250
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the following points. In none of the three eastern colonies at the present time is there any unofficial element in the Executive Council, and I am not clear that the step would in all cases be actively beneficial, whereas I am quite clear that the existing system has on the whole worked well, and that therefore there is no strong reason for disturbing it. In the next place I note that Mr. Keswick proposes that the unofficial member should be of English birth, and you suggest in your despatch the names of suitable Englishmen "in the absence of
It must however any Chinamen fitted for the post".
be taken into consideration that it would be invidious and inequitable to lay down that Chinese subjects of the Queen shall be debarred from appointment of the Executive Council, and therefore the possibility of the appointment being hereafter filled by a
In the Chinese gentleman must be reckoned with. third place you state that practically unofficial assistants in the Executive Council "could always be obtained if the status quo were maintained" and you add that you "invariably" consult the unofficial members before bringing into Council measures of purely local interest".There is therefore not likely to be much practical gain from the formal appointment of an unofficial member to the Executive Council. It has occurred to me that, possibly, instead of making any such appointment, some understanding might be come to that in the case of discussion of specified local subjects, at any rate so long as there is no municipality in existance at Hong Kong, one or more
official
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