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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND meet any loss on opium. The hon. Attorney- General in referring to the provisions of the Bill fortunately did so with great detail. It was doubly fortunate, not only because it threw an illuminating light on the Bill before us, but because it gave me an opportunity of comparing very hurriedly, I admit-the Fill before us dated 16/9/09 with the Bill dated 10/9/9. I would draw Your Excellency's atttention to the Bill dated 6/9/09. A Council meeting was held at 2.30 p.m. on the 10th inst., but that Bill did not reach members until late on the afternoon of the 9th, so that we had no opportunity to read it through until the morning before the Council meeting. I need hardly say that each unofficial member should have had an opportunity of con- sidering with his colleagues such a far-reaching drastic measure of an entirely new form of legislation in the Colony. I find that when the discussion took place--or rather a few remarks were made-at the meeting of 10th September, not only I but other hon. members of the Council were speaking on the provisions of the Bill dated 6th inst., which they received the night before, and which they supposed was the It was not until latest edition of the Bill. Sunday that I found there was a new copy of the Bill dated the 10th inst.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I told you that in seconding the motion.
;
[September 18, 1909.
E
enmity against the measure, which, with
fraught with possibilities of danger. No one these two clauses
can fail to feel the grave responsibility left out, would be almost unanimously supported by the com-
sharing in it. The occasion take you by the munity in general. My third reason for think.
throat and puts you into a corner and demands ing that these clauses are not necessary
that you should speak out, if it should seem that is that the power of searching private houses is
any aspect of the question needs emphasising. already possessed by the Opium Farmer, and
One aspect does, in my opinion. Through all that power of search could be made use of to
the discussions which have led up to this mo! assist the Government in detecting liquor which
ment I have been haunted by the fear of an had been smuggled. The ideal picture of a
impression getting abroad that the Colony has Chinaman with two bottles of whisky or brandy
fallen away from its old faith in the freedom of up his sleeve is all very well for a comic paper,
the port. Your Excellency has tried to dissi- bat in practice it is not reasonable. First of
pate this impression, but in spite of all that has all, a Chinaman with two bottles up his sleeve
been said, in spite of the very satisfactory as would not earn 40 or 50 cents a bottle, as
surances which you have given, doubt will, I fear, still tend to linger. Only the other he would only get a half or a quarter of the value of the spirit, for he must smuggle to sell
day an old resident who used to occupy a seat at this table wrote to the papers saying considerably cheaper than the duty-paid article
are going. can be sold. The Chinaman knows better. If
that madness lies the way we possible he might smuggle two bottles of opium
There are many old residents here, and many and make 840 or $50 out of it: Therefore, ir,
more at home having interests here, who will the power if given is of no use. It would only
view with apprehension the proposals contained create alarm, and make people believe that they
in this Bill. The imposition of an import duty would be subjected to further search; first a
in any shape or form may seem to them to in- search for opium, and then another by excisemen
dicate on ominous weakening of the ideal which has hitherto been the Colony's guiding star. for spirits. I do not think that it is necessary to have these powers at the present moment.
Anyone familiar with Hongkong's history, but knowing little of the inside workings which If liquor is brought from Home, ships will be held responsible if it is not on a bill of lading,
have resulted in the present measure, may quite conceivably imagine that an extraordinary and the master of a vessel,, or the company or owner, would be liable of they did not Hon. Mr. HEWETT-If you did, you did it thing has happened. He will have it in mind return a correct manifest. Again, it was sugges-hurriedly and were not understood. Here again that bitherto proposals to impede by taxation ted that spirits or wine might he smuggled from we come here after careful consideration for the unfettered, freedom of trade have usually Canton or Macao. That also is impracticable, the best part of the week of the Bill dated 9th emanated from the Government and have stead- because both in Canton and Macao liquor import- September before us, and I find that a new fastly been opposed by the mercantile com- ed has to pay duty, and it is inconceivable that a Bill is on the table. Thanks to the detailed munity. He will note that the present proposals man would ship liquor to either of these ports, manner in which the hon. Attorney-General seemed to come from the community, and he was able to look may conclude that the attitude of the com- and then re-ship it to Hongkong. For these proposed the motion I
some radical munity's representatives towards an old and reasons, Sir, I certainly think that it is advis- through it sud I find that able, without at all events further consideration, changes have been made. I think it vital question has undergone a remarkable to allow these two clauses to stand over. Weis necessary to emphasise this point, not because change. That is not the case. True, responsi- have already a preventive service here for we complain that we were badly treated, but bility for the proposed step rests upon the the detection of opium, and by offering because I wish Your Excellency to understand unofficial members. I do not seek to shirk any sufficient inducement to these excisemen, they that if called upon to speak and vote upon a Bill responsibility inherent in our proposals. I am would be willing to give information when dated 16th September we are doing so hurriedly only anxious to make clear the nature of that ever in their search for opium, they detected, and without having an opportunity of studying responsibility and to disclaim any for proposals liquor. All that would be necessary would be its provisions. I would point out to Your of the Government which go further than the recommendations in which I concurred. I am to give them power to arrest smugglers of Excellency that it is quite possible that we liquor and to take them to the Central Police appear to support certain provisions, and when in loath to tread over ground so familiar to most Station, where, unless they could give a good ex- Committee they do not meet with our approval of us, and so extensively wandered over this planation of how they came in possession of the it will be said that we changed our ideas. In afternoon, but for my purpose I must sketch the which these recom- liquor, they could be charged under the provi- view of the far-reaching importance of this circumstances under
They may be brief- sions of this Ordinance, and the goods smuggled Bill and the changes made in such a very short mendations were made.
