TNAG-0373-FCO40-419-Visits-of-members-of-the-Hong-Kong-Urban-Council-to-the-UK-1973 — Page 26

2012

CONFIDENTIAL

him in Hong Kong, has led to this situation. As the

Governor said in his speech to Legislative Council on

17 October, he is consulting us about the recommendations

of the Blair-Kerr Report, which are many and complicated.

These questions are still under consideration, but the

Governor's decisions on the recommendations will be announced

by the Colonial Secretary in Legislative Council on

14 November.

Elections to the Urban Council

5.

Following the reform of the Council, it consists of

12 Elected and 12 Appointed Members. The Elected Members of

the Council have made representations to the Governor about

the composition, requesting that the ratio should have been

12 Elected and 10 Appointed. If the delegation raise this

issue, or the question of their range of responsibilities,

I RECOMMEND that Mr Royle should reply that these are matters

for the Governor. He might add that since the reorganized

Council has only been in operation for one year, it might

be prudent to wait for a while to see how it develops and

then to let the Governor have their agreed views.

Elections to the Legislative Council

6. Mr Royle has already talked to the group. The statement

on Elections to Hong Kong's Executive and Legislative

Council which was released by News Department on Mr Royle's

behalf is attached.

CONFIDENTIAL

17.