SALON CAPA M...
get ready.
The most important amendment effected by this new Ordinance is the recasting of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance passed last sessien. Ne rl- teration in the law has been made, except with regard to the coasting trade permits to junks, but in its original form the Ordinance was far from clear, and the form has been amended te render it completely intelli gible. The forms have been amended, as they also were not clear, and these will be published at ence in the Gazette.
WRees Davies.
OPY.
میم کی کو
13
11-17
Enclosure 3.
C. O.
CACR
203
Memorandum in answer to the Memorandum of the Secretary of State
Rece
included in Despatch 31st. January, 1912, suggesting amendments to
20 Ordinance llo. 49 of 1911, the "General Revision Ordinance".
I have already dealt generally with this Memorandum, pointing out that the Ordinance is to be repealed and re-introduced in an amend- -ed form in consequence of the numerous misprints, slips, and new amendments which have been found necessary during the progress of the Revision. I propose nowever to deal with the several points
referred to in it.
(i). I do not think the point is well taken, because the word "here -after" in s. 4(i) of No. 50 of 1911 expressly relates only to its use "having relation to the time from which the provisions of any section shall take effect". But the word in the phrase "in all editions of the Laws of Hongkong hereafter to be printed" have no such relation, but only refer to a fact happening or which may happen in the future. But as the point has been taken it shews that the use of the word in another sense is unfortunate. But the suggestion of the Secretary of State has directed my attention to another important and kindred question. In some Ordinances there is an express reference to something which may happen "after the commencement of this Ordinance". It is sufficient to notice one case out of several, the Companies Ordinance, which refers to companies registered after the commencement of the Ordinance, and nere I am bound to say that the point I have taken above does not so clearly appear, and there is certainly a stronę objection to the repeal in s. 4(1) of No. 50 of 1911, in view of the necessity of retaining this form of words in these Ordinances. The English language does not apparently allow me to do what I want to do, therefore after consultation with the Attorney-General we have
and
come to the conclusion that the only way out of the difficulty is to delete from 8. 4(i) the words "from" "or hereafter" to the end. This will leave only the first two lines, which, as it is impossiol now to use the form "or other words of like meaning" must be recast thus in order to deal with all varieties of expression:-