CO537-4835(2) — Page 25

54463/49

(2/48) [16] Wt. 19:26/754 50m, 7/48 C.N.Ld. 748

C. O.

Miss Ruston....30

Mr. de Comarmond 2

M Wallees

Mr.

Mr.

Sideboth am 29/3

Your Reference..

DRAFT. DESPATCH Y Sir,

GOVERNOR, HONG KONG.

(48)

An-Marken. 8/9

Permt. U.S. of S.

Parly. U.S. S.

61

5

Minister of State

C. D.

Secretary of State

B.

9-SEP

R

J

I have etc, to acknowledge receipt of

your Despatch No. 110 of the 10th June and to

inform you that the power of disallowance will

not be exercised in respect of Ordinance No. 28

of 1949 provide for the registration of

Societies and for matters related thereto.

2.

(44)

FURTHER ACTION.

Recui.

have noted from para. 2 of your secret

You consider that Telegram No. 499 of the 24th May that in present

circumstances it should be mandatory on the

Registrar to refuse registration to Societies

in Hong Kong \\connected with foreign political

that he should have organisations rather than allowing him

discretionary powers. While accepting your

view on this point\I should be glad if you

would cause the matter to be reviewed in 6

months' time and to inform me then whether you

still think that discretionary powers should

be withheld.

3.

With regard to Section 24 of the Ordinance we foverers are of tho apanth

of

My

advised that, as it stands, this Section

is not in accordance with the basic principles

would of the law of evidence, and that Night be

held to be contrary to justice to convict a

defendant on the strength of an opinion

expressed by an "authority" which the magistrate

/is.

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