CO537-2188 — Page 449

5.145

INWARD TELEGRAM

COPY FOR REGISTRATION

Code

FROM HONG KONG (Sir Me Young)

TO S. OF S. COLONIES.

MAR

XI

XI

1947

I

III

IA IN

JA

RECEIVED

IN RE

เรีย

D. 6th March, 1947. R. 6th

13.15 hrs.

19

IMMEDIATE -

No. 406 Secret,

Constitution.

The following are my comments on points raised in paragraph 2 of your telegram No. 329.

(a) I agree that possibility of alteration should not be excluded, but consider it most important to avoid at present juncture any actual reference to intention of increasing the proportion of Chinese at the expense of non Chinese seats. Any such assurance would promote, on the one side discontent with initial distribution and on the other apprehension for the future, and would tend to divert attention from the immediate administrative tasks of the Municipal Council,

(b) The requirement of long term residence for American and non British Europeana might deprive the Council of valuable members. The Chinese know the practice of moving members of foreign businesses throughout the Far East and would be unlikely to regard short term residence as racial discriminations

a

If you decide that the differentiation cannot be justified, it will be necessary to extend period of residence of American and non British Europeans to equal the residential qualification proposed for the Chinone, Solution proposed the end of your (b) would not be satisfactory, since to allow nominations for persons not qualified for election would be equally subject to attack on the grounds of racial discrimination if confined to Americans etc., and would be fatal to the whole scheme if extended to the Chinese,

/(0).