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Mr Rushfo FORD
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Reference...
(Legal Advisers K 188)
POSSIBLE CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG
1.
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I do not think you have seen the Governor's despatch of 30 May. It was discussed at meetings with Lord Goronwy-Roberts and the Secretary of State, and on 26 June Sir D Watson followed up these discussions with a personal letter to the Governor.
2.
We have heard nothing further on the matter from the Governor, except that he has told us in a telegram about his forthcoming visit (17-20 December) that one of the subjects he would like to discuss with Lord Goronwy- Roberts is "possibility of constitutional change".
3. Meanwhile, there has been considerable publicity in Hong Kong over a speech made in LegCo on 30 October by one of the Unofficials, Dr S Y Chung. Dr Chung suggested that the Unofficial membership should be expanded from 15 to 20; and judging from the Colonial Secretary's reply (reported in the Hong Kong Standard of 15 November) the Governor may wish to take up this point when he sees Lord Goronwy-Roberts on 18 December.
4.
There has been no further reference (since the Governor's visit in June) to the possibility of intro- ducing some variant of the Member system. Nor is it clear whether, if the Governor now intends to propose increasing the number of Unofficials, he envisages increasing the number of Officials as well in order to maintain the present balance. We should be grateful for your views on the Constitutional implications of bringing in more Unofficials (with or without a corresponding increase in the number of Officials) and for any other comments or suggestions you may have on how the role of the Unofficials might be enhanced without impairing the ultimate authority of the Governor, and in a manner consistent with the Colony's special circumstances.
BH. Finniddy.
B H Dinwiddy
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept
21 November 1974
Discussed with Mr Ruchford.
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