54145/4/47
OUTWARD TELEGRAM
TO HONG KONG (Sir M. Young)
FROM S. OF S.. COLONIES.
Sent 21st February, 1947.
22.00 hrs.
IMPORTANT
No. 329 Secret.
1
Your telegram No. 255.
Constitution,
I am most grateful for your review of the case which I put in my telegram No. 152 for constitutional advance through the Legislative Council rather than the Municipality. In the light of this review I accept your opinion that the main line of constitutional development in Hong Kong just now should be the
establishment of a Municipal Council, and I agree with the proposals for such a Council in your despatch No. 145 of 1946, subject to further consideration of the following points on which I shall be glad of your comments.
2 (a) While accepting the equal division of the 30 seats on the Council between Chinese and non-Chinese for the. present I consider that it should be understood that when the present apathy and apprehension have been overcome and the electorate has shown itself sensible of its responsibilities, the possibility of altering the balance of seats to reflect Chinese predominance in the community will be reviewed.
(b) The differentiation between non-British Chinese on the one hand and non-British European and American communities on the other in the matter of residential qualification for membership or franchise cannot I feel be Justified and would almost certainly be attacked by the Chinese on grounds of racial discrimination. While a
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