Crown Colony, but it has thriven, it is not too much to say. The petitioners mention four colonies to which self-government limits have been conceded. They are Malta, Cyprus, Mauritius, British Honduras. Hongkong differs from all these. It is much smaller, it is much younger, has practically no history, no traditions, and no descendants of old colonists. It has no indigenous population, few permanent residents, and is an outpost in a foreign land, more like Gibraltar than either of the four dependencies mentioned above, though it is much less of a fortress and more of a trade emporium than Gibraltar.
Taking the claims which the petitioners have put forward. The first is Free election of representatives of British nationality in the Legislative Council. They look for an elected Assembly, they ask at the same time that only British nationality should be represented! The words are cleverly chosen. Do they mean that the electors may be of any nationality but that they are to elect only representatives of British nationality? In other words, may Chinamen vote as long as only Englishmen are elected?
Is British nationality synonymous with British Subjects, & does British Birth mean origin? The common sense meaning of the words is that the English residents in Hongkong shall elect representatives to the Legislative Council, and this is probably intended, though the framers of the petition can, if they will, put another construction on their phrase. If this is so, the petitioners ask for a chamber containing an elective element, to be elected on a franchise running along a very narrow line.
It has always seemed to me that the Constitutions of those Crown Colonies, which are not fully self-governing colonies, are the worst features in the English colonial system. They are
2
Crown Colmy, but it has thriven, it is not
Too much to
Crown Colony
say.
because it has been a
petitioners mention
The Which
nights
1 government within
mention four colmies to of 3 Solf government limits have been conceded. They
are
Malta, Cyprus, Mauritius, British Honduras Hongkong differs from all these. It is
much smaller, it is much
it has no
hist
younger, has practically
no traditions
it has
·
Чтобым
of there have
Colvicts of British Notimality bene firme
and no descendants of och colorists
No indigenons populating, ameachi your as it has few
few permanent residente.
foreign land,
It is an outpost in a
derhal like
more
Λ
Gibraltar
than either of
the
four dependencies mentioned above,
though
it is much less of a
Ja fortress
mole of a trade emporium thas Gibraltar
Taking
the claims which the petitionens have put forward. The first is
Free election 9. Ze resentatives of British
9. Ze vresentatives of "nationality in the digisiative Council
colony:
of the
They Took for
an
Get
elected Assembly, they ask at the same time that e He only British no
should be represented! The words are
• tionality
an Spapternal prostir
om Natives,
беля
32 Me
Joten Balls,
D
Cyprus Bull ponesi by
a
Or rather, to be
accenate, for an
Assembly with an
elective element in it!
+3
You Britüift
& demöte (ich then
are any)
Patter cleverly chosen. Do they
the electors
may
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286 mean that
but
of any nationality
that they are to elect only representatives of
of one. the British nationality
other words
as
1
響
may
In
Chinamen vold as long
• only Englishmen are elected?
again
Is British nationality synoxy.
"mons with British Subjects, & does British Birth and
it mean
The
common sense m
meaning g
rigin?
the words
is that the English residents in Hongkong,
shall duct that
a representatives to the
on will degislation founcil, and this is probably
intended, though the framers of the petition ean, if they will, put another construction on their phrase. If this is so the petitioners ask for
containing an clutive clement, to be
chamber elected on a
A
franchise, running along,
a very: the line o
an
ramow
lace.
It has always seemed to me that the
Constitutions
ησι
Of those pass Colonies. Which are. (Town Colonies and not fully Hilf governing colonies, are the worst features
in the English colonial system. They
are
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