673
67
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
relief of suffering among our gallant troops and not merely to give of our abandance.
In this War, men, and more men, are required and it is right that I should again mention what has so far been done by this Colony during the War. Between two and three hundred men have gone to fight. It is difficult to calculate the exact number, as some have joined at home, but later on all the names will be carefully recorded. The number may not seem large, but the Colony is small while her trade is big, and her trade has to be carried on and if possible, extended. Į can only repeat again, as I have several times before, that if they cannot be spared for the front, able-bodied men, of whatever age, can, by joining the local Volunteer Forces and making themselves efficient. release men of the Regular Army, and so indirectly help to increase the fighting forces. It is astonishing to me to find that after all the efforts that have been made there are still men holding back. By means of the Registration of Persons Ordinance, which you passed last June, a weapon has been placed in the hands of the Government whereby the names of many men apparently eligible for service, either in the Volunteer Forces or in the Special Police Reserve, have come to light. I hope the knowledge that their names are known may have the desired effect, but if it has not I shall not fail to consider whether further powers should not be asked for. Of those who have gone to fight for King and Country at least ten have, I regret to say, already fallen. Among the names are several who were accomplished in more than one branch of sport, and we may feel sure that they fought as sportsmen to the end. (Applause) Their gallant deeds will not be forgotten, and I hope that in due course a suitable monument will be erected to their memory, though in the thoughts and hearts of their friends! here they already have won 2.
Monu mentum were Perennius. (Applause.)
It is proposed to take the second read ing of the Supply Bill a fortnight hence, and in the meantime if the Unofficia! Members would like to have any further explanations than have been given by me, or embodied in the notes appended to the Draft Estimates. the Colonial Secretary and Treasurer will be glad to give them.
THE COLONIAL TREASTRER second- ed, and the Bill was read a first time.
Bills of Exchange
moved
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL the first reading of a Bill intituled. "An Ordinance to make provision in connec- tion with the present war with respect to Bills of Exchange payable outside the Colony."
The Objects and Reasons state: The object of this Bill is to introduce hero the provisions of the Bills of Exchange Act, 1914 4 and 5 Geo. 5, c. 82.
Clause 2 provides that, without pre- judice to the operation of sub-section (1) of section 46 of the Bills of Exchange Ordinance, 1885, delay in the present- ment for payment of a bill of exchange, where the proper place for payment is outside the Colony, is excused if the delay, whether occurring before or after the commencement of this Ordinance, is, or has been, due either directly or in- directly to circumstances arising out of the present war or to the impractic- ability, owing to similar circumstances, of transmitting the bill to the place of payment with reasonable safety.
Clause 3 provides that where, in any action or proceeding upon a bill of ex- change payable outside the Colony, it is shown to the court that the bill has been lost and that the loss can reason- ably be presumed to be due to circum- stances attributable directly or indirectly to the present war, the court may allow proof of the bill to be given by means of a copy thereof certified by a notary public, or by means of such other evid- ence as the court may think reasonable under the circumstances: provided that such indemnity be given against the claims of other persons as the court may require.
Clause 4 states that the Governor-in- Council may at any time determine the operation of this Ordinance, or provide that this Ordinance shall have effect sub ject to such limitations as may be con- tained in the Order; but, subject to the operation of any such Order-in-Council. this Ordinance shall have effect during the continuance of the present war and for a period of six months thereafter.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER second- ed. and the Bill was read a first time.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
08
necessary ways and means for a contri- bution W ELE discussed at considerable length. The matter was further discussed in the Executive Council on the 27th
War Loan of $3,000,000
THE
ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled, "An Ordinance to authorise the raising of a War Loan." In doing so he said: This Bill appeared in the "Orders of the Day" at the last meeting of the Council, but it was not proceeded with. I beg to apolo gise to hon. members for their not having been notified before-hand that the Bill would not be proceeded with at the last meeting. A point which required con- sideration was raised at the last moment, and though we made attempts to deal with it there was not sufficient time to do so before the meeting of the Council. It was only just before the Council sat on the last occasion that the resolution was taken not to proceed with the Billed liquor dues, while a further amount that day. I now beg to propose the first reading of the Bill.
April and the 4th May. In the mean- time I had been given to understand that the Unofficial Members of both Councils had the matter under consideration; and towards the end of June they requested me to enquire of the Secretary of State whether a lump sum of $3,000,000, to be raised by a local loan, would be acceptable to His Majesty's Government. The Gnan- cial position for the first half year was by this time known, and the outlook was distinctly promising. The revenue bad exceeded expectations, and additional sums had been raised by increasing the price of prepared opium, and by increas
was about to be raised by the tobacco tax; and the increased cost of commodi- tics ordered from England was largely counter-balanced by the rise in exchange;
me
sum
"Unofficial Members of Executive and Legislative Councils wish to vote a special war contribution to the Im perial Government and have request l
to enquire if a lump
of $3,000,000, to be borrowed from the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, or rais- ed by a local loan, or a special contri- bution of 2 per cent, on gross revenue of the Colony, less the items not assess- able for military contribution, would be preferred by you.
H13 EXCELLENCY-Honourable mem- bers, the question of a contribution a rate of 1/9 having been estimated for. by the Colony to the Imperial War Large economies in expenditure had also Funds has for
long time past been made, while the high price of silver bad
my most careful consideration. had largely reduced the cost of the de The financial outlook throughout the monetisation of subsidiary coins. I was greater part of 1915 was not encouraging satisfied that the Colony was now in a and, in commenting upon the Estimates position to make a substantial contribu- for 1916, the Secretary of State for the tion, and I accordingly, on the 27th June, Colonies described it as most unsatisfac addressed the following telegram to the tory. But towards the close of the year Secretary of State :- the position was much improved, and in January last, when addressing the Secre- tary of State at length upon the subject of the finances, I felt myself justified in concluding my despatch with the follow ing words: I am yery anxious to sub- mit to you proposals for special taxation from which to furnish a special contri- bution from this Colony to Imperial War Expenditure, and I hope to address you' shortly on the matter. On the 24th
Executive February I informed the Council that I proposed to make recom mendations to the Secretary of State re garding a War contribution, and under date the 28th February I asked permis- sion to impose, if Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council agreed, a special war tax which would have given an annual contribution of over $300,000. Mr. Bonar Law pointed out certain objections to the scheme, which was ultimately abandoned. At a meeting of the Execu- t've Council held on the 20th April, I informed the members of what had tran- spired, and the question of providing the
The second alternative suggested was the one which I personally preferred, on the ground that an annual contribution of a fixed percentage of the revenue would be the sounder proposition, since it would fluctuate with the prosperity of the Colony. I purposely avoided indicat ing in the telegram that the alternative proposal emanated from myself, in order that the proposal of Unofficial Members might not run the risk of being preju- diced.
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