CO537-6046 — Page 287

ГЕСОГ IHELEOBD ИОВЕОГКО

HOT. UN DI

I MR.

Present:

Mr Alexander Grantham

Mr. Faskin

iër. Sidebothi

Mr. Hall.

Mr. Peakin enquired whether the Governor mo had led to the revision of his original proposals,

he felt that we were committed to some form of Constit tie announcements unde in 1946 at the time of the "Your have to go ahead with them. In au ust 1949 the Unoffician

Legislative Council produced their alternative proposals (referred despatch at 53) on the 1949 papers). He agreed that these proposals

?

Some of

element of ria: in that there would be an unofficial unjorit would be elected. He had subsequently had further discussiva with th Official and Unofficial Members of the Executive Council and felt the "liberal" elementa had got "cold l'eat", and that the wind was now blow: against constitutional advance to the extint envisaged in tac 1949 (TO: He had also discussed the question with är. Nicoll who had recently re from the United Kingdom. As a result of these discussions the now pa were made am: these had, in fact, been discussed briefly with the Uni Members at one meeting. The day before the Governor left flơng Kong H sent a cory to Mr. Nicoll with the request that they should be circula the Executive Council. Just before his departure Sir Arthur'a ga suggested that få Social Welfare Essociation, should also live a sel The details of how he was to be elected comic hars to be worked out be difficult, but it haŭ the advantage of giving the submerged on representation. The number might be a smropean, but not necessar The proposal was worth pursuing even though it may have to be unDT.

12

its. Faakin said that if these new proposals were to be would be difficult to draft a despatch in reply to the open de on the 1949 file as this correspondence would have to be publi reply we could not very well say that we were not proceeding proposals because of the conditions in China. He also enguan reaction to the turning down of the 1949 proposals would be. replied that the Left ŝing Chinese Reform Association would probably against doing amy with direct cleations, He taught, however, tkr E would only be "a flash in the pan" and that responsible opinion woLLA it.

Periodically be had meetings with the aditors of the Aritiail newspap in the Colony. The Governor had tried these new prozosals out on the and they were very well received.

not liìmly

ir. Sidebotham enquired whether people in Hong Kong refer to the constitutional developments in SingapOPO. Sir A. GruZA TİLMER replied that the position was not quitʊ the same and that the roise in Singapore was the result of "historical action”. It had been agreed in Hong Kong the franchise must be restricted to British subjects. WILs so it was limited to 20% of the population and of this 20. only percentage would register British subjects. The new proposals va therefore more liberal as the lectorate was not limited to British The new proposals were, in fact, compromise between the "Young .lan" the latje: proposals in 1949. Sår A. Grantham suggested that the zap the 1949 despatch should be on the lines that the Secretary of state in view of the narrowess of the franchise under those proposals is limited to British subjects who form a vary small percentage of i that it would be better if the members of the Legislative Council wes by indirect «lection. He could then sak the Governor for his suggest how this an:uld be done. Sir A. Grantham sugɛested, however, that be doing this we should send a secret čespatch or savingrem to Hồng Kong s