No 82
C.O.
49
10595
TRECE
(Rm 31 MAR 13:
GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
HONGKONG. 7th. March, 1913.
sir,
16285-5-
With reference to Mr. Severn's Despatch No.173
of the 2nd. of May, 1912, I have the honour to transmit for your approval the enclosed draft of a Bill to amend the Deportation
Ordinances, 1912.
2.
It is desired to simplify the existing pro- -cedure in order to relieve the congestion in the Prison, which is partly caused by the accumulation there of persons under process of examination with a view to banishment, and to economise the time of
the Assistant Registrar-General who has now to visit tae Prison in
order to conduct those examinations.
These objects will be in some measure attained
by the summary deportation of convicted persons and by the altera-
-tions introduced in Section 4, whereby the Police will be able to
take persons for examination to the Registrar-General's Office
(sub-section (1) ) and the writing down in the Chinese language of
statements made by persons examined may be dispensed with (sub-
-section 5).
3.
Section 5(1) merely re-enacts the provisions of
Section 13(1) of Ordinance No. 10 of 1886. The somewhat wider
powers of banishment given by the latter section are most necessary
on occasions of emergency demanding a Proclamation under the Peace
Preservation
HE RIGHT HONOURABLE
LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.,
&C..
&C.
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