RECEIVED

21 SEP 1950:

In Tel. C.D.

(13)

(16)

Defence gal

35c

Juesa conditime are necessary kumbin tineet posible

criters in Putraimint here, but

Distribution -

Your secret savingram No. 116.

Proposed regulation 116A.

In view of recent increase in crimes of

violence involving to use of arms and resulting in

the death of police officers and the disturbing effect

on law and order of guerilla activities referred to in

your secret savingram No. 115 I agree that you may

proceed with enactment of the proposed regulation

116A, subject to the following conditions:-

(i) the regulation will be repealed as soon as the

situation permits;

(ii) if not repealed within six months be necessity

for continuing the regulation in existence will

then be reviewed and my further agreement sought

to continuance;

(iii) if the regulation is repealed my prior approval

2.

must be obtained before it is again enacted.

pukes

I appreciate that the disclosure of condition

(ii) to the Legislature may be undesirable.and 3n these

circumstances I agree that it will be sufficient if

conditions (i) and (iii) are made clear to them, and as

Further action :---

Recirc. for conson of (14)

Wt. 23588882 50m 949 Wa. & Co. sra

regards condition (ii) it will suffice to state in

/continuation

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:

3.

+

continuation of /condition (i) that "in the meantime

the necessity for continuing the regulation in

existence will be periodically reviewed",

Please helpräpt whether you agree

S:CER.

-

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OUTWARD TELEGRAM.

FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES.

14237/15/50

Typex

TÓ HONG KONG (0.A.G.)

Sent 22nd September, 1950. 21.15 hrs.

IMMEDIATE

14

No. 1468.

Secret.

Your secret savingram No. 116.

Proposed regulation 116A.

In view of recent increase in crimes of violence involving use of arms
and resulting in the death of police officers and disturbing effect on
law and order of guerrilla activities referred to in your secret
savingram No. 115 I agree that you may proceed with enactment of
proposed regulation 116A, subject to following conditions:-

(i) the regulation will be repealed as soon as

situation permits;

(ii) if not repealed within six months necessity for continuing
regulation in existence will then be reviewed and my further agreement
sought to continuance;

(iii) if the regulation is repealed my prior approval

must be obtained before it is again enacted.

2. These conditions are necessary to enable me to meet possible
criticism in Parliament here, but I appreciate that public disclosure of
condition (ii) to the Legislature may be undesirable. In these
circumstances I agree that it will be sufficient if conditions (i) and
(iii) are made clear to them, and as regarde condition (ii) it will
suffice to state in continuation of condition (1) that "in the meantime
the necessity for continuing the regulation in existence will be
periodically reviewed".

3. Please telegraph whether you agree.

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Secretariat file No. 3/3011/46.

CUPLICATE

GOVERNMENT HOUSË, HONG KONG

19A

22September, 1950.

B. 103

49

Sir,

16

4237/4/1/4

I have the honour to refer to your Savingram of the 18th July, 1846, and
to Sir Alexander Granthan's despatch No.58 of 17th March, 1950 on the
subject of emergency legislation. A short report on the general position
for the six months period, 1.8. 1st March, 1950, to 31st August, 1950,
is centained in the following paragraphs.

2.

With reference to the Emergency (Principal) Regulations 1949,
(Government Notification No.A.277/49), referred to in paragraph 2 of the
despatch referred to above, regulations 2, 21, 25, 26, 54, 37, 40, 50,
51, 57, 58, 65, 67A, 98, 109, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 124, 125, 126,
151, 132, 155, 154, 155, 156, and 138 have been brought into operation
by Government Notifications Nos, A.85, A.173 and A.182 of 1950. The
Emergency (Primcipal) Regulations, 1949, have been amended by Government
Notification No, A.174 of 1950 and these amending regulations enable the
Commissioner of Polios and police officers acting with his express
authority to commandeer means of transport and other articles in an
emergency and they also aubberize the Commissioner of Police to close
and control roads and travel by vehicle and to restrict temporarily
movement within the territorial or colonial waters.

5.

There has been practically no requisitiening during this period, only 5
units comprising 2 houses and some land in the New Territories, having
been requisitioned for the Army.

4.

