TNAG-0326-FCO40-362-Appointments-to-membership-of-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Ko-1972 — Page 129

CONFIDENTIAL

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Mr Wilford

HONG KONG EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS

You told me that Mr Cater had questioned the desirability of appointing Mr P C Woo as a member of the Executive Council.

1.

2.

We have looked into this. As you will see from Sir Murray MacLehose's despatch Mr Woo has been an Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council for 8 years (longer in fact than anybody else). He has also been a temporary member of

In the circumstances, the Executive Council since 1 January 1972. having regard to the way these things are done in Hong Kong it would clearly not be easy for Sir Murray MacLehose to ignore Mr Woo's claim for appointment to the Executive Council. Sir David Trench wrote about Mr Woo as follows

"Mr Woo falls into no particular pattern. He was formerly an elected member of the UC and was appointed to the Legislative Council some time after he had lost his UC seat. He toes no party line and is often an embarrassment to his Chinese colleagues because of loquacity and indiscretion. On the other hand he is not self-seeking and he is shrewd

He is a relaxed enough in his appraisal of the local scene.

Rather individual and enjoys the good things of life. mercurial in temperament. With Mr Szeto Wai he has been appointed Provisional Member of Executive Council as a result of the death of Mr P Y Tang."

3. Sir Murray MacLehose must have had reports from the Colonial Secretariat on all those whom he is now recommending for appointment. It would be difficult for us to question his judgment basing ourselves on what Mr Cater has said. In all the circumstances I suggest that we should accept the Governor's recommendation.

4. Sir Murray MacLehose has also been looking into the history of the arrangement under which JPS and the General Chamber of Commerce are each invited to nominate for the Governor's

He has consideration a member each for Legislative Council. asked us to seek the assistance of Research Department with a view to abolishing this tradition. We shall be sending forward a submission on this when we have collected all the facts.

6 June 1972

Action pending

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