CO129-055 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [3-5] — Page 43

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

40

It is a period of agitation, and the expression of public discontent, in order to confer on a growing and prosperous population the benefit of representative institutions in some shape or other. Such concessions come most gracefully when they are not extorted by clamour, or surrendered by necessity, but are the result of a calm survey of the present and the future. I do not recommend any very large infusion of the popular principle, but object to its utter exclusion in every shape, and from every department of government. I believe that exclusion acts perniciously on the Executive authority, which necessarily falls into habits of relaxation and routine, by being removed from a control alike useful in impelling right tendencies, and checking wrong ones.

And I see no reason whatever why the representative principle – conceded in some form or other in almost every colony under the Crown, - should be denied to Hongkong.

4.

The enlargement of Councils, by the sole introduction into them of a greater number of public functionaries, is objectionable, as it would be but the diffusion and consequent diminution of responsibility among the Executive body, whose functions, in my judgment, would be better performed by few than by many, and

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40 It is a period of agitation, and the expression of public discontent, in order to confer on a growing and prosperous population the benefit of representative institutions in some shape or other. Such concessions come most gracefully when they are not extorted by clamour, or surrendered by necessity, but are the result of a calm survey of the present and the future. I do not recommend any very large infusion of the popular principle, but object to its utter exclusion in every shape, and from every department of government. I believe that exclusion acts perniciously on the Executive authority, which necessarily falls into habits of relaxation and routine, by being removed from a control alike useful in impelling right tendencies, and checking wrong ones. And I see no reason whatever why the representative principle conceded in some form or other in almost every colony under the Crown, - should be denied to Hongkong. 4. The enlargement of Councils, by the sole introduction into them of a greater number of public functionaries, is objectionable, as it would be but the diffusion and consequent diminution of responsibility among the Executive body, whose functions, in my judgment, would be better performed by few than by many, and
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40 Mi a period of agitation, _ and the expression of public diveontent, in order to enfer growing and prosperous population the benefit of representative instituting in some shape or other. Such Concessions come most gracefully, when_ they or aire At not extorted by clamour, or Surrendered by necessity, but one the result of a calm Suracy of the prevent and the future. I'di not recommend desire any very large infusion of the propular principle_,_ but Sobject to sitter exclusion in every cheaper, and from every deportment of government. I believe that exclusion Acts perniciously on the Excentive authority, which necesarily falls into liabits of relevzation it's f F and routine, by being removed from a control alike useful in impelling right tendencies, and clucking irrog And I see no reason whatever mes - ather to why the representative_ prinsiple conceded in some form or other almost every bolony under the brown, - should be denied to Honghong 4. The enlargement of Cameils, by the sole introduction into them of a greater number of public functionaries : is objectionable, as it would be but. the diffusion and consequent dini- - Intion of responsibility among the "Excentive body, whose functions, in My judgment, would be better per- - formed by few thou by many, and
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40

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period of agitation, _ and the expression of public diveontent, in order to enfer growing and prosperous population the benefit of representative instituting in some shape or other. Such Concessions come most gracefully, when_ they

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not extorted by clamour, or Surrendered by necessity, but one the result of a calm Suracy of the prevent and the future. I'di not recommend desire any very large infusion of the propular principle_,_ but Sobject to sitter exclusion in every cheaper, and from every deportment of government. I believe that exclusion Acts perniciously on the Excentive authority, which necesarily falls into liabits of relevzation

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and routine, by being removed from

a control alike useful in impelling

right tendencies, and clucking irrog

And I see no reason whatever

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why the representative_ prinsiple – conceded in some form or other almost every bolony under the brown, - should be denied to Honghong

4.

The enlargement of Cameils, by the sole introduction into them of a greater number of public functionaries : is objectionable, as it would be but. the diffusion and consequent dini- - Intion of responsibility among

the "Excentive body, whose functions, in My judgment, would be better per- - formed by few thou by many, and

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