369
purchase of this property as a residence for the Chief
Justice for which no funds unfortunately exist. I think,
however, from the foregoing remarks that Your Lordship will
gather, that it was not merely a question of seclusion,
but a matter based upon the peculiar ideas of the Chinese
would
which have led them to view the acquisition of this house
as damaging to the position and prestige of the Head of
the Government even with no question of seclusion involved,
and secondly that the Council and I myself considering
that exemption should only be granted if some exceptional
circumstances were shown why the motive and object of the
Ordinance should not apply in a particular case, and view**
-ing the circumstances of this case in their entirety,
considered that no proper grounds for granting an exemption
had been made out, and therefore refused it while greatly
regretting that the decision should indirectly involve the
Chief Justice in a money loss.
11.
It is very necessary to make
allusion to Sir F. Piggott's criticism on the Ordinance
and to his reference to a conference which he seems to
have thought fit to have with the Senior Un-official
Member.
It was always the intention to
have