HC Deb 23 November 1955 vol 546 cc125-6W
90. Brigadier Clarke

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will arrange for the documents giving particulars of the proposed constitutional changes in Sarawak to be placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

A copy of the Resolution passed by the Council Negri has been placed in the Library of the House. A copy of the official record of the proceedings of the Council covering the debate on the Resolution will also be placed in the Library as soon as it is available.

91. Brigadier Clarke

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why, among the proposals for the revision of the Constitution of Sarawak, which provide for an increase in the number of the members of the Council Negri, there is included a proposal to decrease the ultimate legislative powers of the Council given to it by the former Rajah and confirmed by the Crown at the time of the cession of the territory.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I assume that my hon. and gallant Friend refers to the proposed introduction of provision for the disallowance of legislation and Governors' reserved legislative powers. Those provisions, though rarely invoked in practice, are an essential safeguard in any colonial constitutions which are amended to provide, as the proposed new constitution of Sarawak will provide, for an elected majority. This was recognised by the unofficial member who moved the Resolution in the Council Negri praying for the grant of a new constitution.

93. Brigadier Clarke

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why particulars of the proposals for the revision of the Constitution of Sarawak, unanimously approved by the Council Negri, were not published in the Sarawak Gazette, in order that the people of Sarawak might be informed of progress.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The text of the Resolution of the Council Negri containing the proposals for the new constitution, with the minutes of the discussion in the Council, was published in the Sarawak Government Gazette of 7th October. Full reports have also been published in local English, Chinese and Dyak newspapers, and a full explanation of the proposals and their implications was broadcast by the Attorney-General over Radio Sarawak and subsequently repeated in Chinese, Malay and Dyak translations.