CO537-2188 — Page 389

China Association's

Representation No.4

Comment

China Association's

Representation No.5

Comment

China Association's

Representation No.6

Comment

very definite fears that in the early years of the

Zor

Municipality, the Chinese Councils would not be

in any way representative of the community and that

there would be a heavy increase in bribery and

corruption.

The Council should consist of one-half Asiatic

members and one-half non-Asiatic members.

This might, in certain circumstances, go a little

further than the Governor's proposal for half Chinese

and half non-Chinese, and our proposal that the

proportion should be subject to review in the light of

experience and changing conditions will not

presumably be entirely acceptable to the China

Association.

Provision should be made to ensure that senior

members of the staffs of leading British firms should

not be excluded from voting and membership of the

Council by roosers of any long residential qualification.

This point is covered by the Governor's

proposals which stipulate only a year's residence

since attaining the age of 23 years in the case of

British subjects.

The British commercial community of Hong Kong

should be adequately represented on any local

commission which is set up to consider the arrangements

for the transfer of powers and responsibilities to the

elected Municipality.

It is proposed that this commission should not

be set up until after the first elected Municipality

has been constituted, so that Municipal Councillors

will be able to serve on it. This proposal should meet

the China Association's representations.

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