1 member

Paragraph 2(f) of our telegram at No.4 pointed out that the effect of the property qualification for the franchise will probably be that the Chinese working classes will be represented only by the trade union nominees. That telegram, therefore, suggested that the trade unions should be given at least three, and preferably four, of the

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