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interference from without. I wished to add a few more words on the subject of land. It has been reported to me that as soon as the Convention between the Emperor of China and the Queen of Great Britain was signed certain people were induced to sell their lands at a low value by being told that the British Govern- ment would take possession of the land without payment when they came into the territory. I take this opportunity of telling you, the elders and gentry of all the villages, that if any man has been induced to sell his land by these false misrepre- sentations and he is not satisfied, he can give notice to the Land Officer, who will not register the title until the real question at issue has been looked into and decided. I have mentioned all this before by proclamation, but I wish to empha- size it more strongly now that I see the gentry and elders before me, as I am determined that if any man has been improperly induced to give his land away under its value I won't accept the sale as valid.
(Enclosure No. 2 in Colonial Secretary's Memorandum of the 15th January, 1900.)
The ACTING A TTORNEY-GENERAL :-I beg to move the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to provide for the summoning of Chinese before the Re- gistrar General. This Bill is for the summoning of Chinese before the Registrar General to give information regarding any matter in which the Registrar General is directed by the Governor to enquire. The reason for this Bill is that it is necessary that the Registrar General should have power to summon before him any Chinese whom he desires to question upon any matter of importance connected with the New Territories and affecting the Chinese. At present there is no power for the Registrar General to compel the appearance before him of Chinese, and it is very desirable that he should have such power. I may mention, Sir, that this Bill is framed upon similar lines to certain laws which are in operation in the Malay States. I understand from the Registrar General that it is necessary that he should have this power to summon Chinese before him, and that it would very much facilitate the government of the New Territories if such a measure as this is passed.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
The Honourable Dr. Ho KAI-I do not intend to offer a strong opposition to the second reading of the Bill, but at the same time, Sir, I would wish to remind the Council that a Bill of this nature confers a very great power upon an official of the Government-a power which, in some respects, is not possessed even by His Ex- cellency the Governor or by the Chief Justice. As the Bill we have before us contains certain provisions expressly affecting the Chinese, and the Chinese alone, whether a British subject or otherwise-aud this makes the Bill very much more objectionable--it may be considered as class legislation, and as a general rule the Legislature regard such legislation with a great deal of disfavour and suspicion. In the present instance, I must say that in dealing with the affairs of the New Territory it may be necessary for the Registrar General to possess such power in order effectively to carry out his functions, and for that reason I and my Honour- able colleague who represents with me the Chinese have thought it wise not to offer any strong opposition. Of course, we are quite prepared to sacrifice a certain a mount of our liberty with the object of helping the Government to carry out their policy for the good of the Chinese inhabitants of the New Territory; but at the same time I would ask Your Excellency to give instructions, if this Ordinance be passed, that tact and discretion should be exercised. Otherwise the Chinese will suffer a great deal, and in the case of an abuse of power I hope Your Excellency will give instructions that speedy redress shall be given. On a former occasion, when a law was passed for the inspection of houses, the Governor at the time (Sır