CO537-6046 — Page 13

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We note from your letter under reference and your previous

51) letter of 14th November that the view now taken is that it

would be preferable not to undertake any commitment concerning the races of the nominated members, but that the Governor should be free to adjust the balance of the Council so as to ensure as far as possible that all communities and interests should have some degree .of representation. We imagine, however, that you would not wish to comment finally on the Government of India's request for Indian representation on the Legislative Council until a reply to your despatch is received from the Government of Hong Kong. We have considerable misgivings about the Government of India's reactions to the proposals put forward in paragraph 31 of despatch No155 from Hong Kong that a member of the Portuguese community should be nominated if the elected members did not already include a Portuguese, but that no similar arrangement should be made to ensure represen- tation of the local Indian community. We have little doubt that the Government of India will make some protest when they see this published despatch, and we should be grateful if you and the Governor of Hong Kong would consider what arguments we can use to counter the .Government of India's criticism. You will no doubt

appreciate that we could not make use of the arguments advanced in paragraph 39 of Hong Kong secret despatch 58 No.28 except for the argument, which we fear will carry

little weight with the Indian authorities, that there 1949 has been a Portuguese on the Legislative Council for

1944

many years.

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