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William Robinson) gave the Council his word that such powers would be exercised with a great deal of tact and discretion and that in the case of any abuse of such power he would at once direct a strict enquiry. I wish the Council also to con- sider whether a measure of this kind should be allowed to continue for a very long time. I think it will meet the circumstances of the case if this Ordinance is allow. ed to be in operation for 12 months or a definite period, and at the end of that period it may be renewed from year to year if considered necessary. Of course the New Territory in its present condition requires special legislation, but by and by when it has become enlightened and prosperous like Hongkong. I see no reason why it should not be brought under the same laws as Hongkong. In an old Ordinance passed for the protection of women and children we have a precedent and an example of an enactment which is renewed from year to year, and in this case in committee I shall move that a clause be inserted limiting the operation of the measure to 12 months, at the end of which time it may be renewed if necessary.
The Honourable WEI A YUK:-I have much pleasure in endorsing the obser- vations which have fallen from the Honourable Member.
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR-I think the observations of the Honourable Members who have just spoken are very much to the point and I think it is only right that not alone the Council but that the Chinese people in the New Territory should have some idea why this Bill is introduced by the Government at the present time. The condition of the New Territory is peculiar. The Chinese do not understand our ways, and we desire-I desire most heartily-to interfere with the Chinese and their customs as little as possible, but it is absolutely necessary that land in the New Territory should be registered. Of course, all members of the Council know that, in the interests of the Chinese themselves, it should be registered; but for some reason, probably some suspicion, which I hope will be removed in the course of time, the Chinese have not been for some time as anxious to register their land as they might be, and for a considerable time we have found great difficulty in getting the Chinese to come forward and give any information about their land or about registration. It then became necessary to approach the Chinese through their elders, their leaders, for the purpose of explaining why it was necessary that land should be registered. However, on more than one occasion when these Chinese elders had been invited to come in, they gave no attention whatever to the invitation. Such conduct under Chinese jurisdiction-refusing when invited by a high official to come in and assist him and give him information --would not have been tolerated for an instant. We do not propose to take the stringent measures which would have been taken had the people remained under Chinese jurisdiction, but we do wish to get the power to compel their attendance and to inflict a small fine in case they disobey the summons. As to the observa- tions of the Honourable Gentleman, with reference to the supervision, so to speak, of the exercise of this power, the Honourable Member will see from the second clause that "The Governor may at any time direct the Registrar General to enquire into and report as to any matter which is connected with the New Territories as defined by section 2 of Ordinance No. 12 of 1899, if such matter exclusively con- cerns persons of Chinese race, whether British subjects or otherwise." The Re- gistrar General will only summon Chinese to come before him in certain cases into which he is directed by the Governor to enquire. Therefore, in no case can there be any action whatever without the direction of the Governor, and I think the Honourable Member will accept my assurance that the Ordinance will be carried out with every consideration for the Chinese and with every anxiety on the part of the Government that we shall never be forced to bring the provision of the Or- dinance into operation at all. I think that, when it is known that we have power to compel the attendance of these people who do not up to the present appear anxious to come forward, the Chinese will yield gracefully to the necessity and