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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
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replace two Ordinances which were passed during the and which, though still law, have not been strictly enforced in recent years.
Clauses 2 and 3 require non-Chinese aliens, with a few exceptions mentioned in clauses 3 (4) and 3 (5), to register the particulars concerning themselves which are set out in the Schedule. Clause provides for the registration of non- Chinese guests at hotels and similar establishments, and clause provides for the furnishing of lists of non-Chinese passengers in ships arriving at or departing from the Colony.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and the Bill was read a first time.
Objects and Reasons.
The "Objects and Reasons" for the Bill were stated as follows:-
1. This Ordinance repeals the Travellers Restriction Ordinance, 1915, and the Registration of Persons Ordinance, 1916, and re-enacts with some changes those of their provisions which it is considered desirable to retain.
2. Sections 2 and 3 and the Schedule are restricted to aliens other than those of Chinese race, they are in part new but are based mainly on sections 7 and 8 of Ordinance No. 19 of 1915, on sections 2 and 3 and the First and Second Schedules of Ordinance No. 6 of 1916, and the Registration of Persons Bill, 1922.
3. The registration of Persons Ordinance, 1916, was not limited to aliens, and persons of Chinese race were excluded though the Governor in Council was given power in section 5 to include them. It is considered impracticable to require the registration of all or even a substantial portion of the Chinese in the Colony.
4. Section 4, which is not limited to aliens but which does not apply to persons of Chinese race, re-enacts with very slight modification section 14 of Ordinance No. 19 of 1915. The section is made to apply to all hotel guests and not merely those over fourteen years of age.
5. Section 5 which requires passenger lists, in the case of non-Chinese enacts the existing practice and is derived from section 9 of Ordinance No. 19 of 1915.
6. Section 6 is derived in part from section 5 (a) of Ordinance No. 6 of 1916, and section 7 from section 16 of Ordinance No. 19 of 1915, but the penalties have been reduced.
7. The Schedule is more detailed than the Schedule to Ordinance No. 6 of 1916.
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