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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

Now, I would like to ask just two supplementaries. In the third paragraph of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs' reply, he speaks of the request that the Assistant Secretary for Chinese Affairs for Kowloon should join the party on the Hong Kong Island visits and the Assistant Secretary for Chinese Affairs for Hong Kong should join the party on the visits to Kowloon. I would like to know was this the first occasion that such a request was made or is it usual every year?

SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS :-First, I would like to thank Mr. BERNACCHI for his explanation. My embarrassment was because I felt that it would appear that I had been very discourteous to this Council by being party to releasing my reply to the question some 48 hours before the Council Meeting. It was certainly some kind of a misunderstanding. My letter was not confidential in the sense that the matter was one to be kept private, but I only hoped nothing would come out before I gave my answer to Mr. BERNACCHI's question.

Members of the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs did not, as far as I can recall, accompany these Spring visits in previous years, though they have done so on other kinds of visits. There are always visits and tours going on, in which a member of my Department may or may not be invited to join. It is entirely up to the organizers on each occa- sion. This has been going on for several years, but whether or not in connexion with previous years' Spring calls I do not know. In view of the fact that a special request was made this year, I should think per- haps not.

MR. BERNACCHI:-The other and last supplementary is this: In the Secretary for Chinese Affairs' letter to myself, to which a reference has been made, I remember that he said, and this deals with the last paragraph of the reply, that support for the gentleman in question was not on the agenda for the Kaifong Research Council. I should like to know what would have been the position if it had been originally on the agenda? Would the officers of the Department have attended or what would have been their instructions?

SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS:-I am happy to answer a hypothetical question, Mr. Chairman. (Laughter). To the best of my knowledge, it was not on the agenda. But if it had been I think my officers would not have attended if it had been the one item on the agenda. As a matter of fact one of the main items of discussion at that particular meeting was a proposal that it was high time that the Kaifong Associations were represented on the Legislative Council. I think my officers were aware that this was coming up and they attended just the same, kept silent, and did not feel that their presence implied Government approval or disapproval of the views expressed. Similarly

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if the question of the Urban Council elections had been on the formal agenda, my officers would probably still have attended though with the intention of saying nothing and remaining neutral.

DR. LEE: Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask a supplementary question arising out of Mr. BERNACCHI's question. Is the Chairman aware that unfair publicity was also given to Mr. Solomon RAFEEK, a possible candidate to the Urban Council by-election, in the Chinese programme of Radio Hong Kong-another Government department— where a representative of the Kaifong Association was interviewed. The programme touched on the subject as to whom the Kaifong would sup- port in the forthcoming by-election for a vacancy on the Urban Council and that given support by the Honourable Secretary for Chinese Affairs another Kaifong Chairman would also be supported for appointment to the Legislative Council. That particular broadcast I happened to listen to personally and I can substantiate its truth, because I was one of the speakers in that programme.

SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS:-I did not hear this programme, but it would seem that the views expressed were private ones. They were not official statements or attributable as such.

MR. WATSON: --Mr. Chairman, is it not likely that this question and the subsequent replies which we have, will also give unfair publicity to Mr. Solomon RAFEEK in the forthcoming by-election? (Laughter). I refrain from asking whether this was Mr. BERNACCHI's intention. (Laughter).

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-May I ask the Secretary for Chinese Affairs whether it is presently the view of the Government that the Kaifongs should be represented on the Urban Council?

SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS: -May I refer you to my answer already given to Mr. BERNACCHI's question? My answer is that the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs is strictly neutral with regard to candi- dates for the by-election.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-May I clarify my question, Mr. Chairman? I was not referring to any individual in particular. I was asking this question from the point of view of Government's policy.

SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS:-I understand, Mr. Chairman, subject to correction by you and by all the experts here, there is no statutory provision for elections to have to be by organizations. Any eligible person who would like to stand may stand.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Perhaps in referring to this subject from a much broader point of view, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs will recall, Mr. Chairman, that two years ago I made a suggestion that the