CO537-2188 — Page 480

Wt. 29446/552 9/48 50m. S. & S. Ltd.

Mr. Mayle

Mr..

Mr.

Mr.

up/2/47

ER Edimana

Permt. U.S. of S.

Parly. U.S. of S.

Secretary of State.

DRAFT. NOTE

THE LORD PRIVY SEAL.

Tee Mr. Exceon Jones

minute of March 19ubon

54145/4/45-6)

Draft statement

FURTHER ACTION.

Hong Kong - Constitution Proposals

You may recall that in March, 1946,

I showed you the draft of a statement concerning constitutional changes in Hong

Kong. You agreed with the terms of that

draft and the statement was subsequently

made in the House of Commons here) by my

predecessor, Lord Hall, and in the Colony,

by the Governor, Sir Mark Young on the

1st May.

2. The statement indicated that it was the policy of His Majesty's Government that the

Constitution should be revised on a more

liberal basis as soon as possible, and

announced that the Governor had been

instructed to examine the whole question in

consultation with representatives of all

sections of the community. The statement

mentioned one possible method of carrying out

this policy, namely, the handing over of

certain functions of the internal

administration at present exercised by the

Central Government, to a Municipal Council,

constituted on a fully representative basis.

3. The Governor of Hong Kong, after full

consultation with representatives of all

sections of the community, has recommende

/(a)

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