CO537-2188 — Page 404

Saving.

From the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

To

Date..........

Office Administering the Government off..

N..................... Saving.

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property or juror's qualification means that except where there is a property qualification, there would be excluded from the franchise, females, persons afflicted with blindness or deafness or other like infirmity, all persons over 60 years of age and those ignorant of the English language, however well they speak, read and write Chinese. I feel that this point requires some further consideration with a view to devising as an alternative to the property qualification some condition or conditions which will ensure the necessary degree of responsibility without however precluding so large and important a section of the community.

6. There seems to be some corruption in passage relating to point (g) in your telegram No.406. I assume intention is that nominating bodies should select their members without any intervention by the Governor. I see no objection, but it would not be novel to give unofficial authorities right to nominate members of a Legislature but to require actual instrument of appoint- ment to be signed by Governor. As regards designation of nominating bodies, I note your remarks and propose that final consideration of this matter should be deferred until the last stages in the drafting of the legislation are reached.

7. Grateful for your further comments in light of foregoing on points (b), (f), (g) and point in paragraph 5 and your confirmation of assumption on point (g).

/8. I hope