CO129-386 - Public Offices & Others - 1911 — Page 188

2.

186

the conclusion that, under the then existing state of the law in the Colony, no steps could be taken against Mr. Heermann, as the possession of such plans was not an offence against ordinance No 1 of 1895.

A watch was kept by a Chinese detective on Mr. Heermann's movements with a view to catching him in some act which would bring him under the provisions of the above ordinance, but without result.

Meanwhile, amendments to the law were prepared, and on the 9th March, 1911 an ordinance "The Defences (Sketching prevention) amendment bill*

through Legislative Council.

copy attached was passed

By this Ordinance it was made an offence for any unau- thorized person to be in possession of plans of works and magistrates were authorized to issue search warrants on good

cause shown.

No action has yet been taken under the new Ordinance against Mr. Heermann, partly owing to the expected visit of the Crown Prince in April and partly because it appeared to

me that as the works at Mount Davis will not be completed

for a year, he was not likely to send away uncompleted plans,

and might commit himself in some endeavour to bring his plans

up to date.

There have been no signs of any such action on his part

as yet, and, in the interim Mr. Heermann has changed his domi-

cile to a house in Kowloon on the Mainland. His former resi-

dence near Mount Davis is now occupied by two other Germans

of different firms.

On the 12th August, after taking the advice of His Ex-

cellency the Governor, I consulted the Crown Solicitor as to

Not attached with this copy.

what

....