TNAG-0117-FCO40-153-Constitutional-developments-1969 — Page 54

•⚫LEGCO APPOINTMENTS

2/1168

Urbco members

prefer to

be elected

ELECT on Et

LECTED Urban Councillors yesterday expressed their reluctance to sit on the Legislative Council if they were to be appointed by the Governor.

They were commenting on reports that the Gov- ernment was making headway in the course of mild constitutional reforms by the appointment of two elected Urban Councillors to the Legislature next

year.

Nevertheless, they would not like to be appointed di- rectly by the Governor.

The Councillors preferred to that "half a loaf is better be elected to the Legislature. than none," as Mr. Bernacchi

Senior elected member Mr. put it. Brook Bernacchi had, in fact,] been approached by a Gov- ernment official when the Legco's unofficial seats were enlarged in 1966, and asked if he would accept

an ap pointment.

He turned down the offer. Mr. Bernacchi had told the official that he would not accept the appointment with- out the consent of the Executive Council of the Reform Club, of which he was and is the chairman.

But the official said the Government could not offer the appointment to Mr. Bernacchi on those terms.

Direct election

Elected Urban

They suggested an alterna- tive whereby the elected Urban

Councillors decide among themselves to put up two, or preferably four, no- minations for the Governor to choose.

Agreed

Mr. Bernacchi said the man thus appointed could' then regard himself as being elect- ed by the public.

Mr. Hilton

agreed.

*Cheong-Leen

"There is a great difference

between direct

appointment.

Councillors by the Governor and ap-

maintained that there should pointment from nominations

be direct election to the Legislature.

the

However, they felt appointment of two elected members of the Urban Coun- cil to the Legislature was a welcomed move on the basis

1

B

put up by the elected mem- bers of the Urban Council," | he said.

Mr. Henry Hu said the appointment of elected Urban Councillors to the Legislature was not the right approach.

Against principle

"It is going against the principle of British colonial policy whose ultimate aim is to let people govern them- selves," he said.

Mr. Hu said the disturban.

ces last year clearly showed that the people of Hongkong

earned the right to vote and they are mature

that right.

to exercise

"There is no reason why direct election to the Legisla. ture is not allowed," he said. Dr. Denny Huang shared his view.

"I'd rather be elected than appointed," he added.

ANG 11/11 Mr. Ganymara

Mr. Carter