6. ON 16 SEPTEMBER 1946 THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL APPROVED THE INTRODUCTION INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE BRITISH CINEMATOGRAPH FILMS BILL 1946. THE BILL CONFORMED TO THE MALAYAN PROCLAMATION ALMOST PRECISELY EXCEPT IN ONE ASPECT WHICH WAS TO
PROVE VITAL. THIS WAS THE OMISSION OF THE WORDS AS BRITISH FILMS''
IN THE DEFINITION SECTION OF THE BILL (SEE PARA. 11 BELOW).
7. ON 11 OCTOBER 1946 THE BRITISH CINEMATOGRAPH FILMS BILL PASSED
ITS THIRD READING.
8. ON 12 OCTOBER 1946 A DESPATCH, DATED 24 SEPTEMBER, FROM THE S FOR
S WAS RECEIVED, ACKNOWLEDGING RECEIPT OF THE GOVERNORS SAVINGRAM OF 24 JUNE 1946 AND ENCLOSING COPIES OF CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE
BOARD OF TRADE AND THE AMERICAN EMBASSY IN LONDON. THE S FOR S
REQUESTED THAT THE DRAFT OF ANY PROPOSED LEGISLATION SHOULD BE
SUBMITTED TO HIM FOR CONSIDERATION IN LIGHT OF SUCH FURTHER
OBSERVATIONS AS THE AMERICAN EMBASSY MAY MAKE EITHER TO THIS OFFICE
OR TO THE BOARD OF TRADE'. THE CAUSE FOR THIS HESISTANCY COMPARED
WITH THE POSITIVE SUPPORT EXPRESSE IN THE SAVINGRAM OF 16 JULY IS
SELF-EVIDENT.
9. ON 14 OCTOBER 1946 THE GOVERNOR ACKNOWLEDGED BY TELEGRAM RECEIPT
OF S FOR S'S DESPATCH OF 24 SEPTEMBER AND ADVISE HIM OF THE PASSAGE
OF THE BILL THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND ASKED FOR A
TELEGRAPHIC REPLY AS TO WHETHER HIS ASSENT SHOULD BE GIVEN. A COPY
OF THE ORDINANCE' WAS AIRMAILED TO S FOR S.
10. ON 22 OCTOBER 1946 A TELEGRAM FROM S FOR S REQUESTED THE
GOVERNOR TO WITHOLD ASSENT UNTIL A COPY OF THE BILL HAD BEEN
EXAMINED. THIS REQUEST WAS REPEATED IN A TELEGRAM RECEIVED ON 18
JANUARY 1947 WHICH ADVISED THAT DETAILED COMMENTS ON THE BILL WERE
FOLLOWING BY DESPATCH.
11. ON 3 MARCH 1947 THE S FOR S'S DESPATCH, DATED 8 FEBRUARY, WAS
RECEIVED. IT POINTED OUT THAT THE INTENTION OF THE BILL TO
PROVIDE FOR THE SHOWING OF A QUOTA OF BRITISH FILMS HAD BEEN
DEFEATED BY THE DEFICIENT DEFINITION IN THE BILL OF BRITISH FILMS'.
THE BILL IN CLAUSE 2 STATED
BRITISH FILMS' MEANS ALL
t
CINEMATOGRAPH FILMS REGISTERED IN GREAT BRITAIN AFTER 1940
UNDER THE CINEMATOGRAPH FILMS ACT, 1938. S FOR S POINTED OUT
THAT THIS DEFINITION WOULD IN EFFECT ALLOW THE INCLUSION OF
FOREIGN FILNS REGISTERED UNDER THE ACT. HE ADVISED THAT THE
DEFINITION OF BRITISH FILMS' WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE QUALIFIED BY
THE WORDS 'AS BRITISH FILMS' (1.E. INSERTED AFTER 'GREAT BRITAIN
IN THE ORIGINAL DEFINITION). THE DEFINITION OF BRITISH FILMS' IN THE
MALAYAN PROCLAMATION WAS IDENTICAL EXCEPT THAT IT INCLUDED THE S FOR S'S RECOMMENDED INSERTION. HE ALSO SUGGESTED FOUR TEXTUAL
AMENDMENTS OF NO SUBSTANCE.
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12. S FOR S SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNOR REFUSE HIS ASSENT TO THE
BILL AND THAT A 'FRESH, CORRECTED BILL BE INTRODUCED TO WHICH HE
Confidential
I COULD