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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
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state that
the object of this Bill is to provide for the taxation of tobacco consumed in the Colony It is based on the Liquors Con- solidation Ordinance, 1910.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL then moved the suspension of the Standing Orders so that the Bill could be passed through a its stages at that meeting.
ed.
been submitted to His Majesty's Govern- The Objects and Reasons Inent and the consideration of His Majesty's Government has been invited un the subject. This case is not analo gous to the legislation which the hon. member who spoke third on the subject referred to, and which, by the way, this Government gut very little credit for at the time from unofficial members in Hong. kong or the unofficial public generally. That legislation was passed with and by the consent of His Majesty's Government. The legislation entailed by the resolu- tion proposed is legislation which His Majesty's Government have most care- fully considered and to which they can- not give their consent. I would appeal to hon. members that if this Council, in spite of the opinion given to it by the Attorney-General. passes this resolution and thereafter devotes much time to legis lation which would inevitably be vetoed, it would br. at a very serious time, em- barrassing His Majesty's Government. I understand we are at war, and I under stand that it is the duty of all the Colonies in all the corners of the Empire to rally to the flag, and to asssit His Majesty's Government in every way in its power. It may be that the discussion this resolution may possibly be of some use, but it will be just as useful if the motion is withdrawn or a division I therefore ask the is not pressed for. hon. member not to press this resolution, which, I think, after what the Attorney General has said, it will be realised is not convenient.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY second-
on
HON. MR. HOLYOAK-With all due deference, I regret that I am bound to ask for a division on the subject. I think that I may confidently say that the opin- ion of the Colony is not with the Govern- meat on the subject.
A vote was then taken. All the un- official members voted for the resolution, and all the official members voted against it. The resolution was thus declared defeated.
Tabasca.Tax for Hongkong
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intented, An Ordinance to provide for the tax- ation of tobacco,”
T-COLONIAL SECRETARY second- e, and the Bill was read a first time.
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HON. Ma POLLOCK-I rise 10 oppose the suspension of the Standing Orders. This Bill was only sent out with the Orders of the Day, and we were then told that it would only come up for first reading to-day. My objection is not a for al one. Hon. unofficial purely members had this Bill in their Possession for barely three days—I saw it for the first time on Tuesday morning. and it is unreasonable to expect us to know much about it, because this Bill requires a great deal of study. I do not think there is an unofficial member who can be said to have had sufficient time to consider the measure and the Objects and Reasons, which re usually finger- posts to guide us where to look, are of the shortest possible nature in this Bill. By the courtesy of the attorney-General,. I was supplied with a copy of the Straits Settlements Ordinance on this matter. That, I find, Sir, is quite a new measure,. and, therefore, it cannot he said to have anything to recommend it from the point of view of experience. I find that there are various matters in regard to the measure which are very much open to mean merely criticism, and I do not
For instance this Bill small details. proposes to tax retrospectively tobacco. which may have been in this Colony for the last year or two. It is no proposed to tax tobacco imported into the Colony, we will say, to-day or to-morro, but it is proposed to tax tobacco which may have been imported a year or tro ago. cigars and cigarettes, and make themi liable to duty. That, Sir, is one point. Another point in the Objects and Reasons is that this Bill is based on the Liquors Consolidation Ordinance, 1011. Clause 17 of the proposed Ordinance says that the owners, charterers, agents, masters or compradores of any ship shall prevent the discharge of any dutiable tobacco. I cannot find a clause in the Liquors Ordinance resembling that. Clauses 2 and 28 refer to the same people; you
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
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HON. MR. POLLOCK I suppose that this Bill will mean increase in the staff if it is passed. That seems to be the result of a Bill of this sort.
His EXCELLENCY We have got a
HON. M
POLLOCK-With
again make them all liable. Clause 41, retrospective application of the Bill will which lays down that all persons embark doubtless be considered, and after the ing shall have their luggage searched is Bill passes, should latey on further most extraordinary clause, and I amendments be considered fecessary, they think it will be difficult to find any pre will doubtless receive the sympathetic cedent for such extraordinary legislation consideration of the Gernment. as that. It will mean a great deal of inconvenience when one wishes to leave the Colony. I think that this is the first time in the history of the Colony that passengers who embark here will have to undergo the inconvenience of having their luggage searched. and have a white chalk cross or some other sign placed staff, upon it showing that it has been examined by a Revenue Officer. Such an experience will be entirely new in the deference, fir, I think there will have Colony, and I think it is a restriction of to be an increast- of staff. That a most vexatious kind. We are told that
seems to be obvious to anybody taking this Bill is founded upon the Liquors a commonsense view of it. There Ordinance, but there are great differences must e some staff employed in con- between this Bill and the Liquors Bill. nection of the matter. I am not These are points which 1 have so far been all a satisfied that some other measure, able to find out in connection with the such as an increase in the Rating assess- proposed Bill, and I submit that it is ment, could not have been devised to give not right and proper that this Bill, which the extra revenue needed without any has been put down for first reading to-dditional cost for collection. We do day, should be rushed through in this not know exactly what revenue we shall way, and I beg to move as an amendment get from the measure, we are acting very that the further consideration of the Biuch in the dark, as to the exact amount be postponed for a fortnight.
to be produced, and we are going to em- ploy an additional staff, the expenditure fin which Mr. Hutchison estimates at
t
members
HON. MR. HOLYOAK--I beg ro second that. I agree that insufient time has been given for the consideration $15,000 per annum. of the Bill, which is an important measure and which has so man contro- HIS EXCELLENCY-Hon. versial points. I may say, speaking on
who have lived in the Colony, which is behalf of the Chamber of Coufierce, who a free port, for a number of years are have already, considered the question in no doubt unaware of what happens in the brief time allowed, that they consider Colonies where the principal source of the principle of retrospective taxa- revenue is import duties. Now, 1 tion grossly unfair the Colony was for Some time in the Colony and 2 thing almost if not en-of Fiji. And there the principal tirely, without precedet. Another thing source of revenue was the import duties. which I should like to mention is And knowing what has happened there the sudden manner in which this Bill I have learned that if you want to tax has been flung upon us, because, as far
new matter you have to put the tax on as my recollection serves me, it was dis- very quickly or otherwise you will simply tinctly stated hen the last Liquor play into the hands of the dealers and Ordinance was passed that the revenue merchants and lose untold revenue and raised by the increase in duties would see see undone what you have really worked us through for this year. One is therefore for. In Fiji it was the custom to table particularly Interested in knowing what this money to be raised by the Bill is without any notice being given to
a Bill containing alterations of this kind
official members whatsoever. It was in- HON. R. E. SHELLIM-I beg to differ troduced and put through at a sifting. from the Hon. Members who have just Now this is, a Bill for the taxation of spokey. The principle of the Bill hav-tobacco. In connection with the measure, ing een accepted I am of opinion that on April 27th, we wrote to that sugust it should go through at this sitting. In body, the Hongkong General Chamber of Comittee various amendments, such as, Commerce, and I do not call them august
for.
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