CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5] — Page 613

PARAPHRASE TELEGRAM from the Governor of Hong Kong to

the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

(Dated 29th May,

1926.)

(Received Colonial Office 7.40

31 MAY 1926

593

a.m. 29th May, 1926.)

There are now two vacancies on the Executive Council vice Chater and Holyoak and I propose to recommend that they should be filled by the appointment of (1) A.0.Long who is at present acting (2) Sir Shou-son Chow. As to (2) I have every confidence in Chow, who se appointment besides giving very great pleasure to the Chinese in Hong Kong might even have good effect in Canton. But no Chinese has hitherto been appointed to the Executive Council and Chow's appointment would there- fore be a new departure and would doubtless make it necessary in future always to assign one of the unofficial seats to a Chinese.

I feel however that it

is inevitable that sooner or later we should concede claim to Chinese representation in Executive Council, and political effect would undoubtedly be better if action were taken by the Government spontaneously. Please inform me by telegraph as soon as possible whether you see any objection.