CO537-6046 — Page 64

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C. O.

Mr... Hall

18.4

Mr. Sidebotham

дам

21/10

54145/4/50.

Mr. Paskin

Mr..

Mr..

Permt U.S. of S.

Parly, U.S. S.

Minister of State

Secretary of State

Your Reference... F.4185/14/3A.

DRAFT SECRET s/o letter.

MISS L.E.T. STORAR,

C.R.O.

With copy of draft attached

For Mr. Hall's signature.

Dear Miss Storar,

Please refer to your letter of the 11th October

with which you enclosed a draft letter to Mr.Britton

in New Delhi giving him the latest information about the

proposed constitutional changes in Hong Kong.

Briefly the 1949 proposals recommended the

introduction of the elective principle and a substantial

unofficial majority in the Leg. Co. In view, however,

of all that has happened in the Far East since the

proposals were submitted in last August, it seemed very

The preced

tous

doubtful/whether this/was really now the time to be

Such wits reaching

considering] major/constitutional changes in Hong Kong,

fam

particularly as these included a proposal to introduce

elections for the first time.

The problem was discussed with Sir A. Grantham

when he came on leave in June and we are now considering

the possibility of some alternative proposals.

the matter has reached a further stage, it is proposed

When

FURTHER ACTION

(57) on '49 file.

that Hong Kong despatch No. 155 of the 25th August,

The Sacreting of States 1949 and our reply to it should be published in-duo

cowasa and we will then be able to let you have copies

to send to the Government of India for information.

In the circumstances I have revised your draft

letter to the High Commissioner to some extent but as

the proposals are still the subject of correspondence

/with