HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 13 27TH APRIL, 1916.
PRESENT:―
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIR FRANCIS HENRY MAY, K.C.M.G.
HIS EXCELLENCY MAJOR-GENERAL F. VENTRIS (General Officer Commanding the Troops).
HON. MR. CLAUD SEVERN (Colonial Secretary).
HON. MR. J. H. KEMP (Attorney-General).
HON. MR. E. R. HALLIFAX (Secretary for Chinese Affairs).
HON. MR. W. CHATHAM, C.M.G. (Director of Public Works).
HON. MR. C. MCI. MESSER (Captain Superintendent of Police).
HON. MR. WEI YUK, C.M.G.
HON. MR. D. LANDALE.
HON. MR. LAU CHU PAK.
HON. MR. P. H. HOLYOAK.
MR. A. G. M. FLETCHER (Clerk of Councils). Minutes
The minutes of the last meeting were confirmed. Finance
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid on the table report of the proceedings of the Finance Committee, No. 2, and moved that it be adopted.
HON. MR. WEI YUK seconded, and this was agreed to.
Punishment of Incest
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill intituled, "An Ordinance to provide for the punishment of Incest." In doing so he said:―The object of this Bill is to introduce here the provisions of the United Kingdom Punishment of Incest Act, 1908, and the Bill follows almost verbally
the provisions of that Act with, of course, the necessary changes with reference to local Courts and local procedure. The only difference in substance is the fact that the age referred to in Clause 2 is 12 years instead of the 13 years in the English Act. The reason for that is that the age in our Protection of Women and Girls Ordinance, 1897, is one year lower than the English age. I beg to move the second reading.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.
The Bill passed through Committee without amendment, and, on Council resuming,
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved that it be read a third time.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
Trading with the Enemy
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill intituled, "An Ordinance to provide for the Extension of the Restrictions relating to Trading with the Enemy to Persons to whom, though not resident or carrying on business in Enemy Territory, it is by reason of their Enemy Nationality or Enemy Associations expedient to extend such Restrictions." In doing so he said: ―The object of this Bill is to apply in Hongkong the provisions of the recent Trading with the Enemy (Extension of Powers) Act, which was passed last year in the United Kingdom. Under the present law the provisions relating to trading with the enemy apply only to two classes of persons―persons of any nationality whatever, in enemy territory and persons of enemy nationality in China, Siam, Persia, Morocco, Liberia, and British East Africa. The effect of the present Bill will be to give power
14 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
to prohibit trading with persons of enemy nationality or enemy associations in neutral countries, and the intention is to prohibit trading with firms or persons of enemy nationality or enemy associations, and any firms or persons included in a Proclamation made under this Ordinance will be in exactly the same position as regards the offence of trading with the enemy as persons in Germany or Austria. I beg to move the second reading.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.
The Bill passed through Committee without amendment, and, on Council resuming,
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved that it be read a third time.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
Registration
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill intituled, "An Ordinance to provide for the registration of certain persons." In doing so he said:―The object of this Bill, Sir, is to enable the Police to keep a record of non-Chinese adults resident in the Colony. As the Government already has sufficient information with regard to certain classes of non-Chinese adults, such as members of the Army, Navy, and Volunteer Forces, these persons are excluded from the operation of the Bill. I beg to move the second reading.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
HIS EXCELLENCY―It is not proposed to proceed with the Committee stage to-day.
Facilitating Marriages
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill intituled, "An Ordinance to facilitate marriages between British subjects resident in the Colony and British subjects resident in the United Kingdom." In doing so he said:―This is a Bill introduced in accordance with instructions to carry out the procedure introduced in the United Kingdom by the Marriage of British subjects (Facilities) Act, 1915, which contemplates correlative legislation in the Colonies. The intention of the Bill and the Act is to provide that where one of the parties to the extended marriage lives in the Colony and the other party in the United Kingdom, notice given in the Colony, or in the United Kingdom, as the case may be, shall be valid notice for the purpose of issue of a certificate for the celebration of the marriage, so that delay will not occur on the arrival in the Colony, or the United Kingdom, as the case may be, of the intending party to the marriage. It is true that in the Colony of Hongkong provision is already made otherwise for avoiding such delay, but the United Kingdom Act requires that provision be made in this particular way, as otherwise His Majesty's Government will not be able to give corresponding privileges to persons travelling from Hongkong to the United Kingdom. The Act will apply to Hongkong only upon Hongkong passing legislation in this form. I beg to move the second reading.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.
The Bill passed through Committee without amendment, and, on Council resuming,
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
HIS EXCELLENCY―Council stands adjourned sine die.