TNAG-0430-FCO40-495-Appointments-of-membership-of-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Ko-1974 — Page 91

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TO PRIORITY F C O TEL NO 612 OF 5 JUNE 1974.

PERSONAL FOR SIR DUNCAN WATSON.

MY 2 IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING TELEGRAMS.

AS YOU WILL REALISE MY PRINCIPAL PRE-OCCUPATION WITH THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS AT THIS TIME AND PARTICULARLY WITH THE FORMER (WHOSE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS COMPRISE FINANCE COMMITTEE) IS THAT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO PASS THE INCREASED TAXATION WHICH I BELIEVE NECESSARY NEXT SPRING. I DO NOT WISH TO RISK PREJUDICING THIS MEANWHILE BY THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW OR ABRAISIVE TYPES INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHOSE SUPPORT ON A MATTER OF THIS SORT WOULD BE WORTHLESS (BECAUSE OF THEIR COMPARATIVELY LOW PUBLIC STANDING), BUT WHOSE PRESENCE MIGHT MERELY ENCOURAGE THE REST OF THE COUNCIL TO RESIST.

2. A FURTHERPOINT IS THAT ELECTIONS TO THE URBAN COUNCIL ARE DUE EARLY NEXT YEAR.

MACLEHOSE

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H K I OD

LORD GURUNWY-ROBERTS

SIR D WATSON

MR MALE

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