XN000022-1974-11-14 — Page 2

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1974.

HONG KONG TO CONSULT BRITAIN ON PROPOSED

LEGCO EXPANSION ******

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS TO CONSULT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ON THE QUESTION OF EXPANDING THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AS PROPOSED BY DR. THE HON, CHUNG SZE-YUEN A FORTNIGHT AGO.

WINDING UP THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEBATE, THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. DENYS ROBERTS, SAID IT WAS DESIRABLE TO REFLECT FROM TIME TO TIME ON WHETHER THE CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS WHICH HAD SERVED HONG KONG SO WELL IN THE PAST SHOULD BE ADAPTED SO AS TO EQUIP US TO DEAL MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH CHALLENGES OF THE FUTURE.

BUT HE NOTED THAT BEFORE SUCH CHANGES COULD BE MADE THE ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS WOULD HAVE TO BE AMENDED AND SUCH AN AMENDMENT INVOLVED CONSULTATION WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.

IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. HE COULD NOT COMMENT FURTHER ON DR. CHUNG'S SUGGESTIONS +UNTIL WE HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO CARRY OUT THE CONSULTATION.+

DR. CHUNG'S PROPOSALS ENVISAGED AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF UNOFFICIAL SEATS FROM 15 TO ABOUT 20 WITH THE NEW MEMBERS SELECTED FROM THOSE WORKING AMONG THE LOWER STRATA OF THE ORGANISATION IN FACTORIES AND SHOPS.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY PRAISED THE UNOFFICIALS FOR THE WILLINGNESS WITH WHICH THEY ACCEPTED THE INCREASING VOLUME OF COUNCIL WORK, SAYING THE COMMUNITY IS INDEED FORTUNATE TO FIND SO MANY MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE PREPARED TO DEVOTE A HIGH PROPORTION OF THEIR TIME TO PUBLIC AFFAIRS, OFTEN AT CONSIDERABLE PERSONAL INCOVENIENCE AND FINANCIAL LOSS.+

TURNING TO THE PROCESS OF DECISION-MAKING, MR. ROBERTS NOTED THAT ANY GOVERNMENT SENSITIVE TO SOCIAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC OPINION HAD A NARROW AND DANGEROUS PATH TO TREAD BETWEEN RIGIDITY AND FLEXIBILITY.

GENERALLY, HE AGREED WITH THE HON. LO TAK-SHING THAT A GOVERNMENT SHOULD CHANGE ITS POLICY BECAUSE IT WAS RIGHT TO ALTER IT, NOT MERELY BECAUSE OF THE NOISY OPPOSITION OF A SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY WHICH MAY BE URGING A LIMITED INTEREST NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

+NEVERTHELESS, THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THE VERY VOLUME OF CRITICISM AND THE DEGREE OF DISCONTENT GENERATED BY IT, BECOME SUCH POWERFUL FACTORS OF THEMSELVES THAT THEY MUST INFLUENCE THE COURSE OF ACTION OF THE SENSITIVE ADMINISTRATION, WHATEVER THE MERITS OF THE POLICY AGAINST WHICH THE OPPOSITION HAS BEEN DIRECTED,+ HE ADDED.

HONG KONG,