copy for: FE1099/400/02
Orgon!
on!-FED 36/400/01
5th April, 1966.
*12
Thank you for sending us in good time your proposals for appointments to the Executive and Legislative Councils (your letter of 2nd March refers).
We have no comments on your recommended appointments of official members, which are all quite straightforward. And we see no objection to the proposals in your paragraph 4; like you, we cannot see any special advantage in staggered appointments, since the combination of continuity and new blood can equally well be ensured by varying the number of two-year terms served by the individual members.
With your recommendations for the appointment or re-appointment of unofficials to both Councils we are in general agreement. There is, e rhaps a little disappointment that the new Chinese unofficial members of Executive Council (the additional one and the replacement for R. C. Lee) are so close to the usual run of member, but we appreci..te how difficult it is to look outside the ranks of Legisla tive Council membership when appointing to the Executive Council. This perhaps indicates that the broadening of the base of representation must start in the Legislative Council (as well as in that other training ground for public service, the Urban Council), to be reflected in due course in Executive Council membership. For this reason we welcome your recommen- dation (contingent upon the retirement of C. Y. Kwan or Y. K. Kan, or both or them) that Mrs. Ellen Li and perhaps Dr. S. Y. Chung should be appointed to Legislative Council. Despite her family background, you will certainly be breaking new ground with Mrs. Li's appointment.
SIR DAVID TRENCH, K.C.M.G., M.C.
SECRET
/We
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.