HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
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A copy of the resolution intended to be submitted to this Council if the Bill is passed is in the hands of each member.
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. The duty on pari-mutuel tickets was fixed by the Betting Duty Ordinance, 1981, at 3% of the face value of each such ticket sold. By the Betting Duty Amendment Ordinance, 1933, the duty was reduced to 22% as from 1st September, 1933.
For the year ending March 31st, 1934, the Hong Kong Jockey Club's accounts showed a loss of over $30,000. Their gross receipts from the sale of pari-mutuel tickets were $4,341,930 and the duty paid thereon was $116,848.
It is thought possible that in the year ending 31st March next, the gross receipts from this source may, fall below $4,000,000.
2. In these circumstances, at the request of the Jockey Club, it has been considered fair to introduce a sliding scale to govern the payment of this duty, but to introduce such a scale into the body of the principal Ordinance would be cumbersome, especially as it is not necessarily intended to be final. Hence the amendment proposed by this Bill leaves the scale to be fixed by resolution of the Legislature.
SUPREME COURT AMENDMENT ORDINANCE 1934.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend further the Supreme Court Ordinance, 1873." He said: The Supreme Court Ordinance, 1873, has been found defective in yet another direction in that it provides no machinery for instituting revenue claims by the Government against persons who are not in the Colony.
The amended proviso to be enacted by Clause 2 of the Bill cures this defect, and the new sub-section (2) to be added by clause 5 to section 13 of the principal Ordinance vests in the Registrar of the Supreme Court the powers and duties on the revenue side of the King's Remembrancer in England,
The other amendments are amendments of the wording of sections 9 and 11 of the principal Ordinance as enacted by the amending Ordinance of 1932 and are based on a request for such amendments by the Secretary of State.
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