asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the present position with regard to the proposed constitutional changes in Hong Kong.

I informed the House on 5th March of my general agreement with the recommendations of the late Governor, Sir Mark Young, for the establishment of a Municipal Council and a modification in the constitution of the Legislative Council. Earlier this month I sent to the Acting Governor of Hong Kong a despatch containing my detailed comments on those recommendations, and authorised him to proceed at once with all preparations necessary to put them into effect. I have arranged for copies of the despatches in question to be placed in the Library of the House.