CO_1030_1459_HONG_KONG_CONSTITUTIONAL_DEVELOPMENT_1963_1965 — Page 252

6th Wallace tele

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R&R. R. R. on

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Const. Dev.

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17/12

Mr Higham

23

Page 252

Mr. Fisher, as you know, met Mr. Alan Green (at the latter's suggestion) last week to discuss

Hong Kong. Mr. Green said that, in his view, we should consider widening the scope of the nominated membership of the Legislative Council so as to include some representative elements. He feared that, otherwise, we might find ourselves under pressure to provide for elected members: he thought that it would be a bad thing for us to

find ourselves on the defensive. He asked

Mr. Fisher if the Governor could be asked for his

views and Mr. Fisher agreed that we should do this (without mentioning that he thought that we were already doing so). Perhaps you would let Mr. Fisher know as soon as you have available the Governor's views on this question and arrange for Mr. Fisher to be provided with a

draft letter to send to Mr.

Green.

B. leave

(J.B. PEARCE)

16th December 1963

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Page 252

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Points Mr Green wishes to discuss with R Frößen

age 253 of 344

Page 253/23

Hong Kong Civic Association

Views on Government of Hong Kong.

Criticise 3

Cure

a) Leg. Co. appointed from narrow section

of community. There is no "Opposition"

b) Official Colonial Office information on

Hong Kong comes via the Governor from this narrow section who have a vested interest in presenting a 'rosy' picture. There is a lack of reasoned criticisms of Ex.Co., Leg. Co., Business rings and corrupt practices i.e. the voice of the huge majority of the population is not heard.

a) Enlarge the electorate for the Urgan Council.

b) Make elected Members of Urban Council eligible

for appointment (or election by their

colleagues) to seats on Leg.Co. In this way the Governor would hear the voice of "the people" and pass on what it said to the Colonial office.

o) In time send observer(s) to Westminster

(P. Rican model) to plead the Colony's cause, Such representatives should be elected and preferably Chinese.