them to the consideration of the Governor, in order that, if he approved of the same, they might be introduced as Government measures or be submitted to the Secretary of State for his approval.
On these two Bills I beg to report as follows: —
The first mentioned Bill would confer on the Legislative Council of Hong Kong and any Committee thereof the same powers as the House of Commons now possesses, for enforcing the attendance of witnesses or for punishing persons guilty of contempt. If it be decided to adopt this measure, the further question would arise whether the present wording of the 20th Section should be preserved, viz:
"shall have all such and like powers, rights and privileges as are now possessed or exerciseable by the House of Commons" — whether, in order to avoid using these words, the Bill should not specifically state and describe at full length the actual powers to be conferred and the means of exercising them.
With regard to the Second Bill, viz: The Commissioners Powers Bill, "I do not know of any general Act in England corresponding thereto." An Act was passed in 1867 to authorize the Commissioners on Trades Unions to examine witnesses on oath, to compel their attendance, and to punish persons guilty of contempt. I think the necessity and advisability of introducing such a measure here cannot be doubted.
A Committee appointed by the Governor two years ago was unable to arrive at any satisfactory result through not being able to obtain certain evidence, and, surrounded as we are by secret Societies, the necessity of possessing such power might, at any moment, be felt, if it was desired to inquire into their control.