as
able members, we have exempted from operation in the new territory certain licenses from which revenue is derived in this colony. It has there fore become necessary to pass this measure en- abling the Governor-in-Council to raise revenue in the new territory in such manner may seem to be in accordance with the exist ing methods of raising revenue in that territory. As honourable members will see, not intended to be a permanent It is simply intended as a tem- provision to enable revenue to be by the Governor-in-Council. Honourable members will see that clause six provdes: “This Ordinance shall remain in force for a period of one year from the date its coming Into operation and for such further period or periods as may from time to time be determined by resolution of the Legislative Council." Therefore in this case the Ordinance will only remain in force one year. With these remarks I beg to move the second reading.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and the motion was carried,
The Court then went into committes to con. sider the Bill clause by clause.
With regard to clause 3, which gives power to the Governor-in-Council to make rules for revenne, including the farming out of the right to sell spirits, opium, salt, or any other com- modity whatever,
-The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD said-I have been and I am opposed to the system of farming out the collection of revenue. It
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
and that the duration of this Bill is only for extend the Bill for two years because the opium one year, but I would not ask the Council to farm has two years to run. over that difficulty as best we can.
We must get
The DIRECTOR of PUBLIC WORKS-Rice and sugarcane are the principal crops grown in the new territory. In what way will taxes, be collected on these f
HIS EXCELLENCY-I have not the least idea, but I think they will be collected without farming.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-This clause does not appear to be meant to cover the collection of taves on rice or sugarcane. I mean that the principal sources of revenue would be from the growth of rice, sugarcane, and so on, but this clause does not seem to salt. cover that. It mentions spirits, opium, and
His EXCELLENCY-I think you will find that principal sources of revenue are a tax on kero Mr. Stewart Lockhart in his report says the sine oil, the land tax, and a salt tax.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC Wonks-The land tax would cover it.
serves me there is nothing to throw any tax His EXCELLENCY-As far as my memory on rice or sugarcane, and if not, it is not my intention to impose any such tax.
-Bat
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS—) this clause puts no tax on land.
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[April 22, 1899.
boat at Hungbom. At about two o'clock on the beach at Hunhom, and she herself, her husband, morning of the 9th March ber boat was on the
an old woman, a daughter, and two children were asleep in the boat, when they were suddenly awakened by hearing the sound of voices. Then they noticed some men were on board-three or four-and they asked the occupants whether they had any money. They said to Fung Chung, " Don't make a noise or we will stab you to 'death.". They also said; "Where are your ear-rings?" Being afraid, the men. she took out her ear-rines and handed them to At the same time one of the men hit her on the shoulder with the flat of a knife. She then jumped on to the benol and called ont hand over her mouth and kept it there apparently Save life." Then one of the ruffians put his for some little time, and when the robber oleared out she went towards Hunghom, and meeting two Europeau constables brought them back to of them had knive2. the boat. Four men came into the boat and three Prisoner was arrested on the 23rd March and identified, the others being still at large.
The evidence given at the Magistracy. was repeated,
deferred, sentence being deferred in the other Prisoner was found guilty, bit sentence was
case also.
THE ROBBERIES WITH ARMS. Kwok Chu and Lo Sing came np for sen- tence.
yesterday to robbery with violence un ler soc- His Lordsbip-You both pleaded guilty tion 31 of Ordinance 7 of 1565. Have you passed upon you? anything to say why sentence should not be
Prisoners said they had nothing more to say.. poverty. They committed the robbery on account of
His EXCELLENCY-Well, that is covered by the second sub-section. The first sub-section discredited and a discreditable system has only reference to licences to deal in certain and opposed to the established laws of England. articles. The second sub section has reference Although this Ordinance is only proposed as a to rates, taxes, and contributious. temporary expedient, I think would be desir-words, the rates and taxes that we find in exist- In other able to leave out the word farming. I think it ence-we don't know what they are-will be should be possible to raise revenue from the continued. new territory by more reputable meads than the The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he system of farming, and, if it can be done, I sug-thought the insertion of the word “rents' gest the word "farming" be left out of the the second sub-section would meet the point knives and accompanied by a third robber who His Lordship-Both of you, armed with clause.
raised by the Director of Public Works, and he therefore moved that the sub-section be cattle dealer who had upon him a purse with seems to have got away; set upou a peaceable amended to read:-" To make rules for the $9 or $10 in it, which he had collected that levying, collection, recovery by legal proceed-morning from another cattle dealer at Yaumati. You set upon him as he was passing along the road, threatened his life, tied his legs to- gether, and gaged him and stole his purse and money and a bundle of clothing he was carry. The other clauses were adopted withouting. Luckily he got free from the gag and amendment, and the standing orders having been his aries attracted the attention of In Po, a suspended in consequence of the above amend. Chinese police sergeant, and another Chinese ment made in Committee the Bill was read a constable, who immediately gave chase and third time and passed.
caught you both with the stolen property in your possession. You must both of you be die.
