CO537-6046 — Page 96

the electing bodies for membership of the

Legislative Council.

4. You will also note the Secretary of State's Expressed

desire to see the franchise of the Urban District

Council extended to include British subjects not at

present qualifying under the provisions of Section 3

of Ordinance No. 7 of 1935. This is a point to

which the Secretary of State has, in the discussions

with us, attached considerable importance. He has

noted that the 1949 proposals would have provided

a vote for all persons who were prepared to declare

themselves British subjects, whereas under the latest

proposals votes would be given to Chinese while

certain British subjects, who would have been able

to vote under the 1949 proposals, would no longer

be eligible to do so. The Secretary of State

thought that it would be extremely difficult to

defend such a situation in Parliament if he was

questioned on the point and Grantham, whom we

consulted, said that he saw no objection to

franchine for the

extending the/ Urban Council to include British

subjects who were not eligible for the Jurors' List

but/would be sufficiently interested to take the

trouble to have their names put on the electoral

role for the Urban Council. This step wouldy

remove the objections which the Secretary of

State sees in the latest proposals as they stand.

. You are, of course, free to discuss this

matter with your Executive Council in strict

7

confidence as we do not wish to send a despatch to

the publication of

Hong Kong about which there would be difficulties

as regards publication.

I should be grateful if you would let me

have your comments as soon as you conveniently

can so that we can discuss them further with

Grantham if necessary before he leaves for the id

He has seen this letter and agrees with

States.