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2. The definition of "former enemy alien is in accordance with the above instructions and has been specially drawn so as to exclude subjects of new friendly States from Buch definition,
3. The duration of the measure is limited to three years from the date of the commencement thereof.
Supplementary Votes
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the second reading of the Bill intituled, An Ordinance to authorize the appropriation of a supplementary sum of five million four hundred and sixty-six thousand three hundred and twenty-seven dollars and sixty-three cents to defray the charges of the year 1918.
He said: In accordance with usual custom I propose to move that this bill shall be referred to the Finance Com- mittee and I, therefore, will not make any remarks upon the present motion.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER second- ed, and the Bill was rent a second time.
THE COLONIALSECRETARY then moved that the Bill be referred to the Finance Committee.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER second- ed, and this was agreed to
Cheung Chau (Residence)
Ordinance, 1919
Tar ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill intituled "An Ordinance to provide that no person shall reside within the southern portion of the Island of Cheung Chau, otherwise known as Dumb Bell Island, without the consent of the Governor-in-Council, In ring so he said: It is probably well known to hon. members of this Council that, for a considerable number of years nast. the southern portion of this island has been developed, and has been used as a place of residence by British and American Missionaries. It is proposed by this Bill to pass a law that no person shall reside within that southern portion without the consent of the Governor-in- Council. I regret to say, sir, that I am informed that there will be some comment and criticism with regard to this Bill
and, therefore, I think it is well that I should point out the eminently reason- able nature of the Government scheme. The portion which it is proposed, by this Bill, to reserve is only the southern por tion of the island of Cheung Chau, and it represents in area less than half of the total area of that island. It is in the vicinity of the part which has already been developed, as I said just now, by Rritish and American missionaries. There is no question of bringing within the restrictions of this Bill the whole of the island, and there is no question of interfering with any vested rights. As will be seen, it is provided by Clause 2 of the Bill that the consent of the Gov- ernor-in-Council is required for residence within the limited area of the southern portion of the island which I have re ferred to, and any such consent given to such persons includes members of their families, bona fide employés, and hon fide visitors. This Bill has been modelled. roughly, on the Peak District Reservation Ordinance which passed through this Council last year without any opposition or comment. As I have said, it only affects less than one-half of the total area of this island and I submit it is quite a reasonable measure to pass.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
HON. MR. LAU CHU PAK: Sir. It is not my intention to recall the history of the Peak Reservation Ordinance. The remarks I am going to make are to be confined to the merits of this Bill. The necessity for its passing. if necessity there be, is very vague according to the ex- planations just given, by the Honourable Attorney-General. The locality to which the bill applies is far away from any busi- ness or residential quarter and therefore the chance that over-crowding will over- take it in the immediate future is remote. If it were a request made by the people, who are now living there, to reserve it entirely for their own convenience and benefit they need only he told that. if they like, they can buy up the place and 80 krrange among themselves as to make it impossible for people outside their community to buy from them any house or land; otherwise to deprive their fel- low citizens of their civic rights and give such to them is unfair and unreasonable. But I cannot believe that, of all people,
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
they could have made such a request - preachers and teachers of equality and If, however, fraternity that they are.
it be the wish of the Government to reserve the place as a health resort for its own use, the Government can impose conditions that will make it undesirable or unprofitable for any person to take out a lease of land in that locality. I fail to see that there exists any necessity for having recourse to disagreeable legis- lation. I do not propose, sir, to Use arguments which will involve unpleasant discussions. By the few remarks I have made. I hope that it has been made clear that the Bill is not a necessity and should. therefore, be withdrawn.
THE HON. MR. HO FOOK --In view of the fact that the war has been won by all Yaces in the Empire I cannot be a party to the passing of this Bill which, in my opinion. is nothing more or less than
T
You hope racial legislation.
will see your way to withdraw this Bill as suggested by my colleague. But if you are not disposed to do that I would ask you to leave it in abeyance until the new Governor arrives in order that he may dreide whether our suggestion be adopted or disregarded by the Govern
ment.
H.E. THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT I am surorised at the remarks made by both of the Chinese mem- bers of the Council. I cannot observe anything in the Bill of a racial kind at all. This part of the island of Cheung Chau, as the Attorney-General has point ed out. has been the residence of mission- ories and others for some time past. The Government feels that owing to the nature of this small nertion of "the island of Chene Chan it ought to be in a posi. tion, both in selling land and in making conditions, to decide who shall live there and who sballot. It is not a question, as far as I can see, of anything disagree able and I am surprised that such a sug gestion has been made. If bon members de- Bire that the Bill should be kept in abeyance until the Governor arrives, 1, personally have no objection.
HON. MR. LAU CHI PAK I beg to move that the Bill be held in abeyance.
HON, MR. HO FOOK-1 second that.
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HON, MR. C. G. ALABASTER - I did not. intend to address the Council on this Bill but I must uppose the amendment. Cheung Chau is an island which has been developed solely by residents who belong to a race whirl fads it necessary to take their children to the sea-side as much as possible in the summer and who are forced by circumstances to separate-then- Belves from their children by sending them Home for education. A place such as this is not unique in any sense. places exist at Kuling and Kuliang. These are missionary resorts where mis- sionaries are able to keep their children as long as possible with them and until it is time to send them to school. They have gone to Cheung Chau and a few others who are unable to leave the Colony have gone also. They have kept to a certain portion of the island and to a certain portion only. There are eleven beaches on the island and only five of them are affected by this Bill. They desire that their children should play on these benches and if they are driven out by economic pressure, not by racial pres sure, in the same way that persons in similar positions have been driven out of level after level of this Colony, they will simply have to go from there and find new places. They came to this Colony 10 years ago. Feeling that the pressure was too great for them to do what they did before spend their holidays at the Peak they looked for a' boliday resort in Southern China and the choice rested be- tween the Lo Fah mountains in Chinese ter- ritory and Cheung Chau which was then, as far as this part is concerned, uninha- bited. They selected Cheung Chau be cause they thereby hoped to obtain the protection of the British flag and it is It is that protection they desire now. not a case of racial competition but of
It has been sug economic competition. gested by the senior Chinese member of Council that they should buy up the whole of the island. They do not wish to buy the whole of the island but they desire protection from those who are in A position to do it. If they desire to sell laud they wish to sell it to one another so that they may keep these few beaches for themselves and their children. The reason why the Bill should be passed now and not held up is this. While this Bill was under consideration all sales of land in Cheung Chau were held up for one year, and other missionaries who desire