CO537-6046 — Page 24

There would continue to be certain official and nominated members, but others would be elected by and from the General Chamber of Commerce, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the Urban Council and the "unofficial" J.P. B. There would again be an "unofficial majority", but of a much more reliable character. The following table gives the proposed composition of Legislative Council. You will note that there would be five nominated members and that this would enable the Governor to adjust the balance of Legislative Council to ensure that as far as possible all communities and interests should have some degree of representation.

Members

1

Governor (no original vote)

4 officials

(casting vote)

2 Elected by J.P.s

1 Elected by General Chamber of Commerus

Reliable Votes

1

2

Chinese Chamber of Commeros reconstituted Urban Council

5 Nominated

3

16

10

40 At the official level we agree with these proposal, and we intend to submit to our Secretary of State by way of reply to the Governor's despatch No. 155, the attached draft which has been agreed with the Government of Hong Kong. When this reply is received in Hong Kong it is proposed that the liong Kong Government should publish it together with the Governor's despatch No. 155 of which you already have a copy, the two despatches would then be considered in Legislative Council, and if the proposals are acceptable the senior unofficial member would propose & resolution embodying alternative proposals as outlined in the previous paragraph. I should add here that the resolution would include proposals for broadening the constitution of the Urban Council and extending the Urban Council franchise so that all British subjects will have a vote. This resolution would then

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