N°
Ne 231
C
!
ST LT
Sir.
C.O.
26044
Ree!
REG 17 JUL 14)
GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
HONGKONG. 26th. June, 1914.
428
I have the honour to inform you that with a
view to removing objections of employers to their employees joining the Hongkong Volunteer Corps, owing to loss of services of the employees while training, I recently consulted the Executive Council as to the advisability of exempting Volunteers from service
on Juries.
2.
The only objection raised to the proposal was that if a large number of the most efficient European Eritish subjects were so exempted it might tend to lower the average intelligence and capacity of Jurors. After careful consideration, however, the Council approved of the adoption of the system in force in the Straits Settlements under Ordinance XXXII of 1907, under Section 28 of which the following are exempt from service as
Jurors:-
(a). Volunteer Officers.
(b). Efficient members of any Volunteer Corps to such a
3.
number as may be allowed by the Governor-in-Council.
I should be glad if you would sanction the enactment of legislation of a similar kind in this Colony. The
exemptions
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.,
&c.,
&C..
ac...