CO129-340 - Governor Nathan Acting Governor May - 1907 [4-6] — Page 471

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed
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467

and under Imperial control.

In saying this much I am assuming that the self-government would be worthy of the name, and that the elective system would include all ranks of the community, but this is not what the Petition demands. Those who framed it and signed it would, I gather, desire to place the power in the hands of a select few, and to constitute a small oligarchy, restricted by the lines of race. To any such change I am opposed. I consider that the well-being of the large majority of the inhabitants is more likely to be safeguarded by the Crown Colony system, under which, as far as possible, no distinction is made on the basis of rank or race, than by a representation which would leave the bulk of the population wholly unrepresented.

I can, therefore, hold out no hope that Hongkong will cease to be a Crown Colony.

16. It remains to consider whether any step can be taken which, while not interfering with the Crown Colony system, would slightly modify the existing constitution, in the direction in which the petition points.

There appear to be three practical suggestions which are worthy of consideration:

(a) Increasing the number of the Unofficial members in the Legislative Council

(b) Introducing an unofficial element into the Executive Council

(c) Creating a Municipal Council,

three.

17.

As regards the first of these points, I am

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467 and under Imperial control. In saying this much I am assuming that the self-government would be worthy of the name, and that the elective system would include all ranks of the community, but this is not what the Petition demands. Those who framed it and signed it would, I gather, desire to place the power in the hands of a select few, and to constitute a small oligarchy, restricted by the lines of race. To any such change I am opposed. I consider that the well-being of the large majority of the inhabitants is more likely to be safeguarded by the Crown Colony system, under which, as far as possible, no distinction is made on the basis of rank or race, than by a representation which would leave the bulk of the population wholly unrepresented. I can, therefore, hold out no hope that Hongkong will cease to be a Crown Colony. 16. It remains to consider whether any step can be taken which, while not interfering with the Crown Colony system, would slightly modify the existing constitution, in the direction in which the petition points. There appear to be three practical suggestions which are worthy of consideration: (a) Increasing the number of the Unofficial members in the Legislative Council (b) Introducing an unofficial element into the Executive Council (c) Creating a Municipal Council, three. 17. As regards the first of these points, I am
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467 and under Imperial control. In saying this much I am assuming that the self government would be worthy of the name, and that the elective system would include all ranks of the community, but this is not what the Petition demands. Those who framed it and signed it would, I gather, desire to place the power in the hands of a select few, and to constitute a small oligarchy, restricted by the lines of race. To any such change I am opposed. I consider that the well being of the large majority of the inhabitants is more likely to be safeguarded by the Crown Colony system, under which, as far as possible, no distinction is made rank or race, than by a representation which would leave the bulk of the population wholly unrepresented. I can, therefore, hold out no hope that Hongkong will cease to be a Crown Colony. of 16, It remains to consider whether any step can be taken which, while not interferring with the Crown Colony system, would slightly modify the existing constitution, in the direction in which the petition points. There appear to be three practical suggestions which are worthy of consideration (a) Increasing the number of the Unofficial members in the Legislative Council (b) Introducing an unofficial element into the Executive Council (c) Creating a Municipal Council, three. 17. As regards the first of these points, I am
2026-06-04 13:49:43 · Baseline
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467

and under Imperial control.

In saying this much I am assuming that the

self government would be worthy of the name, and

that the elective system would include all ranks

of the community, but this is not what the Petition

demands. Those who framed it and signed it would,

I gather, desire to place the power in the hands of

a select few, and to constitute a small oligarchy,

restricted by the lines of race. To any such change

I am opposed. I consider that the well being of the

large majority of the inhabitants is more likely

to be safeguarded by the Crown Colony system, under

which, as far as possible, no distinction is made

rank or race, than by a representation which would

leave the bulk of the population wholly unrepresented.

I can, therefore, hold out no hope that Hongkong

will cease to be a Crown Colony.

of

16, It remains to consider whether any step

can be taken which, while not interferring with the

Crown Colony system, would slightly modify the

existing constitution, in the direction in which the

petition points.

There appear to be three practical suggestions

which are worthy of consideration

(a) Increasing the number of the Unofficial members

in the Legislative Council

(b) Introducing an unofficial element into the

Executive Council

(c) Creating a Municipal Council,

three.

17.

As regards the first of these points,

I

am

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