CO129-453 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [1-3] — Page 156

JAI

#TUTIONN

.Y 4 0 0

OKON DUCH KO KOTTAIDOLLA BROJEN JA WITUTIг2/100

„CEVI, ¿coun«l,J■IS „ynożynoй

TIB

Enclosure 4.

CONSTITUTIONAL

+

REFORM.

UNANIMOUSLY DEMANDED BŸ'A PUBLIC MEETING AT THE THEATRE ROYAL,

AN UNOFFICIAL MAJORITY AND ELECTION INSTEAD

OF NOMINATION.

POUR REPRESENTATIVES FOR BRITISH SUBJECTS IN THE SANITARY BOARD ELECTORATE,

:

Troy agbeironxon of tucand set oves I

JOFFEL OL JIEP* 192NWZ) poképpen kişi # cola oj qe

-clzenstt sdt gathread Fot210 [mbrola? saj to anot outtent Q945.10qeaTzos to nolc- art yons IIsox ell Jarit atom bra raj squba od enlogony Junazavod sit zal793 » Inkaba TooŻ120

enoituloan♬ a'moljmicoceA akit galt 'roqun to bolitan Ísver ef lliw dotaquch oldi Jadi jours matkavoður

• Kosaqeeb ya

nottnings nett10 Luinoloɔ Mute somaly10008 ni JetiimanKIJ

Bjasuper bro „mijiesog as yaish al'til en di=

JIS .ok

1

Tot bedes ed notkulo srit zat osato to viaje coolt erit Judt

ኮ

t

1.-30.97GN I

„MIJDIZMUG .1.8.H

.yzatazos? .ynot

{.00)

•

1 KOJI ‚M.0.A .308

VIBJSTUSÜ Lainofo

In spite of the inclement weather, yesterday evening, the Theatre Royal was well filled with a gathering repre- sentative of all sections of the community

of Hongkong, who, after an enthusiastic meeting lasting an hour and a quarter. accepted, with absolute unanimity, a resolution asking that unofficial repres sentation on the Legislative Council be increased from six to nine-thereby giving an unofficial majority of one and that there should be seven elected members, all of them British subjects, returned as follows:-

One by the Hongkong General Chamber| of Commerce.

One by the Justices of the Peace. One by the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce or some other body representa tive of the Chinese.

Four (one of Portuguese race and three of British race) by British subjects who are on the Jurors' List and those who are liable for, but exempt from, jury service

The Hon. Mr. P. H. Holyoak presided and was supported on the platform by the Hon. Mr. H. E, Pollock, K.C.. Messrs. C. G. Alabaster, F. B. L. Bowley, A. G Coppin, A. 8. D. Cousland, Andrew Forbes, J. W. Graham, A. E. Griffin, E. Ormiston, W. L. Pattenden, C. H. P. Hay, J. A. Plummer, A. Ritchie, D. Templeton, C. D. Wilkinson, J. P. Braga, and E. A. M. Williams, Dr. C. Forsyth and Mr. II. B. L. Dowbiggin (Hon. Sec.). THE CHAIRMAN'S SPEECH.

The CHAIRMAN said: Gentlemen: We have met to consider a proposal for reform- ing the unofficial representation on the Legislative Council in this Colony, It is good many years since the subject was first mooted by my hon. friend on the right (Mr. Pollock)-Applause-and, as you know, petitions have been sent home upon the same subject, which met with refusal. On the last occasion we should have carried the matter further but for the fact that we were engaged upon the great world-wide war, and rightly or wrongly, as things may be conceived-we thought it wise to hold our hands in order that we might not in any manner what-

2.

I

soever prejudice our own case or embarasa either the Government of this Colony or the Home officials by pressing the matter which, after all, was one of domestic reform. The war, happily, has now been triumphantly finished (Applause)—and we are free to consider those questions which most intimately concern

125, not only at home but in the distant parts of our Empire, of which Hongkong is not an insignificant unit. Our present system of government has been aptly described as A "benevolent despotism" OT a" benevolent autocracy.' (Applause). Well, gentlemen, there is much to be said for this form of government in distant parts of our Empire which must include permanent officials, when they are per- manent, and the carrying on of a con- sistent policy from year to year. We do not in any sense seek to disturb that when we say that the hour has come when a greater view in the domestic policy of this Colony should be allowed to the British. residents of it.

It cannot (Applause).

be too clearly stated that we do not seek. and have never sought, to interfere in any degree whatsoever with any part of what might be called the Imperial policy of the British nation as dictated from Howe for the benefit of the whole Empire (Applause)—and I do ποτ besitate to say that in no part of the Empire will more loyal subjects of the British Crown be found than in Hongkong. (Applause.) At the same time that should not deter us from taking a survey of the situation and con- sidering what can be done to bring about a larger measure of representation upon the Legislative Conneil to deal with such questions as the Hospitals, Police, Sani- tary Board, Educational Administra- | tions. Housing Reform, and the question of dealing with Revenue raised within the Colony, and as to the proportion of it which should be devoted respectively to Imperial needs, on the one hand, and the development of the Colony on the other. (Applause.) The majority of these ques tions are always dealt with at Home by some such body as a Municipal Council, Reference bas recently been made in the

147