3
then been brought to notice.
Their attention
has been drawn to the misunderstanding by
telephone.
The Bill of the Foreshore and Sea Bed
Works Ordinance had not been brought before the
Legislative Council up to 1st December which was
the last meeting of which the minutes have
reached us.
The powers to be taken by the Hong
Kong Government under the Foreshore and Sea Bed
Works Ordinance are wide but it is an obvious
convenience for the Hong Kong Government to obtain
such general powers rather than to have to
introduce special legislation whenever new
roclamation works are to be undertaken.
Statutory provision for the construction of
piers in connection with the Vehicular Ferry
appears to be the most immediate need.
If the danger of repercussions in
China of general legislation on the lines of the
Foreshore and Sea Bed Works Ordinance is admitted
+
it does not appear to me that there would be
any insuperable difficulty about dropping this
Ordinance and introducing more specific legislation
as and when required. But it would obviously
be a matter of very great inconvenience to the
Hong Kong Government and I do not think that the
Hong Kong Government should be asked to suffer
such inconvenience unless the danger of reper-
cussion in China is very clearly demonstrated.
I think the best thing to do will be
to explain the misunderstanding to Mr. Orde and
to