CO537-6046 — Page 147

E. Method of Election.

If the Governor's proposals are adopted steps should be taken I suggest to ensure that the elections by the several electing bodies are conducted on a basis of a proper secret ballot if this is at all practicable. We should I think, discuss this with the Governor.

F. Women members of the Legislature.

I should like to explore further with the Governor whether there is any possibility of somen being elected to the Legislature and how women voters will come in e.g. some of the unofficial J.Ps. are, I think,

women.

G.

i thin that

If the Governor is to have an original and casting vote as proposed by the Governor, this presupposes that he will continue to preside in the Legislative Council. This, I think, would be contrary to our present policy and should, I suggest, be further discussed with the Governor.

URBAN COUNCIL (See also separate note by Mr. Anderson attached).

Franchise

The present Franchise consists of the two Jurors lists and includes certain other persons (Legislative Council and Executive Council unofficial members, Practicing Barristers and Solicitors and Solicitors Clerks, registered doctors, dentists and chemists, newspaper editors and sub-editors, Church of England Clergy, Roman Catholic Priests and Ministers of Protestant Descendent bodies and of the Jews, Professors and Academic Officers of the University, Masters of certified non-vernacular schools, British Mercantile Marine Officers, Officers of the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force, but excludes any person who is in the service of the Crown or whose whole time is at the disposal of the Crown, provided such persons apply to be placed on a register kept by the Registrar of the Supreme Court of various classes of employment.

Should the civil service in cutitled to vote?

B. Elected Members.

The original Urban Council Ordinance made provision for 2 elected members. In recent years the Urban Council has functioned without elected members; Provision is made for this under Section 4 of the subsequent Ordinance 6 of 1946. (I suggest we should ask the Governor why it has been impossible to hold elections, as in the short time available I have not been able to get earlier papers to find out how this came about).

C

The Governor's New Proposals.

This would reduce the existing 4 ex-officio members (the Deputy Director of Health Services, the Director of Public Works, The Secretary for Chinese Affairs and the Inspector General of Police, to 2 only). Which 2 does the Governor suggest for retention? Would it be possible, if thought desirable, to retain all four but to give two of them only voting powers?

The new proposals would also increase the elected members from 2 to 4 with the reintroduction of elections, the nominated members remaining at 6 appointed by the Governor. Thus, in effect, the 2 ex-officio members and the 6 nominated members appointed by the Governor would be able to outvote the 4 elected members on any important issue, though, in the perhaps unlikely event of the 3 Chinese members nominated by the Governor, voting with the 4 elected members the Chinese side could outvote the rest despite the Chairman's original and casting vote. We should, I think,

/discuss