CO_1030_1459_HONG_KONG_CONSTITUTIONAL_DEVELOPMENT_1963_1965 — Page 242

Page 242

Page 242

This gave rise to some misunderstanding in Hong Kong and the

Governor was authorised to make the following statement in

Legislative Council in reply to an inspired question by the

senior unofficial member (Sir Sek-nin Chau):

"The Governor has been authorised by the Secretary of State

to make it clear that the inclusion of elected members in

this Council is not contemplated".

13. In the course of his visit Lord Perth held discussions with

Unofficial members of the Executive and Legislative Councils.

The general conclusion was that "a broadening of Legislative

Council was desirable" and it was suggested that representatives

might be chosen from the Urban Council, the Federation of

Hong Kong Industries and the Kaifongs. There was agreement that

there must remain an official majority on the Legislative Council.

The se suggestions were considered in correspondence and

discussion with the Governor during 1961. The Governor was at

first disposed to recommend an additional two Unofficial members

on the Legislative Council (one to be nominated by the

Federation of Hong Kong Industries), with a matching increase of

two Official members. But after full discussions with Unofficial

members of both the Executive and Legislative Councils he

recommended that no change should be made for the time being.

This recommendation was accepted early in 1962 (see paras. 17-18

below). A little earlier (19th December, 1961) the latest public

statement about the constitution was made in the House when

Mr. Maudling, in reply to a question, said he "thought the

constitutional position was fairly satisfactory."

14. In 1962, the Hong Kong Branch of the United Nations

Association sent a petition to the U.N. "Committee of Seventeen"

(now "Committee of twenty Four") charged with the responsibility

for investigating the progress of dependent territories towards

independence. It was placed before the Petition Sub-Committee

which indefinitely postponed consideration after the

intervention of the Folish delegate who argued that, since Hong Kong was an integral part of China, it pagigqpte to deal with it in the absence of the Chinese People's Government

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