CO537-6046 — Page 146

NOTE

B

24

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

A. General

We want, I think, to know the reasons which have led the Governor to revise his original proposals. As now modified they give, as I see it, a shadow of unofficial majority without its real substance.

I do not say that in the present situation in Hong Kong this is a bad thing, on the contrary I think it is a good one, but we may expect possible criticism on the ground that under the new proposals the 'elected' unofficial side are all the Governor's 'yes men' and we must be prepared to meet it. general I think that the proposals have much to commend them, but will they be regarded in Hong Kong as an adequate substitute for the Governor's earlier proposals of which the Secretary of State has now been made aware?

B. Composition of the Legislature.

In

If I understand these proposals correctly, these proposals may lead to the election to membership of the Legislative Council of at least one or more Chinese who are not British subjects, though required to take the Oath of Alegiance etc. I am exceedingly doubtful about admitting to the Legislative Council anyone who is not openly and avowedly a British subject. I understand that a certain committee felt very strongly on this point (albeit that they were considering the original proposals with a different

kind of franchise.

In the course of a brief discussion with Sir Charles Jeffries on Saturday morning last, I found that he shared my doubts. He felt that though the voters might themselves be non-British all candidates 'elected' must be British subjects. We should have to consider this carefully with the Governor and ascertain how it would affect his proposals vis-a-vis the different heads of the unofficial electing bodies.

C. Unofficial Majority.

While I appreciate the Governor's feeling that an unofficial majority elected as suggested by him would, in normal circumstances, be likely to be steady and reliable (with the representative of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce as a possible exception) I am still somewhat doubtful as to the wisdom of conceding even in appearance so numerically large a majority in the present circumstances of Hong Kong. We have got to frame as I see it, a constitution suitable for fair weather or foul. While I have no doubt that Sir A. Grantham himself, and his successors, would usually be able to persuade the Council to accept the Governor's views in any matters of importance we cannot, I think, depend on such happy relations subsisting at all times. I have ventured to ask myself what would have been the position under such a constitution were the situation which developed in Seychelles to develop at any time in Hong Kong. I should prefer, therefore, as I suggested to Sir A. Grantham yesterday, to see a closer balance between the official and unofficial sides.

Sir Charles Jeffries, in the course of the very brief conversation referred to above, indicated that this was his preliminary view too and he would like us, I think, to discuss with the Governor a substantial increase in the official representation.

D.

Nominated Members.

Sir Charles Jeffries also agreed with me that the inclusion of an Indian and a Portuguese members in the four nominated unofficial members was reasonable if the Governor so wished.

/E.