CO129-358 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [10-11] — Page 95

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VI. That tho said Bill came before the Legislative Council for its second reading a week later, that is to say, on the 10th December last, and the said Section 7 was amended by giving power to the Governor-in-Council at any time thereafter to make and vary regulations for the probibition of spitting in places, therein particularly described, and for the imposition of penalties on the violation of any of such regulations and for prescribing the mode of their re- covery. After a long discussion on the said Section and opposition thereto by all the Unofficial Members present at the Council save one, the said Bill passed its second reading.

VII. That on the same day the Council went into Committee to consider the said

Bill clauso by clause, and after much debate Section 7 was further amended and allowed to stand over for a week for further consideration. His Excellency the Governor then intimated to the Council that he was prepared to give an undertaking that, should that Section become law no re- gulations would be made for a period of six months.

VIII. Chat on the 17th day of December last the said Section 7 as amended, was again brought before the Committee of the whole Council for further consideration, and all the Unofficial Members save one, spoke in favour of deleting the said clause from the said Bill. But the amendment proposed by the Honourable Dr. Ho Kai and seconded by the Honourable Mr. Wei Yuk, both being Members of the Council representing the Chinese of the Colony, that this Section be deleted, was lost by eight votes to five, and the said Section 7, which then becane Section 8 in the said Bill, after some further amendments and alterations, passed through the Com-

mittee and now stands as follows:-

8. For the purpose of promoting sanitation and cleanliness in public places "the Governor-in-Council may at all times hereafter make and vary regulations for the

following purposes:---

(a) For the prohibition of spitting or of the effusion of nasal matter on the floor of

(b)

[C

C

any school-house, theatre, public building or other place of public entertainment

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or assembly, or of any common entrance, lobby, hall, passage way, corridor or "staircase of any building used or occupied for shops, offices or flats, or in any " licensed public vehicle, or in any tram or railway car, or on any wharf or jetty, "or on any footway or side walk of a public street as may be described in any "such regulation

"

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For the imposition of penalties on the violation of any such regulation and for prescribing the mode of their recovery."

"Such regulation shall be published in the Gazette in English and Chinese and shall have the force and effect of law in the same manner as if they were incorporated in this Ordinance

The Attorney General then moved for the third reading of the Bill but the motion was objected to by the Senior Unofficial Member of the Council and adjourned sine die.

IX. Chat on the 8th day of February this year the leading members of the Chinese Community forwarded a petition to His Excellency the Governor, strongly supporting the views and arguments of the Honourable Unofficial Members of the Council who opposed the said Section, and praying that is Excellency might reconsider the Bill and have the said Section deleted therefrom, but His Excellency the Governor declined to accede to their prayers on the ground that the arguments put forward therefor were identical with those already advanced by Hon- ourable Members of the Council who opposed the said clause, and were considered at the time that the Bill passed its second reading.