$202
Your Excellency's introductory remarks last week made this plain. From them I gathered that the new Bill materially affects the position of the prospective farmer. This impression is confirmed by a perusal of its clauses. It would seem therefore that there was really no such pressing need, after all, for hurrying through the previous measure, and that all the
advertisement has subsequent
been so much waste of time and money. Two months ago I did not feel fully persuaded of the need for expedition. Now it is evident that then there was none. It is equally evident that, by this time, there must be. The unofficial members are therefore forced to agree once more to the adoption of those somewhat hasty methods of law-making, which are nowadays largely employed elsewhere, but which are nevertheless to be deprecated in a deliberative assembly.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
left-long before the Harbour Masters Office was open on Monday.
1
Hon. Mr. HEWETT said this clause was very vexatious, and ought to be left out, as it was quite unnecessary. It could not be said that it had been abused. It was just as well to say that a ship passing through Marseilles from China to London would have to provide a mani- fest of all her cargoes, because on certain of the goods an import duty would be charged in France should they be landed there.
HIS EXCELLENCY explained that the clause was desired to prevent a ship arriving in port with opium for another port from transhipping
here.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT said the fact of handing A in a manifest would not guarantee that. steamer
between Yokohama and Bremen passed about a dozen ports, in all of which duties were charged. It would be just as reasonable to say that the ship should hand in a complete manifest of all cargo on board at each of these ports, and that would be absurd.
His EXCELLENCY--Would you prefer to have that section left out?
Hon. Mr HEWETT-Undoubtedly, Sir. Hon. Mr OSBORNE-Substitute a penalty for landing.
Hon. Mr HEWETT The final words "produc. cover it. That is to say, suppose a ship discharged a part of the cargo which has not been declared.
The clause was altered to read," Any master of a vessel carrying morphia or compounds of opium in transit through the Colony under a through bill of lading, who shall discharge such morphia or compounds of opium in the Colony without declaring the same to the super- intendent, shall be guilty of an offence under this Ordinance.“
On Council resuming,
The COLONIAL SECRETARY said-As it is desirable that this, Bill should be passed as soon as possible, with the Council's permission I will now nr ve the third reading.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Gentlemen, what the hon member at the end of the table has said is to a certain extent correct. That is to say, that when the amendeng ordinance was before the Council we believed that that, would meet all that was required for inviting tenders for the coming farm. But you are aware that there are a series of ordinances dealing with opium, and a series of amending ordinances have from time to time been passed under those ordinances. The resulting a false manifest has been that the law has become somewhat complicated and somewhat chaotic; and that on a close examination of the various ordinances it appeared that there were some clauses which, as I said in my remarks at the last Council meet- ing, were confusing, if not contradictory. I don't think that the Government can be held very seriously to blame for the condition of things, and I don't agree with what the hon. member said about the alterations
and seriously the Bill
very materially affecting the farm. In my view they are unlikely to cause any alteration in the tender. The legislation which we undertook á short time ago had, at any rate, this effect that the amending ordinance which was sent home to the Secretary of State obtained his approval. We therefore settled beyond doubt the question that our policy is in accordance with that policy for which the Secretary of State promised us a substantial consideration if it involved any loss to this Colony. We had hope and thought that legislation in connection with opium would cease for some considerable time when that last amending ordinance was passed, and it is not the case that the present consolidating ordinance has been a long time in incubation, or was conceived or thought of at the time, or for sometime after, the amending ordinance was passed. There was at that time a need for haste in order to call for tenders. Those tenders were called for, and the general condi- tions surrounding the contract for opium in this Colony have no doubt been studied and appreciated by tenderers. Such minor restric- tions which appear in the ordinance now to be discussed will, as already said, be unlikely to affect materially those who intend to tender.
Council then resolved itself into a committee
of the whole Council to consider the Bill clause by clause.
HIS EXCELLENCY explained that, in the absence of the Attorney-General, he proposed to pilot the Fill through committee. The Bill embodied three principal ordinances, the Raw Opium Ordinance of 1887, the Prepared Opium Ordinance of 1891, and the Morphia Ordinance of 1899. Under those three principal ordinances a series of amending ordinances had been incor- porated from time to time. The definition of prepared opium was new, having been taken from the Straits ordinance. The definition of com- pound opium had also been revised to tally with the definition of prepared opium, while the defini- tion of opium dross was new. Morphia in this ordinance referred to morphine in all its forms, while the definition of raw opium was new. The definition of a chest of opium had also been slightly amended, while in the definition of the Colony words were added to show that there was no doubt that the new Territory was in- cluded in this Ordinance.
