CO537-6046 — Page 102

54145/4/50

DRAFT DESPATCH

Sir,

SIR A. GRANTHAM, K.C.M.G.

HONG KONG

NO.

2.

I have etc. to refer to your despatch No. 155

of the 25th August, 1949, transmitting recommendations

for the amendment of the Constitution of Hong Kong.

Since my assumption of office I have been giving

these proposals very careful consideration, and I now

desire to inform you of some of the conclusions which

I have reached. Before doing so, however, I would

like to record my very real appreciation of the

constructive thought which has been put into the

formulation of the proposals recommended by you,

not only by yourself but by the Unofficial Members of

Legislative Council and other interested parties,

who have contributed to this scheme of constitutional

reform. I do not at this juncture desire to express

my approval or otherwise of the recommendations which

you have made until you have had an opportunity of

considering with all concerned the observations and

suggestions made in the subsequent paragraphs of

this despatch.

3.

I have taken note of the view expressed by

1. Mr. Landale on behalf of the Unofficial Members in

conclusion (a) of this motion on the 22nd June, 1949,

that the proposals made by Sir Mark Young involving

the creation of a Municipal Council, with minor

modifications only of the Constitution of the

Legislature, are no longer considered to be the best

means of giving the inhabitants of the Colony a

fuller and more responsible share in the management

of their own affairs. I am in general agreement

with the view that in the changed circumstances of

4.60

Hong Kong Mr.-Landale's conclusion is not unreasonable.

/ 4.