§ 38. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that 16,000 persons in Hong Kong out of a total population of 3 million are entitled 625 to vote in the urban council elections; and if he will consider extending the franchise in these elections.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI have nothing to add to the reply which I gave the hon. Member on 14th December, 1955.
§ Mr. RankinI am sorry that the right hon. Gentleman is making such slow progress. Is he not aware that if the franchise in Hong Kong is not more widely based, there is going to be more serious trouble in the future than there has been in the past? Will not the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the matter, and try to give more people the right to vote?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI went most carefully into this matter when I was in Hong Kong last year. Surprising as the conclusion may be to the hon. Member, I am satisfied that there is not the same passionate desire to exercise the franchise there as there is naturally in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. BevanIn view of the fact that democratisation is taking place on the borders of totalitarian régimes in so many parts of the world, will not the Government set an example in Hong Kong?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIf by that term "democratisation" the right hon. Gentleman refers to the Government of China, I must point out to him that 80,000 people preferred to leave China and come recently to Hong Kong.
§ Mr. RankinIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the view that is expressed in this Question was stated to me in Hong Kong last month, and not last year, as in his case?