CO537-6046 — Page 129

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Sir A. Grantham

not be out of line with their general recommendations.

concurred in this. He thought, however, that the franchise under the

1949 proposals was very narrow, and it would be preferable to go for

indirect elections which would throw the net much wider and, at the same

time, we could increase the duties of the Urban Council. He had proposed

that two of the Members of the Legislative Council should come from the

Urban Council, but he was prepared to make this three. He suggested

that the form of the draft reply might be that, in view of the narrow

franchise, the direct election proposals were not acceptable and that

Hong Kong should be asked to think again. For example, the Unofficial

J.P.'s do already nominate a Member to the Legislative Council, although

he is appointed by the Governor, and it might be suggested that this

procedure could be extended. It might also be said that the Unofficial

proposal that the Municipal scheme should be in abeyance was not

acceptable, and the Secretary of State would like to see an increase in

the Elected Members of the Urban Council and an increase in their functions.

The proposals should be such that they could be put into effect straight

away in view of the long delay which had already occurred.

Sir Charles Jeffries suggested that in these difficult times it would

be useful to use existing organisations who are in a position to put up

Members. Mr. Sidebotham said that, even if the 1949 proposals were

accepted, there would be considerable delay before they could be implemented.

possibly

It would take at least six months for them to be got ready, and/a further 6 months or more

year before the election machinery would be in working order and elections

could take place. Sir Alexander Grantham pointed out that a further

difficulty was that no one with sufficient experience was available to

undertake this work at the present moment.

draft despatch

It was decided that a memorandum should be prepared, which would

include a rough draft of a possible answer to the 1949 despatches. The

that

memorandum should bring out/the Secretary of State was not being asked to

approve or disapprove those proposals, but to point out that they envisaged

a very narrow franchise and the temporary abandonment of the Municipal

proposals. Hong Kang should be asked whether it would be possible to

/ extend