TNAG-0320-FCO40-356-Petitions-from-Rural-Consultative-Council-for-the-New-Territ-1971 — Page 28

Mr Laird

1.

When

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In Gandiara

Thank you very much. argumenti furwerd

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Сивинітні,

Please see the Parliamentary Under-Secretary's En

note on the attached Submission.

2.

With respect, I think that there are certain difficulties about telling the Heung Yee Kuk at this particular stage that we are giving sympathetic consideration to their request:

(1)

(2)

(3)

"/

It would be a clear indication to the present Governor that we are merely awaiting his departure before introducing changes.

It might, when it became known, raise certain hopes and fears in circles outside the Heung Yee Kuk and outside the New Territories. about future appointments to the Legislative and Executive Councils generally. These 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.

It might prejudice Mr Maclehose's position before he assumes office as Governor and has had a chance of studying the position for himself (ie the position both as regards new territories representation on the Central Councils of Government and the criteria for appointments to those bodies generally).

3. In these circumstances, I suggest that it might be safer to maintain the status quo until the new Governor has arrived and has had an opportunity of forming his own views.

4.

As regards Mr Royle's query on paragraph 8 (3) of the attached Submission, another reason given by the Governor for deciding against the appointment of the District Commissioner, New Territories, (Mr Luddington) to the Executive Council was that Mr Luddington will in any case shortly become a member of that body when he takes over the post of Secretary for Home Affairs on the retirement of Mr Homes later this year. Mr Luddington will then bring to Executive Council a detailed knowledge of the needs and aspirations of the New Territories.

า Ammar

A W Gaminara

16 February 1971

K.271

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on the Heung

AG 17.

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