From our London correspondent we have received a report of a question asked by Li. Col. J. Ward,.p., in the House of Commons as to the Government's reason for refusing to make any alteration in the numbers or mode of selection of the unofficial members of the Hongkong Legislative Council. The Government's reply stated inter alia that in the Governor's report on the subject he said "There was no general demand for any constitutional change." Yet against that statement we have the largely attended meetings of January, 1919, and in May, 1991, the two requests for constitutional reform in the past five years—both refused—the formation of a constitutional Reform Association and the preparation of a petition to H. M. Government at the present time. Furthermore in Dr. Eitel's book "Europe in China," we find it stated that as early as the year 1845 continuous demands were made by the British community for adequate representation on the Legislative Council.'' The request amounts to one for unofficial control over local affairs such as has been granted to Bermuda (six unofficial members to three official), British, Honduras (seven to five), Ceylon' (23 to 18), Cyprus (12 to six), Jamaica (14 to ten) and finally Malta which has been granted an elected Legislative. Assembly for dealing with purely local affairs. Why not, Hongkong too?
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.