No
Society being registered unless the government is satisfied that its objects are harmless - but I think the better plan in reserve of this Bill is to prohibit all secret Societies. If it should be found hereafter that any society, as Freemasons, exerts influence that is harmless, it may be specially excluded by an amending ordinance.
The Bill provides that the offences which it creates are punishable on summary conviction; this is in accordance with the Straits law and may perhaps be approved, though I felt some doubt whether, having regard to the severity of the punishment which may be inflicted in some cases - viz., 12 months' imprisonment with hard labour - the trial of other offences should not be reserved for the Supreme Court.
In Clause 9, it excludes from the definition of members of a Society those who have resigned, withdrawn from, or have been expelled from the Society, provided that such resignation (in the Bill misprinted "registration"), withdrawal, or expulsion is recorded in the minutes of the proceedings.
This condition would prevent a Society from escaping from its unlawful position without the consent of the Society. I think the words "such resignation, withdrawal, and expulsion having been recorded in the minutes of the Society" should be omitted; it would then be left for any person charged with being a member, and proved to be a member of an unlawful Society, to prove that he had resigned, withdrawn, or been expelled.
In Clause 10 – for "declared to be unlawful under this Ordinance", I would substitute "declared by this Ordinance to be unlawful".
It might be thought that the Ordinance should define "Secret Societies" - but I doubt whether it would be advisable to attempt much definition - the Courts will have no difficulty in practice in deciding whether any particular society is secret or not.
I approve of the introduction of the Bill with the amendments above suggested.
EW Baker
Acting Secretary for Chinese Affairs
Nov 22. D18/11
Page 306
No
Society being repistered unless the foremments
leptimate and
thA
is satisfied that its objects are harmless - but I think the bitter plan in prepared of this Bill to prohibit all seart Sovieties If it should be found hereifter that any souity
Der harmless
as
Freemasons exerts it may
specially excluded to an amending bedinance the vergrating ring sent forinty sexan
The Will prom makes the offences which it
crestes puncitate & on
summay anoriti in
this is in aundance with the Strails law
and
masperhaps be approved though I pel time dealt whether having yard to
o the severity
which
punishment wheel my calend in some cases
4 12 months' imprisonment with haid labres the trial other oppies should not be reserved for the Supreme Court -
clause
Ja
at any rab
all other
the thi Which I
9
Excludes from the definition & members Sant Joriety there who have resigned withdrank from or hea expelled from the Society of such vignation (in the Will misprinted "registration") withdrawal or
Expulsion is rended in the minuter of the prounding,
band condition would prevent the Sority - this
a marker person who had men
treame
a member
from escaping from his unlawful position withint the consent of the Society
I think the words "such
my resynction with drawing & repuliin having hen recaded in the minuter atter Pociety" should be it would then I left for any person charp with being a member. and prooed to be hea a
omitted
member
306
of an unlawful dorit & prove that he had unijned withdrawn
hea expelled
เ
in clause 10 – for "declared to to unlawful. under this Ardinance" edenesh slotitute
"" declared by this ordinance 44 valorful
r
magh thought that the Ordinaner thand define "Leart Socities" - but I death whethe this would to adviable to atempt much
definition - the Courts will haur no diffientty in practice in deading whether any particular souity is sent expecially
mention other Friad sorich
on the
expres
will punish a paid as 15 the natier gki sorities whill the Aineen is intended. to suppress
? approve of the introduction of the ba
Artimen with the amendments abor
Superto
EW Bathr
Als her 15
El.
Nov 22. D18/11
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