No. 4 X.
C.O.
77
24851
Extract from the Hansard Report of the 10th August, 1903.
Rec 14 JUL 04!
Charge for Imbeciles.
The Attorney-General moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to provide for the Recovery of Costs and Charges incurred by the Colony by and on behalf of imbecile persons introduced into the Colony. He said The reason for introducing this measure is that the Colony has from time to time been put to expense by having thrown on its charge imbecile persons brought here and left here without being able to pay for their upkeep in the hospitals and other charitable institutions to which they have been removed. It is considered to be a charge which the Colony as a whole should not be called upon to bear, and that those who bring such persons here without taking care that they do not become a charge upon this Colony ought to bear the cost. Similar legislation has been adopted in other Colonies - Australia and New Zealand, and although it is new to Hongkong, I do not think we can be doing wrong in following the example of the Colonies I have named. I move that the Bill be read a second time.
The Colonial Secretary seconded, and the second reading was agreed to.
The Council then went into committee on the Bill, which was eventually referred to the Law Committee.