Political Changes in Hong Kong (1945-1966)

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Questions and Answers

What was Grantham's concern regarding the elected members of the Municipal Council during the Chinese Civil War?

They were mostly unqualified individuals.

They would likely support the Young Plan.

They could be potential threats to stability. (correct)

They could bring positive changes to governance.

What did Grantham propose to the British government regarding the Young Plan?

To completely drop it. (correct)

To accelerate its implementation.

To revise the financial terms.

To extend its deadlines.

What was the public's primary concern as indicated in the content?

National security.

Livelihood issues. (correct)

International relations.

Political reform.

When was the Young Plan officially cancelled?

<ol start="1952"> <li></li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Who became the Hong Kong Governor in 1947?

Grantham. Signup and view all the answers

What global trend influenced the political changes in Hong Kong between 1945 and 1966?

A trend towards decolonization Signup and view all the answers

Which political reform was introduced in Hong Kong in 1946?

The Municipal Council Signup and view all the answers

How many members were in the newly established Municipal Council?

30 members Signup and view all the answers

What was a major concern for British merchants regarding the political changes in Hong Kong?

Increase in Chinese political influence Signup and view all the answers

Who suggested the establishment of the Municipal Council in Hong Kong?

Governor Mark Young Signup and view all the answers

What portion of the Municipal Council's members were appointed?

10 out of 30 Signup and view all the answers

Why did the British government and the public not receive the political reforms well?

They feared increased Chinese political influence Signup and view all the answers

What was the intended outcome of the Young Plan's introduction of the Municipal Council?

To create a more inclusive political representation Signup and view all the answers

In what year did the number of Chinese members in the Executive Council increase to 8 unofficial members?

1966 Signup and view all the answers

What was the total number of unofficial members in the Legislative Council in 1966?

13 Signup and view all the answers

How many unofficial members were elected in the Urban Council in 1952?

4 Signup and view all the answers

What voting qualifications were required for the Urban Council in 1965?

Payers on the jury list and those with professional qualifications Signup and view all the answers

Before World War II, how many Chinese members were in the Legislative Council?

4 Signup and view all the answers

In what year did the first elected seats appear in the Executive and Legislative Councils?

1966 Signup and view all the answers

How did the number of Chinese members change in the Urban Council by 1965?

It increased from 2 to 4 Signup and view all the answers

What was the composition of unofficial to official members in the Executive Council in 1966?

8 unofficial to 6 official Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of setting up the UMELCO Office in 1963?

To strengthen relations between unofficial members and the public. Signup and view all the answers

In which year were 72 advisory committees formed within the government structure?

1962 Signup and view all the answers

What was a notable feature of the public's ability to file complaints in the 1960s?

The public rarely filed complaints during this period. Signup and view all the answers

Which committee was established to address narcotics in 1965?

Action Committee Against Narcotics Signup and view all the answers

What significant event led to the migration of mainland Chinese to the South after 1949?

The outbreak of the Civil War in mainland China. Signup and view all the answers

What was the public's method for expressing opinions to the government through the UMELCO Office?

Public complaints and feedback. Signup and view all the answers

What role did advisory committees serve within the government as indicated in the 1960s?

To gather public opinion for policy formulation. Signup and view all the answers

In what year did the Action Committee Against Narcotics emerge?

1965 Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the consequences of the establishment of advisory bodies?

Increased public engagement in politics Signup and view all the answers

By how much did the number of civil servants increase from the pre-WWII period to the early 1960s?

From less than 10,000 to around 50,000 Signup and view all the answers

Which department was established first in 1958 as part of limited reforms?

Social Welfare Department Signup and view all the answers

What was the motivation behind establishing an extensive consultation system?

To gather public opinions for policy formulation Signup and view all the answers

Which committee was formed in 1962 as part of regulatory reforms?

Company Law Revision Committee Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary focus of the Information Services Department established in 1959?

Enhancing government communication Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the reforms carried out after 1958?

Limited reforms without radical changes Signup and view all the answers

What was a key aspect of administering limited reforms in the 1960s?

