TNAG-0117-FCO40-153-Constitutional-developments-1969 — Page 45

Confidential

Constitutional Matters

Note No.

(as m

as we think it must given Chia's altitude to constitutional

advance

Because of the clearage Lack of cohesion

Possibilities of Constitutional Change

BACKGROUND

[ Take in slep]

Much thought has been given since 1962 to ways of improving

the representative character of the administration, short of

introducing an electoral system. The possibilities under con-

sideration have been:

(a)

(b)

in the Trade Unionst between Communist-

4

and wea

The

a Nationalist ve nesses, affiliationsh

movement cannot

throw up any one of acceptable presentative Capacity

stature,

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 any further

increase in unofficial representation is limited

by the possibility for pari passu increase in the

official membership.

Broadening the Basis of Selection of Unofficial Members

The possibilities of broadening representation in

the Legislature are strictly limited. In recent

selections the Governor has cast his net a little

wider and has recently appointed a woman to the

Legislature for the first time. It is inherant

e

in the nomination system that the Governor should

make appointments from people who have made their

mark in the community; these are people from indus-

try, commerce and the professions. If he were to

appoint comparative nonentities to handle the

affairs of the community, the process of selection

would have a random and arbitrary nature that would

satisfy nobody. Moreover, service on the Central

Councils of the Hong Kong Government takes a great

deal of time and is unpaid.

1

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