TNAG-0117-FCO40-153-Constitutional-developments-1969 — Page 40

NOTHING TO BE Written in this MARGIN

W(B)L 51-7406

DRAFT

20copus

Copy of (10) on

HKK 1/11

CONFIDENTIAL

VISIT OF MINISTER OF STATE

LORD SHEPHERD)

TO HONG KONG, HAY/ JUNE 1969.

/

Note No. 2.....

CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

Possibilities of Constitutional Change

Three unofficial seats on the Legislative Council fall vacant on 30 June this year. The Minister has approved the Governor's

proposal to extend the terms of two of the

serving members concerned Messrs. SZETO Wai

and Wilfred WONG. Mr. Herries, the third

member, is the nominee of the Chamber of

Commerce and no doubt the name of a successor

will by now have been communicated to the

Governor.

2. In conveying the Minister's approval Sir A. Galsworthy wrote to the Governor (with the Minister's agreement) about giving further thought to the intractable problem of

broadening the basis of appointments to Councils (copy attached). It is doubtful whether the Governor will have had any fresh ideas on this subject, but there may be scope for further discussion of the possibilities in the context of discussions on developments in the field of local administration (see

Note No.3...).

Background

Much thought has been given since 1962 to

ways of improving the representative

character of the administration, short of

introducing an electoral system.

possibilities under consideration have been:

The

(a) The Enlargement of the Unofficial Element

in the Legislature

The 1964 increase in membership gave unofficials a majority, but not control because of the Governor's original and

casting vote. If official control of

the Legislature is to be maintained (as we think it must given China's attitude to constitutional advance) any further increase in unofficial representa-

tion is limited by the possibility for pari passu increase in the official membership.

(b)