TNAG-0522-FCO40-617-Discussions-with-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 78

CONFIDENTIAL

include this passage, which was contrary to his initial inclination, was designed to prepare the ground for the appointment of the three now Members to LegCo next June and for the expansion of the membership of LegCo by the same number to help spread the rapidly increasing work load and to give emphasis to the new move.

Some

of those under consideration for the posts appear to be very suitable but we have not yet had an indication of the Governor's

final choice.

6.

This is clearly a move in the right direction;

but the

Governor will doubtless wish to make the point, previously referred to in correspondence, that caution is necessary in approaching reform. He feels that there is a risk of discrediting the new HACS by premature appointments to LegCo which fall short of public expectations. This seems entirely understandable.

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department

27 November 1975

CONFIDENTIAL

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