CO537-6046 — Page 44

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For these reasons members of Executive Council were strongly opposed to the election of an unofficial member by the Social Welfare Services. Other proposals for election were considered, but these do not, I think, merit such close examination. In the first place election by graduates of the Hong Kong University was considered. The number of graduates at present resident in Hong Kong is unlikely to exceed 300 (the total number of graduates since the University was founded is 1,240 and many of these have died or have returned to Malaya and elsewhere) and it was felt that this particular field was perhaps too limited to provide an ideal electorate - at any rate in the light of modern constitution- al developments. Furthermore, this suggestion is open to objection on the grounds that it would significantly increase the danger of plurality of votes which is already an undesirable but inevitable feature of the existing proposals. There would be few graduates who did not already have at least one vote on other electoral bodies and some might well have as many as four if the University franchise were to be approved.

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In the second place, the suggestion that a further unofficial member elected by and from the Urban Council was considered. This met with no favour. It was clearly the general opinion that, in the present stage of its development, the Urban Council would be adequately represented by two members, and that, to increase that number, would give the subordinaté body a disproportionate weight in the deliberations of the legislature.

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After considering these proposals Council turned to the question of an additional unofficial member nominated by the Governor. It was soon clear that there was unanimous opinion that this was the proper course to take. Provision had already been made for six elected members, and it was felt that, if another unofficial member were to be added, that seat should be lused to adjust the balance in the Council after the

election, and that it should, therefore, be placed at the disposal of the Governor. The aim Council had in mind was to ensure that as far as possible all communities and interests in the Colony should have some degree of representation in the new legislature. It was quite clearly Council's opinion that this would be more likely to be achieved by nomination to the additional seat rather than by election. After hearing the views of members I concur in their opinion; and I have in mind particularly the demand which may well arise for a Portuguese to be nominated if no Portuguese is successful in the elections, and also that we may well be subjected to further pressure from the Government of India for the nomination of an Indian member. (In this connection I would invite attention to Sidebotham's secret letter to Nicoll (54145/4/50), of 23rd October and to Nicoll's reply of 1st November).

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وک

Council was opposed to any increase in official members, and in this view I concur. My recommendations

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