N
191~
Mr Wilford Sir L Moneon
Mr Logan
Mi hand
I wonto like a
meetrig
པ་་
thu, please.
A.F
8
That alas!
is not the
o far
point so
as the Kuk
is concerned
Mw.
REPRESENTATIONS BY THE HEUNG YEE KUK
Mr Royle has asked that in the reply to their representati ons the Heung Yee Kuk be informed that appointments to ExCo and LegCo are not made on a geographical basis but that sympathetic con- sideration is being given to their request.
2. The Department fears that if we proceed in this way what the Heung Yee Kuk are told will soon become known throughout the Colony and raise certain hopes and fears in circles outside the Heung Yee Kuk and outside the New Territories about future appoint- ments to the Executive and Legislative Councils generally. This in turn might prompt similar approaches from other sources which together could build up to a certain tension at the time of the change of Governors. And we might find Mr MacLehose's position prejudiced before he assumed office as Governor and had had a chance of studying the position for himself. A reply on these lines would also be a clear indication to Sir D Trench that we were simply awaiting his departure before introducing changes.
3. With respect, therefore, I suggest that it would be safer to
thi maintain
Status quo until Mr MacLehose has had an opportunity of forming his own views.
4.
Mr Royle has also asked why the Governor thought it more appropriate for the District Commissioner of the New Territories to be left on the Legislative Council alone. Another reason given by the Governor for deciding against the appointment of the DCNT (Mr Luddington) to the Executive Council was that Mr Luddington would in any case shortly become a Member of that Council when he took over the post of Secretary for Home Affairs on the retirement of Mr Holmes later this year. Mr Luddington will then bring to Executive Council a detailed knowledge of the needs and hopes of the New Territories.
17 February 1971
The
HITH 13/
Maria
E O Laird
Hong Kong Department
arguments in
agree
till
para 2 are weighty
J
that it would be better to do nothing
we
com
deal with
The new Governor.
Kun halford 17/2
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