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CONFIDENTIAL
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EXEMPTION No .... HO(2)
HONG KONG:
APPENDIX A:
VISIT OF THE GOVERNOR 19-24 JULY
APPOINTMENTS TO THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS
The Minister will wish to study the Governor's proposals on these matters. The line recommended below is based on our judgement that the proposals are generally acceptable provided that a trade unionist is included on the list of appointments to the Legislative Council. (We would normally have prepared a Submission on this but time does not permit).
Suggested Speaking Notes
1. We agree with your proposal that we should increase the size of the Legislative Council and with your suggestion to hold additional. appointments of Officials in reserve, leaving for the time being an Unofficial majority. I take it you expect no reaction from the
Chinese.
2. We welcome the proposals in your letter of 6 July (attached) for the eight appointments to the Legislative Council (not counting the Trade Unionist). These candidates appear impressive and seem to meet the requirement of appointing members from a wider social background.
3. We have studied with great care your arguments against appointing, at this stage, a Trade Unionist to the Legislative Council. We have also read your letter of 7 July (attached) in which you outline your thinking on the appointment of your difficulties but conclude that In our view this appointment should be additional to that of
Father McGovern and Mrs Bennett.
4.
We appreciate should be appointed this year.
We see no objection to your proposed changes on the Executive Council, except that we think the time has come to replace
Sir Sydney Gordon. A suitable British substitute would appear to be Mr Bembridge. We shall look at the composition of the Executive Council again when we will have seen the performance of the new and existing members of the Legislative Council in the new circumstances.
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