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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
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 such 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 aby remarks upon the present motion.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER second el, and the Bill was read a second time.
THECOLONIALSECRETARY then moved that the Bill be referred to the Finance C'ommittee.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER second- ed, and this was agreed to.
Cheung Chau (Residence) Ordinance, 1919
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 British 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 bone 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 reasonable measure to pass. of this island and I submit it is quite a
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 THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the necessity for its passing, if necessity there second rexdling of the Bill intituled "An be, is very vague according to the ex- Ordinance to provide that no personplanations just given by the Honourable shall reside within the southern portion Attorney-General. The locality to which of the Island of Cheung Chau, otherwise the bill applies is far away from any busi known as Dumb Bell Island. without the ness or residential quarter and therefore consent of the Governor-in-Council, In the chance that over-crowding will over- deing so he said: It is probably well take it in the immediate future is remote. known to hon. members of this Council If it were a request made by the people. that, for a considerable number of years who are now living there, to reserve it past, the southern portion of this island entirely for their own convenience and has been developed, and has been used benefit, they need only be told that. if as a place of residence by British and they like. they can buy up the place and American Missionaries. It is proposed so arrange among themselves as to make by this Bill to pass a law that no person it impossible for people outside their shall reside within that southern portion community to buy from them any house without the consent of the Governor-in- or land; otherwise, to deprive their fel- Council. I regret to say, sir, that I am low citizens of their civic rights and give informed that there will be some comment such to them is, unfair and unreasonable. and criticism with regard to this Bill But cannot believe that, of all people.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
they could have made such a request · preachers and teachers of equality and fraternity that they are. If, however,
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 recoarse to disagreeable legis Iation. I do not propose, sir, to 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 arcessity and should, therefore. be withdrawn.
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HON. MR. G. ALABASTER I did not intend to address the Council on this Bill but I must oppose the amendment. Cheung Chau is an island which has been developed solely by residents who belong to a race which finds 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 them- selves from their children by sending them Home for education. A place such as this is not unique in any sense. Such 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 THE HOS. MR. HO FOOK--In view of have gone also.
others who are unable to leave the Colony the fact that the war has been won by all
They have kept to a races in the Empire I cannot be a party certain portion only. There are eleven certain portion of the island and to a to the passing of this Bill which, in my beaches on the island and only ve ať opinion, is nothing more or less than them are affected by this Bill. racial legislation. I
They see your way to withdraw this Bill as these beaches and if they are driven out will desire that their children should play on Ruggested by my colleague. But if you are not disposed to do that I would ask sure, in the same way that persons in by economic pressure, not by racial pres you to leave it in abeyance until the similar positions have been driven out of new Governor arrives in order that he level after level of this Colony, they will may decide whether our suggestion be simply have to go from there and ind adopted or disregarded by the Govern- ment.
new places. They came to this Colony 10 years ago. Feeling that the pressure was H.E. THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING before spend their holidays at the Peak too great for them to do what they did THE GOVERNMENT-Im sunrised at the romarks made by both of the Chinese mem- Southern China and the choice rested be. they looked for a holiday resort in bers of the Council.
I cannot observe tween the Le tal mountains in Chinese fer- anything in the Bill of a racial kind at ritory and Cheung Chau which was then, all This part of the island of Cheung as far as this part is concerned, uninha- Chau, as the Attorney-General has point-bited ed out, has been the residence of mission- aries and others for some time past. The Government feels that owing to the nature of this small portion of the island of Cheung Chau it ought to be in a posi tion. bath in selling land and in making conditions, to decide who shall live there and who shall not. It is not a question, na far as I can see, of anything disagree able and I am surprised that such a sug- gestion has been made. If hon. members de- sire that the Bill should be kept in abeyance until the Governor arrives, 1, personally, have no objection.
HON. MR. LAU CHUPAK I beg to move that the Bill be held in abeyance.
Hon. MR. HO FOOK-I second that.
They selected Cheung Chan be protection of the British flag and it is cause they thereby honed to obtain the that protection they desire now. not a case of racial competition but of It is economic competition. It has been sug 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 sell land they wish to sell it to one a position to do it. If they desire to 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
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