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Secretariat: 39/3231/49
SAVINGRAM
To the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
From the Governor, Hong Kong.
Colonial Office Ref: 53927/49
Date 12
December, 1949.
No. 1030
CONFIDENTIAL.
26
Your confidential despatch No. 271 of
8th November, 1949.
1.
Registration of Persons Ordinance.
Section 4 (2) of the Ordinance provides for registration to be carried out progressively by classes, each class being called upon to register by an order of the Governor. This provision was included because it was foreseen that great administrative difficulty might arise if all persons were called .. upon to register simultaneously. The former system of registration by classes has, in fact, been adopted and is working well. Each order published indicates the date from which the order is effective. Persons not coming within the categories so far covered by these orders are not required to register and are therefore not liable to prosecution under section 12 (1) of the Ordinance. Persons who arrive in the Colony at a date after publication of an order affecting their category are covered by section 5 (1) of the Ordinance. I suggest for these reasons that amendment as proposed in your para. 2 is hardly necessary.
2.
The unusual nature of the provision contained in section 11 of the Ordinance was appreciated at the time of enactment of the Ordinance. I regret that particular reference to this point was not made in forwarding the Ordinance for signification of His Majesty's pleasure. In practice the section will only apply to officers temporarily engaged as it is not proposed to use any officer of the permanent establishment on the duties to which this section refers. Experience gained in 1941 in a somewhat similar operation in which large numbers of temporary staff were employed pointed to the necessity for powers of immediate dismissal on account of the special opportunities for corruption or political intrigue, and the need for speed, efficiency and complete discipline in performance of duty.
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