CO129-433 - Governor Sir May - 1916 [5-6] — Page 254

y.

G KONG.

119.

Sir,

P

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ReChamberlain

DOWNING STREET,

252

29th May, 1896.

I have had under my consideration the corres-

pondence which has passed in consequence of the petition

for an amendment of the constitution of Hong Kong which

was addressed to the House of Commons in the year 1894, and on which my predecessor had not given a finalde-

cision before he left office.

2. I should have been glad to be able to com-

municate with you on the subject at an earlier date but, as you are aware the pressure of business at this De-

partment has been exceptional for some time past.

of August

3. In his despatch of the 23rd/1894 Lord Ripon

stated that he could hold out no hope that Hong Kong

will cease to be a Crown Colony. Neither can I hold

out any such hope, for I conceive that in the case of Hong Kong, Representative Government on whatever form

of franchise it might be based, and with whatever

supposed safeguards as to the Executive power would be

wholly out of place.

4. There remain two practical points to be decided.

The first is whether thepresent constitution of the

Legislative Council should be in any way modified.

The second is whether an unofficial element should be

introduced into the Executive Council.

5. On the first of these two points my view is

as follows:- I gather that the Legislative Council, as

at present constituted, is large enough for practical

purposes,