CO537-6046 — Page 117

Hamsey House.

Nr. Lewes.

27th. July 1950.

ch

33.

Caby

53511/50

(32)

Dear Mr. Cook,

Hong Kong Constitution.

Thank you for your letter of 26th. July. I app-

reciate the point made by the Secretary of State. You will

Copy behind however observe from sections 3(2) & (3) of Ordinance

(23)

X

X

No. 7 of 1935 that the franchise for the Urban Council in-

cludes all those who are on the Jurors' List (which now in- cludes women) & that this List (see sections 2& 3 of Jury Ordinance 1887) is very wide. It does not, though, so far as I'am aware, include British subjects qua British sub-

jects, but I very much doubt if those persons who could

claim to be British subjects but who were not eligible for the Jurors' List would be sufficently interested to take the trouble to have their names put on the electoral roll for the Urban Council (if it were decided to do so).

However I see no objection to extending the Urban Council franchise to include them. I should, though, prefer that, before the Secretary of State takes a final decision on

the point, it should be referred to Hong Kong for their views. Perhaps somewhere in Para. 5 of the draft despatch something on the following lines could be added:-

"I should also like to see the franchise of the

Urban Coundil extended to include British subjects even if

they do not qualify under the provisions of section 3 of

Ordinance No.7 of 1935. "

with the reasons for this explained in the

covering d/o letter.