TNAG-0085-FCO40-121-Reform-of-the-Administration-of-Law-1968 — Page 34

It was agreed that Mr. de Basto should on his return to Hong Kong send

his written comments on this point to Sir James McPetrie via the Attorney-

General of Hong Kong, with examples of what he thought was needed and of the

he

particular difficulties that they had in mind.

10.

Unofficial Appointments to the Legislative and Executive Councils.

Mr. de Basto said that his Association felt that appointments to the

Legislative and Executive Councils should be made from a wider cross-section

of the Community. He considered that the present Chinese members of those

Councils were largely inarticulate and he wondered whether the Government

realised that four of those members were inter-related, either by blood or

by marriage. He thought that an appointment from the Bar might perhaps,

produce someone who was capable of expressing himself more fluently and

Chinese easily than were present/members of the Council. The command of English of

some of the present members was so poor that it was difficult at times to

understand what they were saying.