TNAG-0427-FCO40-492-Proposed-constitutional-advancement-of-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 3

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CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE

DECRET

29

1.

The latest formal proposal by the Governor is that some Unofficials should be appointed to be in charge of groups of departments (Despatch of 30 May). The idea behind this proposed introduction of the so-called "Member system" was that local Hong Kong Chinese should be seen to be acting in positions of authority. The Governor thought that this would satisfy the local demands for greater participation in Government.

2. Although Lord Goronwy-Roberts agreed with this in principle, subject to further elaboration, we have had some doubts about whether the proposal might not look in London like a further consolidation of the power of the Hong Kong business establishment.

3.

Meanwhile, however, one of the Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council, Dr S Y Chung, suggested in the Council on 30 October that LegCo's Unofficial Members should be increased from 15 to 20 and that the new Members should be drawn from a wider section of the community. In reply the Colonial Secretary did not reject Dr Chung's proposals, but he said that any changes to Hong Kong's Constitution could only be effected through consultation with London.

4.

There are three possible drawbacks to changes on the lines suggested by Dr Chung. Particularly if any form of elections for the new seats was introduced, the proposals might look to the Chinese like a step towards self-government and independence. This would have to be carefully handled with the Chinese. We could not appear to be consulting them; but we would need to be sure that they understood the proposal and did not regard it as a threat.

5.

Secondly, the introduction of new Unofficial Members could upset the constitutional arithmetic by which the Governor has,

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