HONGKONG
LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on the 1st inst. at the Council Chamber.
The following were present:-
HIB EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIE FRANCIR HENRY MAY, K.C.M.G.
HIS EXCELLENCY MAJOR-GENERAL F. H. KELLY, C.B. (General Officer Command ing Troops).
Ilon. Mr. CLAUD SEVERN (Colonial Hecretary).
Hou. Mr. J. H. KEMP (Attorney- General).
Hon. Mr. E. D. C. Wors (Colonial Treasurer).
Hon. Mr. A. F. CHURCHILL (Director of Public Works).
Hon. Mr. E. R. HALLIFAX (Secretary for Chinese Affairs).
Hon, Mr. C. Mol. MESSER (Captain Superintendent of Police).
Hon. Mr. We Yuk, C.M.G.
Hou. Mr. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C.
Hun. Mr. E. A. HEwert, C.M.G.
Hon. Mr. D. LANDALE,
Hon. Mr. LAU CHU PAK.
Mr. M. J. BREEN (Clerk of Councils)
FINANCIAL.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the Report of the Finance Com- mitice (No. 14) and moved its adoption.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
TRADING WITH THE ENEMY ORDINANCE.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Gentlemen: As I intimated at the last meeting of the Council, I have been obliged to sum- mon you rather hurriedly and I am sorry thas I have been unable to give you longer notice. I am also sorry to learn that the Bill which forms the second item on the orders of the day only reached some hon. members at a very late hour this morning. We sent it out at about 11 o'clock.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-Much earlier than that..
HIS EXCELLENCY-Or earlier than that, and the chit books have all been signed and we thought it had reached the re- elpiente, but apparently that has not be the case is every instance. The final in- stru.tions from the Secretary of State on matter, which, as you can well under-
th
, has occupied a great deal of attention and formed the subject of considerable correspondence, were only re- ceived yesterday, and as the matter affects vitally a large section of the mercantile community it is very necessary that this legislation to put the matter now on a permanent basis-should be passed with the least possible delay. I therefore crave your indulgence to pass this Bill, which The Attorney-General will fully explain in due course, and I can only add that I am sorry to ask so much of your indulgence.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-I rise to point of order, Sir. I wish to make some remarks about this Bill. Can I speak now or after the Attorney-General's statement?
HIS EXCELLENCY-You had better speak
now.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-It is quite true that the Bill did not reach us until late this morning. I, common with other unofficial members, rescived it late, and do not pretend to have read it thoroughly. I was very busy at my office this morning, and my work took up the whole of my time, but from what have seen of this Bill and the Proclamation, it appears that we are unduly generous in dealing with peoples who are our enemies.
HIS EXCELLENCY-I think you had better wait until later if you wish to discuss the Bill it.elf.
Hon. Mr. HEWER-What 1 was gug to say I can say later. I can micly say, Sir, that I have ben asked to speak by the unoticial members with regard to the passing of this Bill. Although we re- cognise that you are acting under in- structions from the Secretary of State, and that the Bill will no doubt be passed in this Council, whatever we may say on the subject, we do not think that such an important Bill, affecting the whole trade of the Colony and affecting our own indi- vidual interests, should be rushed through in five minutes. The community should have time to consider it, and I think I am expressing the views of unofficial members now present when I say that the unofficial inembers will vote unanimously against it.
„JURY AMENDMENT ORDINANOB — D
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled,An Ordinance to amend the Jury Ordinance, 1887."
The COLUNIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a året time.
TRADING WITH THE ENEMY ORDINANCE. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the suspension of the Standing Orders to enable this Bill to be passed through all its stages at this meeting.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-I am sorry to say that I must oppose the suspension of the standing orders on this occasion. As your Excellency is aware, Rule 3 of the Standing Orders particularly lays it down that a printed copy of every Bill should, if possible, be sent to each member by the clerk at least two clear days before it is read first time. Now, Sir, if that stand- ig order is necessary in the case of an ordinary Bill in which merely a first reading is formally taken at the sitting in question, how much more necessary is it that the standing order should be observed when it is a question of passing through a Bili through all its stages at one single meeting of the Council. In fact, Sir, I would submit that where such procedure is intended as the passing through of a Bill at the same meeting of Council it is absolutely imperative that Rule 3 of the Standing Orders should be observed by which members should be given at least two clear days to study the Bill in ques- Tios. I must therefore, Sir, oppose the uspension of the Standing Orders, because I agree with my hon. friend who represents the Chamber of Commerce that unofficial members have "ot been treated properly in this matter, because it is imperative that they should know what Is to be brought forward in the case of a Bill which the Government proposes to pass through the Council in all its stages at one sitting. The unofficial members have not had a full opportunity of considering this Bill. One unofficial colleague Informed me that he had not had opportunity to study the Bill at all before he came this Counc'l, and I certainly think, Sir, that Rule 3 of the Standing Orders ought not to be suspend- ed on this occasion in view of the short notice given to unofficial members.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Gentlemen: This is not an ordinary Bill, nor is it an ordinary occasion. The Bill practically gives effect to a proclamation which is the law of this land although none of the residents herein have had it thrust upon
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