TNAG-0220-FCO40-256-Constitutional-development-of-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 12

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Friday, July 24, 1970

"Imperfect" as this government could be, he suggested his listeners

would agree there had been considerable improvements both in the administration,

and the general well-being of the people.

"I believe that provided we all have a heart for Hong Kong, and

the determination to press on, without losing sight of the political limitations,

Hong Kong will go on undisturbed, and will continue to prosper for as long

as one can see. I believe there is room for changes. I also believe these

changes must be realistic," he said.

Mr. Lai began his talk by tracing the constitutional development

of Hong Kong's governmental pattern, based on the two fundamental documents

deriving from the earliest days of the British connection - the Letters

Patent and the Royal Instructions.

Third Document

These laid down in some detail how the Executive and Legislative

councils should operate.

A third document, the Standing Orders for the Conduct of Business

in the Legislative Council, described the procedures in the Council relating

to questions, motions, and so on.

The Governor was appointed by the Queen, and drew his authority

from the Latters Patent which required him to observe the laws of the Colony

and such instructions as were issued to him from time to time by the Queen

or the Secretary of State.

But there had been agitation for constitutional changes, and he was

sure the Leadership Training Camp, as a student group, had discussed them.

As a "local boy," born and brought up in Hong Kong, who would have to live

here for the rest of his life, he did not want to give the impression he was

indifferent to the issues involved.

There