On the other hand, there has been a fair amount of de- requisitioning.
During the same period a total of 51 units were de-requisitioned,
divided as follows :

ArTy

WE RIGHT HONOURABLE

JAMES GRIFFITHS, M.P.

GTR:CBB:ppn

bar olay

R. A. F.

45

1

Hong Kong Goverment 7.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your most obedient, humble servant,

J. F. NICOLL.

OFFICER

BRING THE GOVERNMENT.

KA PALE 29 SEP 1950' REGISTRY

.1

:

f

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[

]

Whi

The original "Lice') seperately to the dept. subsequently miškait

√.6. Anderm

-7/8/57

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Typex

INWARD TELEGRAM

TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES

COMFORTE-ISTRATION

FROM HONG KONG (0.A.G.)

D. 3rd October, 1950. R. 3rd

It

11.30 hrs.

20.

IMMEDIATE

No. 1127.

(19)

Secret.

Your telegram No. 1468.

DERIVED Yelofs

I am grateful for the consideration given to this matter. Regulations
enacting Regulation 116A were made in Executive Council today. They will
not (repeat not) be published or in force until Resolution of
Legislative Council has been passed. I intend that Resolution be moved
in Legislative Council on

11th October to bring Regulation into force seven days later.

2. Your paragraphs 1 and 2. The conditions you mention are of course
agreed, and effect will be given to them. But in Executive Council,
doubt was strongly expressed as to necessity or desirability to mention
conditions 1 and 3 or 2 on moving of the Resolution other than to give
assurance as you propose that contimance of Regulation 116A in existance
will be pericdically revued. In particular, objection was seen to giving
publicity to condition 3, which might imply that Legislative Council is
subject to your control. You may also think that publicity in terms of
condition 3 might in fact occasion embarrassment to you, since assertion
might be made that enactment of Regulation 116A has occurred by your
direction.

3. In the circumstances, I ask that Resolution may be moved on date
proposed and that explanation as to future intentions be confined to
assurance that necessity for continuance of Regulation will be
periodically revued.

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Draft

TELEGRAM/

*

*The word Priority may be entered here. If necessary.

Tor-

C.O.

GOVERNOR

HONG KONG.

Repeated to:-

Mr..

Hall 3/10

Mr. Sidebotham 4/10

Priority:-

For transmission :--

Mr..

Paskin.

4/+

In Xxxx

Sir

C. Jettonier 4/10 hi gister 9 State 4/10

Permt. of S.

Parly. U.S. of S.

S. of S.

Immediate. VipertamİRACIAS.

Castate

arended)

(20)

Your telegram 1127.

J

File No.

14237/15/50

Appened & Sent. 1800hs

hours.

4/10/101500

No. 1513

berndezzi

Postiolex

Cypher TYPEX

Secret. StepSecretx

RECEIVED 4-OCT 1950

In Tel. C.D.

Regulation 116A.

On further consideration and in view of the

points made in your paragraph 2 I agree that

Resolution may be moved as proposed in your paragraph 3,

(arabady miserated,

but if pressed in Parliament I may have to make

more detailed and explicit statement based on

conditions mentioned.

If therefore

you

should find

Distribution:-

Further action:-

Recirc. to Mr. Dale for conson

of draft below.

yourly

-SECER jullen exploration. lobliged to enter wito kill than

you

I am

dont

have proposes, you will we me

"Take care that

such

pers

explanatio

consistent with those conditines.

WL 21408757 kom 7-48 Wa, & Co. 51/1

Secer.

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OUTWARD TELEGRAM

FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES

14237/15/50

Typex

TO HONG KONG (0.A.G.)

Sent 4th October 1950. 18.00 hrs.

IMMEDIATE

No. 1513

Secret.

Your telegram 1127.

Regulation 116A,

On further consideration and in view of the points made in your
paragraph 2 I agree that Resolution may be moved as proposed in your
paragraph 3, but if pressed in Parliament I may have to make, as already
indicated, a more detailed and explicit statement based on conditions
mentioned. If therefore you should find yourself obliged to enter into
fuller explanation than you have proposed, you will I am sure take care
that such explanation is consistent with those conditions.

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T

Draft

File No.

BAVINGRAM

TELEGRAM /*

• The ward Priority may ba ançered here, if necessary.

To:-

Mr. Anderson 2/11

Hall 2/11

Mr. Sidebotham // Mr. Luke_3/11

Repeated to:-

XXIXA

GOVERNOR

HONG KONG.

