§ 28. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the Government of Hong Kong proposes to introduce an extension of the franchise.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydNo proposal for an extension is being considered at present.
§ Mr. RankinWould not the right hon. Gentleman ask the Hong Kong Administration to think about this matter? Is he aware that the great mass of the pre-war population in Hong Kong has not the right to vote? Does he not think that it is very difficult to attack dictatorships in other parts of the world when we ourselves are maintaining a dictatorship, however benevolent, in Hong Kong?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydNobody in Hong Kong thinks for a moment that he is 383 living under a dictatorship. Many hundreds of thousands have left a dictatorship to go to live in Hong Kong. There is no significant public demand for this change, and I suggest that if the hon. Member went to live there, even he himself would quickly absorb the prevailing atmosphere.