His EXCELLENCY adjourned the Council sine taught you cannot rob peaceable citizens in this
**
The COLONIAL TREASUREE seconded. Carried.
1
ADJOURNMENT.
SU REME COURT.
His EXCELLENCY-I quite agree with the hon. member as to the general principle, but as far as this Ordinance is concerned, hon. mem- beru will see it is only a tentative Ordinance,ings, and safe custody of such rants, rates, because we really know nothing about the con.taxes, and contributions,” etc. ditions of this new territory, and it is very important to my mind that we should for at least twelve months make as little change as possible in the manner in which the people have been paying their taxes up to the present. In twelve months we shall have had time to look about us and see in what manner the revenue can be raised most conveniently to the people and mest in accordance with our system. But for the presert we know nothing certain. For instance, I understand they make a certain smount of salt over there, and it is just possible we might find a difficulty in manag ing that ourselves. If there is a farm we might have to continue it for a time, but it is not the intention of the Government, as far as I can gather, to establish any system of farms if we can possibly avoid it. The only reason the word "farming" is used in the Ordinance is that we might possibly find at the present mo- ment some system of farming that might very well be allowed to go on for twelve months. I don't think it is the intention of the Government at all to deliberately adopt a system of farming it can possibly be avoided. I myself have a very strong objection to it. (Here the Acting Attorney-General spoke to His Excellency)— The Attorney-General has just been pointing out to me that there are certain difficulties. Possibly the opium farm might for the present be extended to the new territory. He was anxious to know if that was what the hon. ember (Mr. Whitehead) alluded to when he mentioned this system of farming. I think it as well to tell the hon. member.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I referred to all the items mentioned in the clause.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Yes; 1 took it that what the hon. member meant was that the farming system generally was what he disliked.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD—Yes. HIS EXCELLENCY-I was not for a considering the opium farm myself,
19th April,
CRIMINAL SESSIONS.
BEFORE THE HON, W. M. GOODMAN (Acting CHIEF JUSTICE).
ROBBERY WITH VIOLENOK. robbery with violence, being armed. On the Kwok Chu and To Sing were charged with charge being read over to them,
Kwok Chu pleaded guilty. He added that he whatever to eat and was compelled to rob. was in a state of poverty; he had nothing
that he was poor and was trying to raise To Sing also pleaded guilty. He added
some
his country, and as he could not get any he was money in order to get back to obliged to rob.
His Lordship said they could stand down later on. for the time being and he would sentence them He had read the depositions, and it was clear that the men had no deiзnce what. ever.
Y
think the probability is that for counts. He peaded not guilty. ́
of the present Bill that would be extended to u
new territory. The Attorney-Gener al has just pointed out to me the difficulty the opium farm has two years to run
colony with impunity. Owing to the prevalence of erimes of violence in this colouy, an Ordin- ance, No. 12 of 1865, was passed which reoited that the punishment awarded by our laws was insufficient to deter from crimes of violence and that Ordinance provided for the addition of whipping in cases of conviction under sect. 31 of Ordinance 7 of 1865, the section under which you were convicted. The sentence paased upon you is this you both be imprisoned for five years with hard labour, and that you receive 20 strokes on the back with the birch within a week of the date of your sentence. I may add that I think the Chinese sergeant and constable are to be commended for the promptitude and success in the pursuit of you.
i
Ng Fu also came up for sentence. His Lordship-Have you anything to say why sentence should not passed upon you. said yesterday.
Prisoner-I have nothing to add to what I
+
having taken part in a ornel robbery, with vio. His Lordship-You have been convicted of-
lence on a boat-woman named Lam Pui. She had recently sold a boat and obtained some $99 for it. On the night of the 5th and early morning of the 9th March her boat was left dry on the beach at Hunghon, the tide having receded, and during the darkness you and three other robbers (three of you armed with knives) awoke the defenceless woman and an old
!
ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE AT HUNGHOM
Ng Fu was charged with robbery with viol-blind man and some children asleep on board, ence; he was also charged with larceny on two | threatened their lives, struck the woman with the flat of a knife, and, though the 399 was not on board, you stole the few dollars they had convicted under the same section, No. 31 of and a number of other articles. You have been
Ordinance 7 of 1865, as the two prisoners I have just sentenced, and I sentence you on the first count to 5 years' imprisonment with hard labour
The following comprised the jury-Messrs. Crae, D. A. Cordeiro, P. J. W. Sudhaus, Hugh Berkley, Alfred Hollings, Donald Mo- F. M. Guttierez, and Ho Yuet Cho.
Mr. Pollock (Acting Attorney General) said Fang Chung was a boatwoman and kept her
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