CO537-2188 — Page 357

COPY

Hon. C.S.,

1.

You asked me to put up a note as to the steps

which might now be taken towards expediting the

formation of the Municipal Council.

I want to make it clear that I have NO

experience whatsoever of the registration of electors

and that my experience of the conduct of elections is

limited to acting as Presiding Officer and participating

in the "count" to help the Returning Officer.

2.

Our procedure for registration will necessarily

differ greatly from that in England. The qualifications

of electors are much more complicated than in England

and we must have written applications by those claiming

to be registered. We do not know how much interest will

be evinced and how many of those qualified will trouble

to apply for registration. Until well on with the work

of registration we shall be quite in the dark as to the

probable number of electors in any given area.

Our methods must necessarily be empirical.

3.

In the Second Schedule to the draft Municipal

Council Ordinance, suggested ward boundaries are

prescribed.

These were prescribed on data as to population,

&c. supplied by Mr. L. Brewer. They affect Chinese

electors only.

U

I would suggest that as a first step these

boundaries might be considered by a small committee

consisting of an officer of the Secretariat for Chinese

Affairs and two or more Chinese members of Executive

Council, Legislative Council or the Urban Council,

with Mr. Brewer.