COUNCIL MEETING
SIX
only remind you, as the Attorney-General did, that this is not a policy framed for this Colony only. I would like to read Paragraph 5 of the proclamation which is about to be issued simultaneously with Tuis Ordinance, which, after reciting the disabilities put in the way of trading with the enemy, proceeds to enact (this extends through the whole Empire), that where an enemy has a brunch locally situated in British, allied, or neutral territory, not being neutral territory in Europe, transactions by or with such branch shall not be treated as transactions by or with an enemy." If that clause stood alone, the onemy firme here would be as unfettered as British firms. It has been considered desirable to restrict them in some measure with the ubjects indicated by the Attorney-General. Those objects, we believe, are attainable. The hon. member who represente the Chamber of Commerce thinks they are practically unattainable. I beg to differ. I think they are attainable, and I con- sider that having regard to the pronounce- ment which I have just read in the new clamation, that hon. members will recognise that this is a well-thought-out policy covering the whole of the British Empire, a policy, I would like to remind you, framed by that body of men compos ing His Majesty's Government, who have, if I may be permitted to say so, won the admiration not only of the whole Empire, but of the whole civilised world for the manner in which they have handled this war and the enormous complications of trade and commerce brought in its train. i think, gentlemen, we may have con- fidence in the foresight and in the acumen of His Majesty's Government in this mat- ter. They are in a position to judge better what is in the interests of the Empire as whole; they are in a position to judge better what the results of this policy will, or will not be, and while I have listened with the greatest interest to the speeches made by hon. members-for the subject is rn extraordinarily fascinating and inter- esting one-I feel sure the decision arrived at by His Majesty's Government is a sound one, and not a wrong one, as the member who represents the Chamber of Commerce, with all his great commercial training, would have us believe.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-I think we ought to have
a division.
A division was taken, and resulted as follows:-
AYES: The Captain Superintendent of Police, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, the Director of Public Works, the Colonial Treasurer, the Attorney-General, the Colonial Secretary, the General Officer Commanding.
Noes Hon. Mr. Lau Chu Pak, Hoo. Mr. Landale, Hon. Mr. Hewett, Hon. Mr. Pollock, Hon. Mr. Wei Yuk.
The Bill was read a second time. Council then went into committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.
On Clause 6,
anyarit
moved that
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL clause 6 be amended by the deletion of al! the words after the word "ProclamIA tion in the twelfth line to the end of the section and by the substitution therefor of the following words, or if German subject or any Austro- Hungariau subject carries on business in the Colony, it shall be lawful for the Governor to impose such restrictions on the business of any such branch, firm or enemy subject as he may think fit "; and by the insertion of the words "business of enemy subjects and of" between the words "on" and local in the marginal note of the same section,
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the amendment was carried unanimously.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-I beg to move that the following be added to the clause as proposed to be amended by the Hon. and learned Attorney-General:" And no busi- ness shall be carried on by any such branch, firm, or person except for the pur- pose of completing transactions entered into by them or any of them before the commencement of either of the said wars." The object, Sir, of this proposed amend- ment is to bring clause & of this Bill sub- stantially in line with clause 5, and to prevent any new business being entered into by branches or irms or persons of enemy nationality in this Colony.
HIS EXCELLENCY-I am afraid that the amendment cannot be accepted. It violates the principle laid down by the Secretary of State. Just to drive the policy in, I would like to read you the
concluding words of a telegram on this Bill which I received from the Secretary of State: "Restriction should not be imposed solely for fear of competition to British traders," So, even in the turmoils of war it means that the Government still stick to the Free Trade and the Fair Trade flag. Therefore I am sorry I cannot ac- cept your amendment.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-I wish to have the amendment put.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-I will second it. The amendment was then put, the vot-
ing being as follows:-
FOR: Hon. Mr. Hewett, Hon. Mr. Pol- lock, Hon. Mr. Wei Yuk.
AGAINST Hon Mr. Lau Chu Pak, Hon Mr. Landale, the Captain Superintendant of Police, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, the Director of Public Works, the Colonial Treasurer, the Attorney-General, the Colonial Secretary, the General Officer Commanding.
Council then resumed.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the third reading of the Bill.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passan
BIG EXCELLENCY-Council stands ad- journed until Thursday fortnight.
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