FCO_49_622_PLANNING_PAPER_ON_HONG_KONG_1976 — Page 47

communist and KMT is very small indeed, and when

Government servants are excluded amounts to only about

20,000 or well under 1% of the work force. Quite apart

from their numerical insignificance, any attempt to

inflate the standing of the independent trades unions

or of persons drawn from them would have to be undertaken

with care if it were not to be misunderstood by the

Chinese as an intention to undermine the influence of

their own communist unions. This does not exclude the

possibility of elevating a person with such a background

to the Legislative Council, but it does exclude doing

so if he has not qualified through the locally accepted

progression of public service or service on advisory

committees.

28.

The normal Westminster pattern of elected

government is barred by the attitude of the Chinese

(the argument is developed in Annex C). On the other hand

Parliament will wish to be convinced that the appointed

members of Councils are as representative of Hong Kong

opinion as circumstances permit. In our view the best way

of achieving this lies in the policies of institutional

change being developed by the present Governor.

consolidation of the system of Mutual Aid Committees;

the promotion of natural leaders emerging at this level

to advisory committees and eventually to the Legislative

Council should thus be encouraged. Page 41 of 203

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The

Some expansion of the

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