CO537-4801 — Page 4

53927/49

HOHO KON.

NO. 271

CONFIDENTIAL.

COLONIAL OFFICE,

25

The Church House,

Great Smith Street,

S.W.1.

8 November, 1949

sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 158 of the 31st August, 1949, and to inform you that the power of disallowance will not be exercised in respect of Ordinance No. 37 of 1949, shortly entitled the Registration of persons Ordinance, 1949.

I am advised that, since section 12 (1) of the Ordinance provides for the punishment of persons failing to make application for registration, Sections 4 (1) and (3) and 5 (2) might suitably prescribe the period within which such application has to be made. You may therefore agree that if a suitable opportunity presents itself, these Sections should be amended or alternatively that provision should be inserted in Section 13 (1) (a) empowering the Governor-in-Council to prescribe the time within which applications for registration should be made.

The provisions of Section 11 of the Ordinance are somewhat unusual in that they deprive officers and subordinate members of the Department of the protection afforded by Colonial Regulations. I presume however that you are satisfied that this is justified by the nature and circumstances of the employment of these officers.

I should be grateful for your confirmation of this.

I have the honour to be,

sir,

Your most obedient,

humble servant,

GOVERNOR

SIR ALEXANDER GRANTHAM, K.C.M.G.,

etc.,

etc.,

etc.,

ised) A Fresch Jones.