TNAG-0327-FCO40-363-History-of-constitution-of-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 32

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COMPOSITION OF THE HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

In May

In Earlier this year, the Governor of Hong Kong

asked us to consider the future of the Chamber of

Commerce and JP seats on the Legislative Council

(his letters of 19th and 23rd May and further letter

The Governor is

of 2 June are attached)./

thinking of changing the custom of calling for

nominations from the JPS and the Chamber of Commerce.

All the advice from his senior advisers, both

official and unofficial, is that there is no

gigif in law to the abrogation of the custom

and that he should therefore go ahead and get rid

what has become

an anomalous tradition.

However, the Governor has

of į these anschreniems.

i

first asked for our assurance that we approve 80

that he can, if necessary say that the Secretary of

State has agreed that he need be bound by this

convention no longer. The Governor's aim is to

bring the change about quietly, through discreet

lobbying He also asked us to if Research Dept. in Qu

could investigate the history of the practice in and

mix th confirm that they know of nothing that places

him under an obligation to call for such nominations.

Mr P AL Vine, Legal Adviser to Hutchesons of

Hong Kong wrote to Mr Royle on this subject while Mr Royle was in Hong Kong. The Governor forwarded