HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
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H.E. THE GOVERNOR. Before I put the motion to the Council, I would like to say this: There is one objection which, had it been proved, would have easily induced me to put this Bill back for further consideration, and that is, if it had been shown that the effect of the proposed charges was to react unfairly on the poorer members of the community. I think it must be admitted that the Financial Secretary has proved quite conclusively that the case is the opposite and that the increase of the burden will fall upon those more capable of bearing it and more lightly on those needing relief, and for that reason I propose to put the Bill forward as it stands. On the point of the 2 per cent. renewal, I think Hon. members will agree, when they think them over, that the objections are to some extent academic. I only mentioned the point because having had a long experience of Legislative Councils I have heard Government upbraided for not following the example of business houses and when they did, they never received a pat on the back.
I now put forward the Bill.
The motion was carried by a majority of votes, the Chinese Unofficial Members voting against the motion.
NEW TERRITORIES REGULATION AMENDMENT
ORDINANCE, 1938.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the New Territories Regulation Ordinance, 1910."
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time.
DANGEROUS DRUGS AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1938.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, 1935."
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time.
On the motion of the Attorney General, seconded by the Colonial Secretary, the Council then went into committee to consider the following bills clause by clause:-
FEMALE DOMESTIC SERVICE AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1938.
OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1938.
WATERWORKS ORDINANCE, 1938.
NEW TERRITORIES REGULATION AMENDMENT
ORDINANCE, 1938.
DANGEROUS DRUGS AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1938.
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