نان

KIXXXXXRQUEIX

al ma

Priority -

Sir

Permt. U.S. of S.

Parly. U.S. of S.

XXXXXXXX

S. of S.

Kiosk komedia.

K*XXXXXXXX

To be transmitted :-

In Otearx

fxxxxx

Cypher

отр

14237/15

Remy pl

Sent.F

1315

3/11/5

hours

No. 1632

CODEXXXX

Secret.

KOKSNEKK wubbernuak

(21)/94095/7

(23)/94095/7

See 14253/P.Q.2/50

RECEIVED

3- NOV 1950

In Tel. C.D.

Your Saving No. 93 Secret.

My Saving No. 189 Secret.

Enforcement of Emergency Regulation 7 and possibly

Regulations 6 and 13 to 16.

Your intention to enforce these Regulations is

noted, but you will have appreciated from extract frot.

Official Record (Hansard extract of 25th October) sent

you on 28th October that their enforcement may arouse considerable
public interest and possibly criticism here 2.I am confident that you
will ensure that they are used

circumspectly, but, before you enforce them, grateful to learn by
telegram (to enable me to deal with possible criticism) who the
"competent authority" will be and

whether you propose that action under the regulations

in tuch occasum,

will be subject to prior approval by you in Executive

Council.

Distribution -

(Copy on 94095/7/50)

Сору

Taken

oprost chil

SECER.

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[456B) WL 32483 800 100m. 11/48 C.N.L.3. 748

17 OCT

ป. เ

14237/15/50

22

C. O.

C

Mr.

Anderson

3/10

Mr. Hall

3/10

Permit. U.S. of S.

Mr. Dale

5/10

Mr.-Sidebotham 7/10. Mr. Paskin

Parly. U.S. S.

Minister of State

13/*

Secretary of State

16110

DRAFT. DESPATCH

HONG KONG

NO.

+

O. A. G.

59

(14)

FURTHER ACTION.

Recen to the Hell H404.

Your Reference Secretariat D/ER II

Sir,

SEORET

78 OCT 1950

P/S

I have etc. to refer to your despatch

No. 26 secret of the 6th September, 1950, on the

subject of the Emergency Regulations (Amendment)

(No. 2) Ordinance, 1949 . In view of the

arguments adduced in paragraphs 2 and 3 of your

despatch:-

(a) that the Emergency (Capital Punishment

Regulations will not be put into force

unless a much graver situation than that at

present existing arises;

(b) that they would only remain in force

while such a situation persists;

(c) that in the event of additional

Emergency (Capital Punishment) Regulations

being made the question whether they should

be revoked will be placed on the Agenda of

Executive Council every three months;

I am now prepared to agree, subject to the

conditions stated in paragraph 2 below, that if

a grave situation were to develop suddenly you

should, at your discretion, take steps to bring

these regulations into force without further

reference to me, though I should of course wish

immediately

to be informed as soon as o6ssible of such

action.

12.

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2.

On the other hand I regret that after

further consultation with my Legal Advisers

(14)

I am still unable to accept the validity of

the argument in paragraph 4 of your despatch

under reference.. Your statement that a press

notice will be issued to explain the nature of

the offences confirms my view that the regulations

themselves will not be understood. It is most

undesirable in matters of the criminal law

especially to have to rely on press notices.

I cannot understand why it is "scarcely practicable"

to enumerate the offences which will be made

punishable by death, if this can be done in a press notice, and in any
case I regard an argument of this kind as inadmissible in so grave a
matter. It does not seem to be an answer to these criticisms that when
at length an accused person stands his trial (i.e. after the offence is
committed) his lawyers and the court will be on more familiar ground. As
indicated in paragraph 3 of my despatch No. 49 secret of the 25th July,
1950, I consider that the greatest care is necessary in drafting this
type of legislation to render it easily intelligible. If it is not, I
cannot see how it can be effective, apart from other defects. I regret
that I must press you again to reconsider the draft regulations in the
light of these observations.

(12)

I have etc.

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14237/15/50

Your Ref. Secretariat D/ER II

HONG KONG

NO. 559

SEORET

COLONIAL OFFICE,

The Church House,

Great Smith Street,

London, S..1.

