Hongkong, June 24.
Periodically, the question of liberalizing the Colony's constitution, so as to give the ordinary resident a voice in its government, arises locally. It has once again come into some prominence following the reprinting here of an outspoken interview which Mr. Roland Praddell, Singapore barrister, gave a Straits newspaper, in which he made a reasoned plea for greater civic privileges for the "Little Man"—a plea which hus found a ready re-echo in local Press comment. Unlike many other Crown Colonies, both Singapore and Hongkong have Legislative Councils in which the official element predominates and appointment to which, so far as the unofficial members are con¢erned, is other than by' direct election.
In the ease of Hongkong, excluding the Governor, who is chairman, there are nine official and eight unofficial members. Of the latter, six are nominated by the Governor and the remaining two chosen by the General Chamber of Commerce and ~the Justices of the Peace respectively. This, incidentally, is in striking contrast to the Constitution of British Guiana, from whi¢gh Colony Sir Geoffry Northcote, Hongkong's Governor-elect will come here. There, the Council consists of ten officials and nineteen unofficials, of the latter of whom fourteen are popularly elected and the remainder nominated property or residential qualification might ko devised.
The non-Chinese community might be catered for by the electorate being drawn, as in the case of the Urban Council contests, from the Jury List, plus those normally liable for but exempt from jury service, which is fairly representative of the English-speaking communities of various races—or a property or residential qualification might else apply for this section of the population as well.
There was a time, some years ago, when, largely due io the activities of the now defunct Constitutional Reform Association, which had quite a large and influential membership, ah unofficial majority on the Legislative Council was in favour. Later came 2 Yealization that, under such system, special interests might cantrol the governmen:. Such feeling as now exists on the subject inclines in the direction of retaining Officia: predominance, but making due provi: sion for direct election of unofficials, excepting, possibly, those chosen by the Chamber of Commerce and the Justices of Peace. The demand is modest in character, and there seems no adequate reason why it should not be granted, the more so when it is borne in mind that Europeans are making their homes here to a far greater extent to-day than ever before in the history of the Colony.
"Disgrace to Land of Birth" by the Governor.
Resentment has been expressed, in Disparity in Franchise Privileges the Press, and freely in conversation, at some remarks, made at a mission-
There are doubtless good and sufficient reasons to account for the lack of uniformity in the constitutions of the various Crown Colonies, but, as one of the local journals has pointed out, the disparity in franchise privileges cannot be wholly due to the state of political or educational advancement of the inhabitants, since some of the more culturally backward Colonies have more liberal constitutions than Hongkong= enjoys. Possibly the near presence of large foreign political units is a factor in the situation. Be that: as it may, there does exist in Hongkong a strong under-current of opinion, seldom made vocal, which favours reform.
The only direct vote which residents here enjoy is in respect of two seats on the Urban Council, the new name given-to the old Sanitary Board. This body; however, is merely advisory, and as the elected seats are held for a period of three years, the opportunity of exercising this very limited franchise seldom occurs. More often than not, vacancies are filled without the necessity of election, due to the absence of more than one candidate. This circumstance has been cited as demonstrating a lack of civic spirit on the part of the public, but when account is taken of the relative unimportance of the Council] in the scheme of local government, the criticism seems scarcely justified. If apathy does exist, the more likely explanation is the lack of opportunity offered to the average resident in the matter of making his views and opinions felt,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.