HC Deb 11 February 1965 vol 706 cc525-6
5. Mr. Rankin

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he proposes to take in regard to the request presented to him by the Hong Kong Civic Association that the urban council should be expanded into a House of Representatives with additional powers.

Mrs. White

No such request has been submitted to my right hon. Friend.

Mr. Rankin

Does my hon. Friend realise that the need for some form of popular representation and expression is growing very rapidly in Hong Kong? Is she aware that that is due to the fact that the Chinese population, which is, by a long chalk, the largest section of the whole population, has only one selected representative, that the Indian population, which is very small indeed, has one representative and that the Portuguese population, which is almost negligible, also has one representative? This parity of representation is anachronistic in the present population distribution in Hong Kong. Will my hon. Friend see what she can do to improve the situation?

Mrs. White

As I think my hon. Friend knows, there will be an addition of four unofficial members to the urban council on 1st April next, two nominated and two elected. Also, there are proposals for an extension of the franchise which are now being studied by a working party set up by the Governor.

Mr. Paget

Would my hon. Friend agree that in Hong Kong for water and other things we depend on there being a régime which is acceptable to the Chinese Government? While the British Government are acceptable to the Chinese, no form of Honk Kong democracy would be.

Mrs. White

Considerations of that nature have to be kept in mind.