C. OT 12:75
7 APR 04)
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.
Hongkong,
28th February, 1904.
Report on Ordinance No. 1 of 1904.
I have examined the accompanying Ordinance, entitled
An Ordinance to provide for the Recovery of Charges incurred on account of imbecile persons introduced into the Colony,
and I am of opinion that the Ordinance is one which is not contrary to the Governor's Instructions.
This Ordinance has been necessitated by the Colony having from time to time been put to expense on account of imbecile persons brought here and left without being able to pay for their maintenance in the hospitals or charitable institutions to which they may have been removed. This charge upon the Colony is one it should not be called to meet and it is considered that those who bring such persons here ought to bear the cost of their maintenance or at least some portion thereof. The Ordinance accordingly provides for the recovery of such expense up to $5,000.
Legislation on similar lines has been adopted in several other British Colonies.
Almy & Bokela,
Attorney General