CO537-2188 — Page 506

13. Following are my comments for which you ask in your concluding paragraph on points (a) to (e) in paragraph 8 of your telegram.

(a) I fear that the election on a non-communal basis of members to either a Legislative or a Municipal body might result in not a single European, Portuguese or Indien member being elected.

(b) Election, after the first session, of President of the Legislative Council. I think that if the Governor debarred by constitution from presiding, majority of official and unofficial members would probably favour election of one of the official, members as President, bub there would doubtless be some member in favour of the presidency of an elected Chinese member. In these circumstances, the election on a President by members of the Council would present difficulties. I do not think it desirable that an official e.g. the Colonial Secretary, should stand for election to the post of President in opposition to a popularly elected member of the Council, or that official members should be required to vote in such a contest. My own opinion and, I believe, that of the public generally, is that the Governor should ecatinue to preside,

(c) Advisory Committees.

If local Government were to be set up at all, either as proposed by me or ever to the extent contemplated in your paragraph 9, I think there would be little room for such Advisory Committees of the Legislative Council. They would certainly not be regarded either as an adequate substitute for Comittees of a Municipal Council or as likely to be effective as instruments of Government.

(d) Executive Council. Three unofficial members of the Legislative Council already serve, as you are aware, on the Executive Council and e fourth unofficial, who is not a member of the Legislative Council, also serves, I see no objection to the proposal that these unofficials should be associated particularly with the work of specifica Departments and should handle their affairs in the Legislative Council, but this work would not amount to much if, under any system of local Government, local affaire were largely handled by a Municipal body.

/(e)