CO129-592-8 Future Policy in Hong Kong 1-1-1945 - 26-11-1945 — Page 134

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be elected. It would be practicable to arrange

for elections to be held by ballot amongst the European community and there was great psychological importance

in "giving the vote".

7. On the other hand it was not considered practicable for the 7 Chinese Members to be elected by ballot.

It was said that the Chinese do not understand and are

not in sympathy with the method of the ballot box and

that the acceptable machinery in this case would be nomination by representative guilds.

It was

appreciated that this might give an unfortunate im-

pression, particularly in America, that the European

community was being given the vote and not the Chinese

community but on the whole it was concluded that such

a decision could be defended on the grounds that it

was in accordance with Chinese custom and tradition.

8.

•

It would be the Governor's responsibility to see

that any interests not covered by the 9 European or 7

Chinese members should be represented by the 7 Nominated

Members. Some difficulty was envisaged in the selection of two effective representatives for the rural areas,

since the people of these districts can rarely speak

English (which would be the language of the Municipal

Council) and it was important they they should be able

to hold their own. It would not be appropriate to have indirect representation (for example

the cayice which has been adopted in Kenya, where a

missionary represents native interests) and a foreigner,

while he might adequately look after their interests,

would not be eligible as a non-British subject.

appreciated that this matter would need considerable

thought.

9.

It was

It was agreed that, having regard to the relatively

wide field of responsibility which it was

proposed