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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
The
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL Government do not consider that men must be obtained at all costs, because the bill itself recognises that the essential interests of the Colony must for Imperial reasons be protected, and to say that the policy of the bill is to obtain. men at all Costs is not to represent it correctly. It is also not true that the Government con- sider that the days for the protection of trade are passed, because they propose to protect the essential elements of trade. But the days kare changed, and the need for men is so great, as your Excellency has said, that there must be some change in the standard. It is impossible to keep to the old standard of maintenance of trade as it existed a year or two or three years ago. I only want to point out that the Government do not say that men mast be obtained at any cost or that trade must not be protected. But they do say that only the essential elements of that trade must be protected in view of the very urgent need of the Empire for more nien.
&n
HON. MR. HOLYOAK-I must press the amendment because it represents the very strong view of the Chamber of Com raerce. You cannot separate Hongkong from Shanghai, or Hankow or Canton. We are interwoven, body, continually corresponding, and in incorporated many cases the head of the business is here. Therefore you British trade in China, as it is insepar
cannot separate ably bound up with Hongkong, and to ignore, that would be fatal to British interests.
HON. MR. LANDALE--I think, Sir, you touched on one of the vital points when you referred to the transfer of men. The transfer of men to and from Hong- kong is just one of the things we wish covered; otherwise it would make it im- possible to control a large business from Hongkong.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR We recognise that trade in China controlled from here is one of our essential interests. Really, gentlemen, we might talk around the sub- jedt for a week and not be able to get any more satisfactory definition than that which stands in the Bill. As I said be- fore, that is why we have this Tribunal, in order to arrive at an understanding on what are the essential interests of the trade of Hongkong: "I regret that I cannot accept the amendment. I think it is too wide. How could any ian say
what number of men in Hongkong is re- quired for the essential British trade in- trests in the Far East! It is tremend- ously wide.
An argument might be put with which we might have nothing what- forward based on trade in Newchwang,
ever to do,
HON. MR. SHELLIM-Would you add the words essential trade interests con- troiled from the Colony?" These are the exact words used by your Excellency.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR-It is not neces sary to put those words into the Bill. As I say, when the Government solemnly undertakes to interpret the phrase in a certain way that is as good as its being- brought into the Bill. We laid down the form when we included in the term essential interests the essential trade in- terests and trade in China controlled from Hongkong. It is not necessary to put that into the Bill.
Commerce discussed this in Committee at HON. MR. HOLYOAK-The Chamber of very considerable length and passed a these words in the Bitl. resolution unanimously that they wished lency refuses to include them I have If your Excel-
Excellency places your wisdom above that nothing further to say except that your of the Chamber of Commerce Committee on a matter of trade, and I regret that I must press for a division.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR The amend ment is too wide altogether. You wish to divide ?
HON. MR. HOLYOAK-Yẹa.
A division was taken and the amend- voting for it. ment was lost, all the unofficial members
HON. MR. HOLYOAK - I must protest against the use of the official majority against what is from the leading merchants of the Colony, a specialised opinion to defeat their unanimous wishes. It is not as though this matter had not been brought this forward without due con- sideration. seriously considered, nor as if we had
hon. member in order in discussing au THE ATTORNEY GENERAL--Is the amendment which has been passed!
H.E. THE GOVERNOR-The amendment is lost.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
On the motion of the Attorney-General, the following new clause, No. 16, was added:-
25
(1.) It shall be lawful for the Governor to appoint three persons, two of whom
• shall be commercial men, to act Assessors upon appeals to the Governor in Council under the provisions of this Ordinance.
(2) Every such assessor shall during bis tenure of office as such assessor be entitled to be present at all proceedings whatsoever in any such appeal.
THE
hori.
H.E.
GOVERNOR-The member must give us some credit for having experience in drafting a Bill, for seeing the danger of adding lightly new words which may lead us into unforeseen depths. I would ask the honourable member, after the assurance given on the Grst reading of this Bill and the explana- tion given at this meeting, to accept the third reading without a division.
to divide on the third reading.
HON. MR. POLLOCK--I think we ought
A division was then taken- All the
The Bill having passed through Com- unofficial members voted against the third mittee the Council resumed, and
reading with the exception of the Hon. Mr. Lau Chu Pak.
THE
ATTORNEY-GENERAL that the Bill be read a third time.
ed.
moved
When the question was put to the Hon. Mr. Lau Chu Pak he asked if it referred to the Bill as a whole, and being informed THE COLONIAL SECRETARY second. that it did, he gave his vote in the
affirmative.
Hos. MR. HOLYOAK I challenge a division, on this.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR--I should be sorry if this Bill were not passed I think that the subject is unanimously. a-difficult one, but I think many of the difficulties of which the Chamber of Com- merce is afraid will disappear when we come face to face with the problema.
Hox. Mr. HOLYOAK-What we want is protection in the Bill, Sir.
The Bill was then read a third time and passed,
H.E THE
GOVERNOR There is GO The Council stands further business.
I wish to thank adjourned wine die. consideration they have given to this Bill. honourable members for the patient
1 am quite certain that the legislation we have just passed will result in no inconsiderable addition to the fine contri- bution in manhood that the Colony has already made to H.M's. Army and that the operation of this Ordinance will redound to the credit of this Colony.
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