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its normal figure. Conditions in most trades remained quiet and the only disputes of importance arose from the attempts made by employers in one or two trades to reduce wages-attempts which were in most cases successfully resisted.
During the year the regulations dealing with the employment of women and children were amended to prohibit the employment of women and young persons in factories between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m., and the minimum age at which children may be employed was raised from 10 to 12 years.
XII. Legislation.
Thirty-two Ordinances were passed during 1930. They comprised two appropriation, twenty-one amendment or revision, three consolidation, two incorporation and two mixed Ordinances as well as two which dealt with subjects which were new to the Colony though obtaining elsewhere.
The Appropriation Ordinance (No. 19) applied a sum not exceeding $23,365,335 to the public service of the year 1931, and Ordinance No. 5 appropriated a supplementary sum of $304,538.83 to defray the charges of the year 1929.
Of the amending Ordinances calling for special remark No. 11 requires newspapers registered under the Printers and Publishers Ordinance, 1927, to deposit $3,000 as security available for the payment of fines and damages for libel. No. 7 makes the 10th October, which is observed by the Chinese as their National Day, a permanent general holiday and transfers to the first Monday in September the general holiday previously appointed for the second Monday in October. No. 9 makes provision for connecting the system of the Hong Kong Telephone Company Ltd. with the trunk telephone line which is being laid from Canton to the British border. No. 12 gives conditional legal sanction to the ordinary club sweepstakes on horse and pony races, but prohibits the sale of tickets otherwise than on the course during a race-meeting. Nos. 13 and 14 provide for the continuity of Office of the Registrar of Companies with regard to deposits by Life and Fire Marine Insurance Companies. No. 17 gives the court a discretion as to the acceptance of a plea of guilty in capital cases and abolishes the old presumption of law that an offence committed by a wife in the presence of her husband is to be deemed as committed under his coercion. No. 18 lays down rules for the construction of future stairways which will make for safety in cases of fire. No. 21 gives effect to an arrangement between H.M. Government and the United States Government to ensure notification of the death of U.S. citizens to the nearest Consular officer under the Washington Convention. No. 27 simplifies the procedure of resumption of Crown lands. No. 30 amends the Stamp Ordinance, 1921, and raises the duty, inter alia, on cheques and receipts from 5 to 10 cents but in the latter case exempts amounts not exceeding $20.