The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-AS I un-1 derstand, notas issued by the Chinese banks are potbank notes at all; if anything they are bank pass bills. Bank nole are notes issued by the ordinary incorporated banks. the Chinese banks are incorporated. Hon. Ho KAI-No; that is so.
None of
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-They do ot issue bank notes in the ordinary acceptation
the term.
Hon. Ho KAI-I only wanted to be quite clear upon the point.
Bill passed through Committes without dis-
cussion.
Council resumed.
Bill read a third time and passed.
THE POSSESSION OF TIRE ARMS. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-In mov. An ing the second reading of the Bill entitled Ordinance to amend and consolidate the law re- lating to the carriage and possession of deadly weapons," I would like to call attention very briefly to what has given rise to the proposed Consolidation Ordinance. Most of the Ordin. anne is entirely old matter, but there are certain portions of it which are new matter. Flarly last March a serions disturbance took place in the There were clan fights, I City of Viatoria. think I am corrast in saying, of men from Tang Kon and Sz Yap, and during the period of dis- turbance it was necessary to bring into force by proclamation of the Governor certain provisions Arms, of the Penc Preservation Ordinance. revolvers, fighting irons, were found in the possession of Chinese by the police, and persons were assaulted with swords, some were killed or injured by shots in the streets, and people were injured from the roofs of houses. Owing to the vigilance of the polics and the antive measures taken by them and also in some degree to the salutary application of the Bauishwent Ordinance, everything was in time quieted down. Shortly after this disturbance took place, the Captain Superintendent of Police presented a report detailing very ably all the circumstances The result was that at the end of of the affair. May last year a strong ommittes was appointed to enquire into the means of preventing a re- petition of sach rioting, The Committee com- prised the Legistrar-General, the Captain Saperintendent of Police, and others, who certainly rendered very good services to the Committee. The report of the Committee was presented in October last year, and I will very briefly refer to that portion of the report which deals with the provised amendments in this Or dionnee, and it is as follow-
"We are of opinion that the Arms Consolida tion Ordinance 1891 should be amended in the following respects.
"(.)-Section 5. In addition to the 'carrying of arms the possession of arms generally (and otherwise than is provided against in the exist- ing law) without das authority should be pro. hibited."
The Arms Consolidation Ordinance dealt with the carriage only of arins except in cartain in- stareas. The report goes on--
(2.) Dao authority' should be a licence to possess arms grautable in the same manner an s licence to curry arms under Section 3 of the Arms Consolidation Ordinance as amended by All licences Section 3 of Ordinaves 4 of 1892. granted as above should be issued for a limited period saly other rise the restrictions no the sale of arms which we are recommending in the sub- sequent paragraph under this heading might be evaded.
(3.)-All owners of trading janks or fishing juuks excepted in Section 5 of the present Or- dinance should be required to hold a liceno« (similarly available for a given perial) sigued by the Harbour Master,
(4)-All livences to carry or ' possiss' arms should be made ont in the name of the grantes and should not he transferable, and should bear the numbe of the day of issue and expiry.
*(5) → The sale of arm--this is a very im. portant matter by dealers should be prohibited Rubess the intending purchaser is provided with, and presents at the time of purchase, a licence to earry or possess arms.
(6) A register shanid be kept by all dealers in arms in whic should be entered the na ne, occupation, and addross of the purchaser, the amount and date of the purchase and the numbor and date of the licence presented in oach case.
*(7)-As an alternative to the powers granted] under Section 19 of the present Ordinance the | Governor in Council should be further empowered during the continuance of any proclamation issued under the Peso Preservation Ordinance to order the closing of all arms shops, and the suspensinu of the sale of arms during that period. The penalty for the breach of the law in this respect should be the same as that provided by suction 20 of the present Ordinauce."
These recommendations. I think, have been given full effect to in the Bill now before the Council. 1 do not think I need detain the Coanei! in going into details, because members will have an opportunity of making any angges- tions when the Council is in Committee. In regard to section 5, it seems to me that it requires consideration. That section provides that "Do person who has not a license from the Governor for the parpos shall carry any arms or havO any arms in his possession in this colony." Then follow certain exemptions. Now, sir. I think there are ogs or two matters in connection with that goation which require very considerable care. In the first, plaos there is no exemption in respect to steamers in the harbour, and nearly all of them have a cartain quantity of arms on board for their own protection. In the second place there ara steamers carrying arms in a boan fide character in transit thronch the harbour, The wording of the old Ordinance also seems defectiva in regard to tra·ling and fishing junks. The Harbour Master informs me that there are four classes of junks; there are licensed trading juuks, licensed fishing janks, unlicensed junks. and uncensed fishing boats. There is only one class which is required to give security and that is the licensed Ashing janks. At the last moment there has been a further objection to this Bill. It is and that it deals harshly with Chinese delers in ar ns. Mr. Denuys, who re- presents them, indicated this fact to ma abont half-su-boar ago, and I believe he also indiosted : it to my hin. frien my left (Hon J. J. Kan. wick) In view of these objections to the Bill I do not propose to ask the Council to go into Committes ou this Bill to-day. I beg to move the second rea ling of the Bill
The Acrise COLONIAL SECRETARY-I bag to soond that.
Bill read a second time.
THE REPEALS ORDINANCE. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg to move the second reading of a Bill entitled "An Ordinance to declare the effect of Ordinanc
As I mentioned on the lant repealing others.” angusio 1 this is a technical subjeut, and its object is to provide that class of legislation which has long basu the law in England, and which. I boliove, has been adopted by the Straits Settle- ments and other aulonies
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY Seconded the motion.
Bill read a second tim, co umitted, and pissed.
ADJOURNMENT.
HIS EXCELLENCY-I propos that the Council da adjourn until Thursday wook at 3.39.
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