CO129-453 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [1-3] — Page 159

reasons

was sent Home by me nearly three years ago to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Since then the Constitutional Reform Association has been formed and I can assure you that the Committee of the Association, in framing the resolutions which are before you this evening, have given them their most anxious and care- ful consideration. (Applause). Tho Chairman has said that the question of constitutional reform is an old one, and I am a sufficiently old resident of this Colony to have signed the petition of 1894, which was sent home to the then Secretary of State for the Colonies, the Marquis of Ripon. The answer which we received on that occasion was that the unofficial majority could not be granted, but Lord Ripon did make a suggestion. He suggested that a Municipal Council might be granted to this Colony. Well, gentlemen, we have not been granted even a Municipal Council from that date to this. When in 1916 a petition for au unofficial majority on the Legislative Council went Home again to the Secretary of State for the Colonies-Mr. Bonar Law --it was rejected without any being given for the rejection. I do not wish to go again over the ground which our ('hairman has covered, but I can say, with bim, that there are good, and valid, and sufficient reasons why we should have an unofficial majority in this Colony. Some people have attempted, I believe, to side- track these suggestions by saying that we should press for a Municipal Council, but I am not in favour of that course, because 1 fear very much that if we were granted a Municipal Council it would be still subject to Government influence and con- trol, Therefore we are not proceeding in that direction but are pressing to change the form of the legislative body, which draws up our laws, and which controls the dispositions of our revenue. (Applause). I think, gentlemen, that this must appeal to you as being a sound proposition. Sup posing that a critic has suggested that we bave able and thoroughly efficient per- manent officials in this Colony to carry on the Government. There are also ablə and permanent officials at Home in Great Britain, but I have never heard such an argument put forward in opposition to a proposal with regard to representa tion in the House of Commons. You not only have the permanent officials at Home working in the Government offices, but you also have begope that the taprejontaż.

tion of the people in the people's house, the House of Commons. (Applause). Applying that principle by analogy here, I think we ought to have an unofficial majority in the Legislative Council of this Colony. As my honourable friend, the Chairman, pointed out, there is no question in the minds of anyone of us to Intertere with the naval and military policy of the Empire. That policy must be treated as one, and that policy will, in the future, as in the past, be directed by the naval and military experts at Home. You may be quite certain that the un- official members of the Council will always support the policy which tends to the good of the Empire and to the defence of the Empire, (Applause). I think that nobody would venture to suggest after the contributions which the Colony has made in this war in men, money and materials, that the men of this Colony are deficient in patriotism or in their devotion to the Empire. (Ap- plause.) In asking for an unofficial majority in this Colony, wo Fare asking for anything without precedent. In the Colonies of British Guiana, Cyprus, and British Honduras—which last obtained an unofficial majority so late as 1913-you will find the precedent, for they have all been granted unofficial majorities. If those Colonies have an unofficial majority, I do not see why Hongkong should not be provided with an unofficial majority also. Gentlemen, about a year ago, when the last meeting of the Constitutional Reform Association was held, I pledged myself to bring for ward a motion for Constitutional Reform as soon as the end of the war was in sight, and I am particularly happy to come before you this evening and to re- deem my pledge. I have much pleasura in seconding the resolutions which have been proposed by the Chairman. (Ap- plause.)

AMENDMENTS TO THE

RESOLUTIONS.

not

The CHAIRMAN having announced that the resolutions were open for discussion, Mr. J. H. McGuigan stated that he wish- ed to move as an amendment that the third resolution should be altered to read

& follows:-

That of the seven elected unofficial members (all of whom shall be British subjects) one shall be elected by the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce or some other body representative of the Chinese Community, one by the British subjects of the Portuguese com- munity, and the remaining five by British subjects of pure European dee- cent upon a franchise similar to that now in use for elections to the British House of Commons."

150