Johan 7. 24.0
Sir Leslie onson
Mr. Godden
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ligend I
Bu 2 weeks लोड 47/5
Appointment of Nominated Unofficial Members of
Executive and Legislative Councils: Hong Kong
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The appointments of all unofficial members of the Executive and Legislative Councils in Hong Kong expire on 1 July, 1970. This situation was deliberately contrived by the Governor, with Lord Shepherd's approval, early in 1969 when Sir David Trench's retirement had been fixed for April, 1970. The purpose was to give the next Governor a free hand in making his nominations to the two Councils shortly after his assumption of office.
2. With the extension of Sir David Trench's term of office until
October 1970, interim arrangements are now required to cover the period from 1 July, 1970 until the new Governor has assumed office and is ready to make his own nominations.
Governor's Recommendation
3. In a letter to Sir Leslie Monson of 10 April the Governor proposed that he should arrange for all the present unofficial members to continue in office for a further year from 1 July, 1970
on the tacit understanding that they would place their resignations at the disposal of the new Governor after his assumption of office. The new Governor would then ask all the unofficial members to serve
out their year and would later submit recommendations on the composition of the Councils after 1 July, 1971.
4. In putting forward these proposals the Governor has explained that if he were to terminate the appointment of a sitting member
at this stage it would be a direct indication of a lack of confidence which would be personally embarrassing and locally unacceptable.
Argument
5. These recommendations by the Governor follow the line provisionally agreed with Sir Hugh Norman-Walker when he was in London over Easter. The Colonial Secretary thought that at least
two of the senior Chinese representatives were more than overdue for
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