!
+
348
61
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
ships which go to and fro, the labour employed on the water-front and in the barbour, the work which goes on 1J1 merchants' offices. If export is prohibit- ed, imports cease and the trade will no doubt go to some more accommodating centre, the Colony being left with the very poor consolation of a few thousand tons of extremely expensive rice which happens to be in the godowns when the prohibition came into force. The general situation is that export at all the produc- ing centres is practically at a stand-still. The Government bolds considerable stocks, partly purchased in Saigon, part- ly purchased focally and partly requisi tioned locally, and, in this connection, I may express the Government's apprecia- tion of the assistance rendered by the Kwangtung Food Relief Association and the Military Government of Canton for allowing the export of 10,000 piculs from Canton to Hongkong. The Government is in negotiation with various centres for further supplies and it earnestly hopes, and has very good reason to believe, that sup- plies will be forthcoming at a rate which will enable it to put on the market a con- siderably cheaper grade of rice than the cheapest grade now being sold, the price of which is $11.11 a picul, But, of course, it must be borne in mind that prices may continue to rise and, in that event, the Government will be faced with the alternative, either of raising its price or of selling at a heavy loss which will have to be met out of fresh taxation. I was informed this morning that the pros- pects of the crops in Siam and Indo- China are very good, It must be re- membered, too, that large quantities of other food-stuffs are continually passing through the Colony, Beans come from North China where they are a staple food-stuff, whilst four constitutes au im- portant trade. If the price of rice re- inains permanently at a high level no doubt, in time to come, the Chinese will accustom themselves to at least & partial anhstitution of some cheaper form of dietary. I take this opportunity to ex- press the obligation of the Government to employers of labour for the assistance
matter they have rendered in the
by giving special rice allowances. The Gov ernment is also under obligation to the Tung Wah hospital for their help in the watter generally, and, more par- ticularly, in the management of the congee stations which are now working; also to the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank which rendered most useful assistance in the matter of financing the large pur
i
chases which have been made. I beg to move the first reading of the Bill.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL seconded, and the Bill was read a first time.
Objects and Reasons
The Objects and Reasong state: The objects of this Bill are as follows:-
Clause 2 removes any doubts as to the validity of any acts heretofore done by the Government and by its Officers or any person acting under its direction to cope with the recent abnormal rise in the price of rice.
2. Clause 3 gives the Governor power to requisition and resell rice on payment of compensation either agreed upon be tween the parties or settled by a Board therein provided, and prohibits any per- Bon neglecting to obey or impeding the execution of any such orders.
3-Clause 4 excuses a breach of con- tract in so far as it has been caused by any requisition.
4.--Clause 5 enacts that the Government shall not make a profit on the total pro- ceeds of all sales of rice.
5. Clause 6 probibits the removal from the Northern District of any rice with- out the permission in writing of the dis- trict officer.
6. Clause 7 provides for the fixing of retail price of particular qualities of rice.
7. Clause 8 provides for Standard Government qualities of rice.
8. Clauso makes it an offence to se!]
rice purporting to be of Standard Gov- ernment quality when it is not such.
9. Clause 10 prohibits the sale of any rice supplied by the Government except under a licence from an officer appointed by the Governor.
10. Clause 11 prohibits the mixing of different qualities of rice and their mix- ture with any foreign substance.
11. Clause contains a power of entry and inspection and of taking samples. 12. Clause 13 is a penalty clause. 13. Clause 14 gives power to the Governor-in-Council to make Regula- tions.
14. Clause 15 contains a saving of other powers.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
Enemy Allens Restriction Ordinance
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first resting of a Billintituled, An Ordinance to prohibit former Enemy Aliens from being within the Colony without a per- mit.
In doing so, he said:-This Bill, Sir, has had to be prepared at somewhat short notice, and hon. members will see from the star next to the Bill that it is pro- posed to pass the Bill through all its stages at this meeting of the Council. The hon. member who represents the Justices of the Peace has been good enough to make suggestions to me in re- gard to some matters of detail in con- nection with this Bill, and I think the Bill itself, which we gather from instruc- tions from the Secretary of State forms part of the Imperial policy of the Home Government, will commend itself to this Council, The Objects and Reasons clearly state the objects of this Bill. The definition of a former enemy alien has been specially drawn so as to exclude subjects of new friendly States which have come into being since the Peace Treaty from the definition of former
enemy aliens. By Clause of the Bill it is enacted that no former enemy alien ag so defined shall come or be within the Colony of Hongkong either generally or for a limited period unless he possesses a permit for that purpose eigned by the Colonial Secretary. It is also enacted that such permit may contain such con. ditions as the Government may direct. I am quite sure hon, members will appre ciate the fact that it is necessary there should be considerable latitude in this matter of granting permits and, further, to impose such conditions as the Governor may direct.
Clause 4 is the penalty clause, and it provides a double kind of penalty, that is to say, either deportation under the Deportation Ordinance of 1917 or, if a further penalty is required be-
a
62
H.E. THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT - In view of re- presentations made to me that the passing of this Bill is a matter of great urgency, and as I am of the opinion that such urgency exists, I have granted permission under Standing Order 48 for a motion to be put to the Council that this Bill be carried through all its stages in one sitting.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL then moved that the Standing Rules be suspended in order to enable the Bill to be passed through all its stages.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and this was agreed to.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL then moved the second reading of the Bill.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY second. ed, and the Bili was read a second time.
The Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.
THE HON. MR. E. V. D. PARR-May I ask if the Bill will come up for discussion again at the end of three years.
H.E. THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT-I cannot say. It is a matter which may or may not come up. No doubt if there are good reasons for wishing to continue the period now tixed they will be made known. I cannot possibly say what the policy of H.M's. Government will be at the end of three years. No doubt this period has been the subject of very careful consideration before it was fixed.
The Bill passed through Committee without amendment, and, upon Council resuming, the Attorney-General moved the third reading.
yond that, when a person commits and the Bill was read a third time and
鼈 fine not
breach of Section 3 he shall also be liable on summary conviction to exceeding $5,000 and imprisonment for any term not exceeding one year. The term of the duration of the Ordinance is fixed by Clause 5 at a period of three years from the date of commencement thereof.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY second- ed, and the Bill was read a first time.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded,
passed.
The Objects and Reasons" state:-
1. The object of this Bill, which is based on instructions received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, is to prohibit any alien enemy from coming and being within the Colony of Hong- kong without a permit from the Govern- ment, issued by the Colonial Secretary.
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