CO129-051 - Sir Bowring - 1855 [7-9] — Page 107

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

2nd August, 1855

Louis Brand Russell to Governor Sir John Bowring

2 memoranda.

N/10

Received:

Acknowledging dispatch No. 1 of 25th May, and suggesting reconstruction of the Councils of the Colony.

Mr. Bull. I should think Mr. Merivale's opinion would be valuable to Sir W. Molesworth on this subject. The question does not press for immediate discussion.

Sir W. Molesworth - I feel that it would not be convenient to discuss this scheme without the advantage of knowing Mr. Merivale's views. My first impression suggests several doubts.

The Maltese instance in our colonial constitutions is the only instance of a mixed council, official and elective, with a Government majority. It is that of Malta, where the numbers are 10 of the former to 8 of the latter. I cannot say the Malta Council seems to work particularly well, but it has not as yet interfered with any serious difficulty in the way of the Government of the island. But, after all, Malta is not locally a very reliable precedent for probable results in a colony of English origin.

On the whole, I should be disposed to try the experiment. But it seems to me that before

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2nd August, 1855 Louis Brand Russell to Governor Sir John Bowring 2 memoranda. N/10 Received: Acknowledging dispatch No. 1 of 25th May, and suggesting reconstruction of the Councils of the Colony. Mr. Bull. I should think Mr. Merivale's opinion would be valuable to Sir W. Molesworth on this subject. The question does not press for immediate discussion. Sir W. Molesworth - I feel that it would not be convenient to discuss this scheme without the advantage of knowing Mr. Merivale's views. My first impression suggests several doubts. The Maltese instance in our colonial constitutions is the only instance of a mixed council, official and elective, with a Government majority. It is that of Malta, where the numbers are 10 of the former to 8 of the latter. I cannot say the Malta Council seems to work particularly well, but it has not as yet interfered with any serious difficulty in the way of the Government of the island. But, after all, Malta is not locally a very reliable precedent for probable results in a colony of English origin. On the whole, I should be disposed to try the experiment. But it seems to me that before

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G 2nd August, 1855- Lois Brand Russell fr.P.. Governor Sir John Bouring 2 melosmes. N/10- Reecived: Acknowledging dispatel M. J 1 of 25th Ming. and suggesting of the Colorry. - reconstruction of the Councils Mr. Bull. I should think Mr Meniales opinion would valicatle to Site. Moleswath on this sutiget. The question does not prose fu emmiotiate. Sir W. Molesworth - I feel that it would not be convenient. گون 160ct to discuss this scheme without the advantag of knowing for mentale's views my first impression anggests several doubts- 4721 Ab The malefinstance W Ball in our colonial cortileption of it. 9338 trong trong 103 W Ball "The only instance in our constitutions. 2 colonial ¡ a mixed council, official and clective, with a Government majority, is that of Malta, where the numbers are 10 of the former to 8 of the letter. I cannot say the Malta Council seeme to work particularly well, but it has hot ar yet interfered any senons difficulty in the way of the Government of the island. But, after all, Malta is Lacolly very a reliable precedent for probable results in C colony of English origin. On the whole, I should be dispered to by the Experiment. Out it seems to me that before

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2nd August,

1855-

Lois Brand Russell fr.P..

Governor Sir John Bouring

2 melosmes.

N/10-

Reecived:

Acknowledging dispatel M. J

1 of 25th Ming.

and

suggesting

of the Colorry. -

reconstruction of the Councils

Mr. Bull. I should think Mr Meniales opinion would valicatle to Site. Moleswath on this sutiget. The question does not prose fu emmiotiate.

Sir W. Molesworth - I feel that it would not be convenient.

گون

160ct

to discuss

this scheme without the advantag of knowing for mentale's views my first impression anggests

several doubts-

4721 Ab

The malefinstance

W Ball

in our colonial

cortileption of

it.

9338 trong trong

103

W Ball

"The only instance in our

constitutions. 2

colonial

a mixed council,

official and clective, with a Government

majority, is that of Malta, where the numbers are 10 of the former to 8 of the letter. I cannot say the Malta Council seeme to work

particularly well, but it has

hot ar

yet interfered

any

senons

difficulty in the way of the

Government of the island. But,

after all, Malta is Lacolly

very

reliable precedent for probable

results in

colony of English origin.

On the whole, I should be

dispered to by the Experiment.

Out it seems

to me that before

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