On cláuse 55,
Hon. Mr. OSBORNE pointed out that it would be impracticable for a shipmaster to declare morphine on board for Shanghai, for instance. Ships arriving on Saturday would have
[September 4, 1909.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was then held, the COLONIAL SECRETARY presiding. The following vote was passed :-
PUBLIC WORKS EXTRAORDINARY.
v te a sum of Three thousand two hundred and seventy-seven Dollars ($3,277) in aid of the vote, Public Works, Extraordinary, Quarantine Station at Lai-chi-kok,-Hospital, Approach Paths, &c.
The Governor recommended the Council to
VICEROY YUAN IN HONGKONG.
On the 1st inst. the Viceroy-elect of the Two Kwang Provinces, His Excellency Yuan Shu-hsun, arrived here on board the steamer Hsin Ming from hanghai, and was met on board the steamerby Captain Mitchell Taylor, aide-de-camp to His Excellency the Governor. Shortly afterwards His Excellency proceeded ashore in the Customs launch and landed at Blake Pier, where a guard of honour supplied by the Rajputs was drawn up to receive him. After inspecting the guard His Excellency and suite proceeded to Government House, the call being returned later by Sir Frederick Lugard. At noon His Excellency entertained the Viceroy noon the Viceroy partook of the hospitality of and members of his suite to tiffin. In the after- the Chinese Club, being entertained to tea.
Chinese There was a large gathering of influential
Mr. LAU CHU PAK, the president, in an the first year of the reign of the Emperor of China address said:On the 17th day of the7th moon in
to take up his office, calls at Hongkong. It is H. E. Yuen, the new Viceroy of Canton, en route out of regard for his worthiness, which we have long heard of, that we, members of the Chinese Club assemble here to welcome him, and not as a matter of form that this is done. the Old Since H.E.'s last mission to. City in connection with matters : concern- The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded.
Canton-Hankow Railway, hardly Hon. Mr. STEWART-Sir, with reference to ing the the remark I made preparatory to the second
five years have elapsed, and yet he has now reading, I should like to say that I did not been promoted from the rank of a Provincial had Judge to that of a Viceroy. Were it not for the intend to convey the impression that gone carefully through this Bill clause by meritorious services rendered by him to his own the Chinese Government, how could such a clause comparing it in every detail with the country and the clear-sightedness on the part of original ordinances. Such a colossal under-
would be impossible for anyone rapid promotion be obtained? Now, among those taking having other work to do. By what I said I who talk of introducing reforms to save China, forms which are urgently needed, international meant to indicate that I had read sufficient no one would dispute the fact that of all re- to realise that the whole of the law on the
relations with Foreign Powers ranks first it must be admitted subject had been recast; and by saying that the Bill materially affects the conditions under on the list, but which the new farm
will be held, I that one must put one's home affairs in is So until the purity of the service meant that anyone contemplating tendering for order before one can tackle things abroad. the farm would have to begin at the very beginning, and to study de novo the conditions secured there need be no thought of reorganiz- of the recast law on the subject. As the wording home affairs. Hence success depends more
material" is liable to misunderstanding, I desire to explain my use of it. It was possibly clumsily used.
L
The Bill was read a third time and passed.
RATING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT, The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the third
reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the Rating Ordinance, 1901.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
T
DOGS AMENDMENT ORDINANCE. : ✔ The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the third reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the Dogs Ordinance, 1893.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
BILLS POSTPONED. The following orders of the day were postponed:-
Second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordin. ance to authorize the Construction and Main- tenance of a Harbour of Refuge upon and over certain portions of the Sea Bed and Foreshore situated upon the Harbour frontage of Taikok tsui, Mongkoktsui, and Yaumati, Kowloon, in this Colony.
Committee on the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Malicious Damage Ordinance,
1865.
Committee on the Bill entitled An Ordinance to relieve the Governor-in-Council of certain ministerial duties.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Council will adjourn until Thursday week.
but a mere name bearing no fruitful results.
88
upon the wisdom of the men to enforce the law and this is an accepted principle from time than upon the usefulness of the law itself, immemorial. It follows, therefore, that unless! proper men are employed in the service, the introduction of reforms in the administration is
of H.E.'s have heard
ability We Governor of Shantung. He made it his first duty there to secure perfect purity in the service, whereby all officers under him learned to respect the law, and the people were delighted with his administration. More- over, he imparted vigour to the whole Province, so that everything is known to be in perfect peace and harmony. Now, upon His Excel- lency's transfer to Canton, we may express the hope that the administration will be throughly organized and henceforth all matters nected with the municipality, army, educa- tion, agriculture, industry, commerce, rail- ways, &c., of the Two Kwangs will have far brighter times. Such is the fervent hope and prayer of all present.
con-
A highway robbery was reported to the police at Wanchai as having occurred on a small foot- path at the top of the Deep Water Bay Road on Thursday morning. Two fishermen called at the station and stated that three men suprised them as they were coming into town, throw pep- per in their eyes, beat them with sticks, relieved them of $12.40 and departed. The police are making inquiries.