CONFIDENTIAL
OUTWARD TELEGRAM
Page 194
FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES
Simplex
TO HONG KONG (Sir R. Black)
FED 36/400/01
Sent 24th March, 1964.
11.30 hrs.
IMMEDIATE
CONFIDENTIAL
No. 534
40
il
2.
(25) Your despatch No. 433 of 6th February.
Constitutional Changes.
Your proposals agreed.
Changes in Legislative Council will necessitate very small changes in Royal Instructions which will of course have to be made by Order in Council. This will be drafted here and submitted to the Privy Council at the next opportunity. In public announcement of proposals reference to changes affecting Legislative Council should be prefaced: "It is proposed to ask Her Majesty the Queen to make provision........
3. To present these modest proposals in best possible light it would seem desirable that announcement should make clear that purpose of Legislative Council changes is to enable Governor to bring into Council persons who, while nominated as individuals, will nevertheless be able to represent views of a wider corss-section of the community than is possible with present numbers. Announcement should also make clear, we think, that the changes - particularly as they give an unofficial majority on the floor of Legislative Council - do not involve any departure from principles laid down in 1960 i.e. that they are within framework of existing system of government and that the Governor's powers remain unaltered. Would it be desirable in announcement to mention that Sir David Trench had been consulted and agreed with the proposals?
4. Please telegraph soonest date and text of announce- ment.
5.
Regret not possible reply sooner.
(Cost of telegram:
£16
3s. 7d.)
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