The Government, having could be confiscated. By these means the time-three copies inside a week I think it isly stated thus:
from opposition of a great majority of people, espe- very necessary to emphasise this point. I notice decided to raise revenue somehow cially of the Chinese community, towards these that among other clauses there is one dealing the sale of intoxicating liquors, brings for- ward a scheme-admittedly a faulty one. clauses would be removed, and the object of the with bottling and blending which has been en- Ordinance would not suffer to any appreciable tirely cut out of this last Bill, and there are one or Discontent with it is widely expressed. The extent. When we go into Committee on the two changes, somewhat drastic, which will be unofficial members meet to see if they can Bill I will move that these clauses should be dealt with in Committee. With regard to the arrive at some solution of the difficulty. We deleted.
changes in this Bill, the senior unofficial member did not meet to discuss other sources of revenue. was speaking on the draft dated 10th September, It is not our business to prepare the Estimates. of the This does not seem to be fully understood, and was apparently quite unaware
We did, however, as it turned out, discuss other fact that there was a new Bill, or if he was aware he was unaware of the changes possible sources. None seemed so suitable indicated. After much con- made. There is only point to which I would as the source
decided to recommend like to refer, and that is, I don't think sideration we inquiries made, if the Bill is de- import duty. on
We passed resolutions indi
the layed, that, your Excellency need be at all cacing plainly that we did not intend. afraid so far as European liquors are concerned through trade to be touched in any way-the that any large quantity will be imported for the Colony was only to pay on liquor actually con- purpose of evading duties. I don't think much sumed in it-and we united in the hope and
This is an ep-
belief that the Government would receive and harm would be done by delay. tirely new departure, and we have no knowledge favourably consider certain suggestions as to the method of collection which would not at all as to the provisions under which the King's warehouse is be worked. We have change the character of the port. A method no knowledge of duty under bond and we of collection, believed to be at once efficacious as regards ocean also don't know the conditions and regula and almost frictionless, tions under which bottling and blending-a very steamers, was suggested and thrashed out at important industry in this Colony-are to be the private meeting at Government House to carried out. Therefore, Sir, I think it is most which reference has been made. The risks of desirable that all those regulations should be petty smuggling by passengers coming from placed before Council to give us an opportunity great distances were held to be so small as to be negligible. It was pointed out that unless of discussing them.
cases of wine are very carefully packed, break- *. age is likely to occur, and that, therefore, if in any quantity, such cargo is certain to be declared. Anything less than a case was voted to be not worth bothering about, certainly not worth while changing the character of the port for. The assumption was that, as regards ocean should not be dealt with by the Governor-in- steamers, the collection of the duty could be Council, but should be dealt with by the Legis- worked entirely through the Harbour Office. It was seen and agreed to in all these discus- ative Council before they become operative.
Hon. Mr. MURRAY STEWART said-Thissions that the case was different as regards day's work in this Council will, in any event, be steamers arriving from Macao, Canton and the It seemed to me that special noteworthy in the annals of the Colony. The Coast Ports.
powers to deal with passengers by these decision which we are to-day driven to take is
Hon. Mr. WEI YUK-- Sir, I concur with the remarks of my hon. friend, the Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, and I have much pleasure in supporting him.
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Hon. Mr. HEWETT-Your Excellency,-As this Bill will be discussed very fully in Committee I will reserve the remarks I intended to make until we arrive at that stage, but I will now pass one or two remarks on the general purport of the Bill which I think I ought to make. The remarks made by Your Excellency were welcomed by this Council, and I am sure will be appreciat- ed by the community at large. When the ques- tion of increasing the licence fees was raised we understood that you required a quarter of a million, but we understand now that after the end of this year you will require a million, therefore, it is better not to make two bites at a cherry, but to go straight to your object at once. Both from your remarks, and the remarks made by the hon. Attorney-General, it is very interesting to note that it is anticipated at least half of the revenue ex- pected to be derived from this source will be required to make up the deficiency caused
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-I don't see how we can by the opium policy which has been forced upon us, against our will, by the Imperial Govern- pass a Bill and then deal with the legislation in ment. That, of course, is a valuable point. I it. An entirely new departure like this, with regretted to note Your Excellency mentioned regulations of such a far-reaching nature, deal- incidentally that possibly the Imperial Governing with a very important trade of the Colony, ment would only give us half the loss. I trust they will be more honest and give us all we are entitled to claim for acting in accordance with their policy. I mention this point, because in proposing the resolution to increase the licence fees the Colonial Secretary stated that the increased revenue was not required to
that
The ATTORNEY GENEBAL-Wait till the Bill is passed.