18 October, 1950.

sir,

I have the honour to refer to your despatch No. 26 secret of the 6th
September, 1950, on the subject of the Naergency Regulations (Amendment)
(No. 2) Ordinance, 1949. In view of the arguments adduced in paragraphs
2 and 3 of your despatch:-

(a) that the Emergency (Capital Punishment) Regulations will not be put
into force unless a much graver situation than that at present existing
arises;

(b) that they would only remain in force while such a situation
persists;

(c)

that in the event of additional Emergency (Capital Punishment)
Regulations being made the question whether they should be revoked will
be placed on the Agenda of Executive Council every three months;

I am now prepared to agree, subject to the conditions stated in
paragraph 2 below, that if a grave situation were to develop suddenly
you should, at your discretion, take steps to bring these regulations
into force without further reference to me, though I should of course
wish to be informed immediately of such action.

2.

On the other hand I regret that after further consultation with my Legal
Advisers I am still unable to accept the validity of the argument in
paragraph 4 of your despatch under reference. Your statement that a
press notice will be issued to explain the nature of the offences
confirms my view that the regulations themselves will not be understood.
It is most undesirable in matters of the criminal law especially to have
to rely on press notices. I cannot understand why it is "scarcely
practicable to enumerate the offences which will be made punishable by
death, if this can be done in a press notice, and in any case I regard
an argument of this kind as inadmissible in so grave a matter. It does
not seem to be an answer to these criticisms that when at length an
accused person stands his trial (i.e. after the offence is committed)
his lawyers and the court will be on more familiar ground. As indicated
in paragraph 3 of my despatch No. 49 secret of the 25th July, 1950, I
consider that the greatest care is necessary in drafting this type of
legislation to render it easily intelligible. If it is not, I cannot see
how it can be effective, apart from other defects. I regret that I must
press you again to reconsider the draft regulations in the light of
these observations.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient,

humble servant,

OFFICER ADMINISTERING

THE GOVERN IENT OF

HONG KONG

(Signed) J. GRIFFITHS.

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21

INWARD TELEGRAM

14

TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES

COPY

CAVATION

Oyplier (0.T.P.)

FROM HONG KONG (0.A.G.)

D. 16th Cetober, 1950, R. 16th

*

H

11.15 hrs.

23

No.1170. Seoret.

Your telegramı No.1513.

Emergency Regulation No.116A.

Resolution was moved at mosting of the

Legislative Counoll on 11th October and pass unenimuusly. Chinese Fress
la so far show little interest but an so fur as there has been comment
it has been very favourable. English Press strongly supports,

EVED * 1950

JEOLONIAL OFFICET

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OUTWARD TELEGRAM

FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES

7/15/50

Cypher (0.T.P.)

TO HONG KONG (Sir A.Grantham)

Sent 3rd November, 1950.

No. 1638 Secret

13.15 hrs.

Your Saving No.93 secret.

My Saving No. 189 secret.

Enforcement of Emrgency Regulation 7 and

possibly Regulations 6 and 13 to 16.

Your intention to enforce these Regulations is noted, but you will have
appreciated from Official Record (Hansard extract of 25th October) sent
you on 28th October that their enforcement may arouse

considerable public interest and possibly criticism

bere.

2. I am confident that you will ensure that they are used
circumspectly, but, before you enforce them, grateful to learn by
telegram (to enable me to deal with possible criticism) who the
"competent authority" will be and. whether you propose that action under
the regulations will on each occasion, be subject to prior approval by
you in Executive Council.

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HANSARD

11 el perabot, 1980.

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

819

25

Ordinance, 1949, which was applicable to them came into force. So as
regards this category of staff, it is proposed, and the Resolution which
1 am moving his designed, to give effect to the proposal, that staff in
that category be granted annual allowances and gratuities er gratia, the
allowances and gratuities to be computed according to the provisions of
the Pensions Ordinance, 1932, and Regulations embodied therein, but dis-
regarding the requirement contained in that legislation regard- ing
continuity of service, and this as if the 1932 Ordinance and Regulations
made thereunder had not been repealed as in fact they were upon the
coming into force of the Pensions Ordinance, 1919.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Motion was carried.

THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, moved:-

That the By-laws made by the Urban Council on the 27th day of September,

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