Developing new government departments Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant impact of the unstable political conditions in mainland China during the 1960s?

Migration of a large number of Chinese to Hong Kong Signup and view all the answers

What was a response from the government to meet the demand for public services in Hong Kong?

Increased housing and social welfare measures Signup and view all the answers

What change occurred in the civil service after WWII in Hong Kong?

Implementation of localization policies Signup and view all the answers

Who was notable for being appointed as an Administrative Officer in 1948?

Tsui Ka-cheung Signup and view all the answers

What was the population of Hong Kong by 1961?

3 million Signup and view all the answers

In which decade did Hong Kong begin actively recruiting locals into senior civil service positions?

1950s Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the main reasons the government had to adapt its policies during the 1960s?

Increase in public service demands Signup and view all the answers

What was the dominant demographic in senior civil service roles in Hong Kong before WWII?

British officials Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Background

A global trend towards decolonization
In June 1945, the UN Charter stated all colonial people should have the right to self-governance
This sentiment swept across the world
Britain was forced to introduce some political and institutional changes

Political Reform Attempts

Young Plan (1946):
- Suggested by Governor Mark Young
- Proposed the establishment of the Municipal Council to replace the Urban Council
- The new council consisted of 30 members (20 elected directly, 10 appointed)
- Half of the seats were Chinese
- Not well-received by the British government and public
- British merchants feared increasing Chinese political influence
- Chinese leaders wanted to retain political privileges
- General public prioritized livelihood over political reform
1947 Grantham:
- Became the HK Governor
- Stalled implementation of the Young Plan
- Believed elected members of the Municipal Council could be dangerous given the HK situation during the Chinese Civil War
- Proposed dropping the Young Plan to the British Government
1952:
- The Young Plan was officially canceled

Enhancing Representativeness of Councils

More Chinese members were appointed to executive, legislative, and urban councils
Example:
- Executive Council: Number of unofficial members (8) exceeded the number of official members (6) in 1966
- Legislative Council: Number of unofficial members (13) equaled the number of official members (13) in 1966, with increased Chinese members from 4 before WWII to 9 in 1966
- Urban Council: Increased elected unofficial members from 2 to 4 in 1952; half of the 16 unofficial members elected in 1965 subject to strict voting qualifications (mainly paying taxes and having professional qualifications)

Establishment of New China

1949, establishment of the PRC
PRC stressed resuming its exercise of Hong Kong's sovereignty
Britain allowed to keep governing Hong Kong short term
Condition of no radical political reforms
This strengthened Britain's legitimacy in governing HK

Migration of Mainland Chinese

1946: Civil War in mainland China causes mass migration to the South
1949 onward: Continued mass movement due to unstable political conditions
This led to an increase in Hong Kong's population (reaching 3 million in 1961)
This increase led to a greater demand for public services, requiring additional housing and welfare measures

Expansion and Specialization of Gov't Departments

Many independent departments separated from the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs
Department examples include:
- Labor Department (1946)
- Social Welfare Department (1958)
- Information Services Department (1959)
- Immigration Department (1961)
- Agriculture and Fisheries Department (1964)
Civil servants increased significantly in number, rising from less than 10,000 pre-WWII to approximately 50,000 in early 1960s

Improving Communication with the Public

Establishment of advisory bodies:
- Devised policies to cater to public interest and satsify local elites
- Extensive consultation established, like the Company Law Revision Committee (1962), Action Committee Against Narcotics (1965), and Transport Advisory Committee (1965)
Setting up the UMELCO (Under the umbrella of the Executive Council) Office:
- Strengthened relations between unofficial members and the general public to gather public opinions.

Localization in the Civil Service

Policy to increase representation of local Chinese in the civil service ranks began after WWII.
Example:
- A.Os in 1948-1960s, gradual increase of recruitment of local Chinese.

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Description

This quiz explores the political landscape of Hong Kong from 1945 to 1966, focusing on key figures and events that shaped governance. It covers concerns raised by Grantham, public reactions, the Young Plan, and the introduction of the Municipal Council. Test your knowledge about the political reforms and their impact during this pivotal period.