100
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
23 END
When the Compulsory Service Ordinance comes into force every man who is called up for and passes the medical examination will be placed by the Tribunal in the group where he can best serve the Colony's interests. The ultimate question before every man, therefore, is not 'Shall I, or shall I not, join the Army or Navy?' but 'Where does my duty lie?" That question is one which in many cases a conscientious man finds very difficult to decide, especially as he is not in a position, as a rule, to know all the aspects of the case: and the chief reason for the passing of this Bill is to set up a body, which having all the issues before them, can make such decisions from the only point of view which really matters, that is to say that of the common weal. Recently a certain number of men both in Government service and in key industries who have applied to join the Volunteers have found themselves prevented from doing so by instructions which came from me. I sympathise with them in their disappointment but it was in my opinion necessary in the interests of the community to issue those orders. The honourable and gallant member of this Council, who would command the fortress in case of war, has just explained why it would be necessary in that eventuality to recover from the volunteer forces a considerable number of key-post men and how that is to be done. It would clearly be futile and trouble-making to allow that problem to enlarge itself at this juncture: I therefore took the step which I have just mentioned.
I have only one thing to add. The Compulsory Service Ordinance is not a conscription measure in the usually accepted and contemptuous sense of the word. Its sole object is to organise the European British section of this community so as best to serve this Colony's interests. Idle talk of a stigma attaching to such an organisation is not merely quite beside the mark, it is harmful to those interests and I trust that no more will be heard of it.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time.
On the motion of the Attorney General, seconded by the Colonial Secretary, Council then went into committee to consider the following Bills clause by clause:-
VOLUNTEER AMENDMENT BILL, 1939;
REGISTRATION OF PERSONS AMENDMENT BILL, 1939;
HYDROCARBON OILS AMENDMENT BILL, 1939;
COMPULSORY SERVICE BILL, 1939.
Upon Council resuming,
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that the Volunteer Amend- ment Bill had passed through committee without amendment, and moved the third reading.
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