TNAG-0215-FCO40-251-Appointments-to-membership-of-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Ko-1970 — Page 110

Registry No.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Seeret.

Secret.

Confidential.

DRAFT MINUTE

To:-

Sir Leslie Monson

Type 1 +

From

E. 0. Laird

Telephone No. & Ext.

Restricted: Unclassified.

PRIVACY MARKING

.In Confidence

11

Department Hong Kong

Appointments to the Hong Kong Executive

and Legislative Councils

In paragraph 7 of the attached submission, I

have referred to our efforts to persuade the Governer

make

to broaden the basis of his selection of unofficial

members for appointment to the Executive and Legis-

of the people. That submission is concerned only

if aggle 2 Hows Kay

ords kadrow

more Lative toundiís,

C

with the specific issue of the Governor's recommend-

ations for immediate appointments to the Legislative

Council. In this minute I attempt to deal with the

general principles involved in the making of such

appointments.

2. The present unofficial membership of the Executive

Council comprises one doctor, two solicitors and

five bankers/businessmen.

The unofficial membership

al

^

of the Legislative Council consists of two solicitors,

two engineers. one housewife, one educationist and

seven bankers/businessmen.

If the Governor's rec-

ommendations as set out in the attached submission

are approved, the membership of the Legislative

Council will be changed by the substitution of a

barrister for a businessman.

3.

The

There is clearly a preponderance of businessmen/

bankers on both councils, but this is hardly surprising, Having regard to the character of the Colony's economy.

Indeed..

(118281) Dd. 391599 1,500m 2/69 Hw.

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

CONFIDENTIAL