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relation to the People's Republic of China set strict limits to the
extent to which the electivedelement could be introduced even in local
government without grave risk: it would certainly be unacceptable that
we should introduce an elected element in the Legislative Council. This
restraint must be accepted as part of the anomolous position of the colony
as a whole.
(b) Further consideration might be given to the possibility of introducing
a "metropolitan" basis of association with the United Kingdom for individual
territories which were likely otherwise to remain colonial dependencies for an indefinite period. The possibility of associating certain
territories with Australia or New Zealand, or of devising for them some
form of status under the United Nations might also be further explored.
(c) It might be useful for the Commonwealth Secretary to circulate to
other Commonwealth Prime Ministers, perhaps on the occasion of the next
Meeting of Commonwealth Prime Ministers, a report on similar lines to OPD (67) 11 with a view to persuading other members of the Commonwealth to
adopt a helpful and constructive line in further discussions of the subject
at the United Nations.
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The Committee
(1) Approved OPD(67) 11.
(2)
Invited the Minister of State for Commonwealth Affairs
to consider possible arrangements for associating some territories with the United Kingdom on a "metropolitan" basis, or for their association with other members of the Commonwealth, or for some status under the United Nations, on the lines suggested in discussion.
(3) Invited the Minister of State for Commonwealth Affairs
to consider the desirability of circulating to other Commonwealth Prime Ministers, perhaps at their next meeting, a paper on the lines of OPD (67) 11.
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