ENG-1964 — Page 24

REVIEW

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debate in the Council. The review of resettlement policy was similarly aired. It was introduced to the Legislative Council by the Colonial Secretary in the form of a resolution for its adoption as a general guide to future policy which was then debated at a resumed meeting two weeks later.

That debate included speeches by five new members appointed to enlarge the unofficial representation on the Council, a step which had been foreshadowed earlier in the year. The Council, increased in size to 25 by the addition of five unofficial and three official seats, now comprises 13 unofficial and 12 official members. The increase was intended to spread the heavy load which falls on unofficial members and at the same time to bring on to the Council people who, while nominated as individuals, might nevertheless represent the views of a wider cross-section of the community. It was also announced that there would be an increase of unofficial representation on the Urban Council. That Council currently con- sists of five official members, including its chairman and 16_ordinary members of whom eight are elected and eight appointed. Four new unofficial members are to be added in April 1965, two appointed and two elected.

The announcement of these changes was one of the last official acts of Sir Robert Black who retired from the governorship of Hong Kong on 1st April. Sir Robert had been Governor since January 1958 and his term of office had been extended following representations by unofficial members of both the Executive and Legislative Councils. At a dinner given in his honour a few days before he left, the Chinese community presented Sir Robert with a eulogy in Chinese verse which referred to ‘a character as pure as jade'.

Like his predecessor, the new Governor had seen previous service in Hong Kong before he returned as Governor. Sir David Trench had been Deputy Colonial Secretary when he left on appointment as High Commissioner, Western Pacific in 1961.

Many thousands of people participated for the first time in the ceremonies which attended the arrival of the new Governor. The solemn but colourful ceremony of swearing-in was held in the concert hall of the City Hall instead of in the Legislative Council Chamber as on previous occasions. In consequence a much larger