TNAG-0103-FCO40-139-Briefs-and-background-notes-for-Lord-Shepherd-1967 — Page 80

CONFIDENTIAL

Annex to Background Notes No.3

POLITICAL ASSOCIATIONS IN HONG KONG

Hong Kong Roform Club

Founded in 1949 by (among others) Mr. Brook Bornacchi, who became

Chairman in 1950. Its avowed object was that of offering constructive

criticism of government with a view to constitutional refor. Its support

is mainly, though not entirely, European.

2. Mr. Bernacchi attended discussions at the Colonial Office in 1955 and

again in 1960 at which his proposals for constitutional reform (and his viows on many other problons to do with Hong Kong) wore discussed. His

criticisms of the existing constitutional arrangements wore destructivo

rather than constructivo, and wore based on the more than questionable proniso

that if a democratic state were set up in Hong Kong it might be noro casy to

negotiate with the Chinese Government in duc course on the basis of an

indopondent future for Hong Kong. The Roform Club has made no similar official

approach to the Socrotary of Stato since 1960 and seons to be engaged at

prosent in socking an oxtension of the powors of the Urban Council.

3.

In the Juno 1967 oloctions the Club campaigned on the following platform:-

(a) increased social sorvices including free and compulsory

primary education for all;

(b) a two-tiored Local government syston on the linos of tho

Urben Council's report (paragraph 6 of Background Notes No.4); (c) a minimum of two directly elected nonbers in Logislative

Council;

(a) all nonbors of the Executive Council to be drawn from

the Logislative Council or Local Government Councils; (c) creation of "Hong Kong Citizonship".

Hong Kong Civic Association

4. Founded in 1954, with the declared aim of onabling poople who had an

intorost in the civic and political life of the Colony to join an association

with more balanced and rostrainod viows than those opressed by the Reform Club.

The Association's platform strossos the nood for continuing social and economic progross rather than political development. Its Juno 1967 clcction campaign rcaffimod its faith in the future of Hong Kong, tho prosorvation of law and

order, continued political stability, social progross and prosperity for all.

5. The General Committoo is predominantly Chinoso. It has a very activo

Socrotary in Mr. Hilton Choong Loon.

CONFIDENTIAL

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