32
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
been submitted to His Majesty's Govern-
ment
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL then, Order so that the Bill could be passed moved the suspension of the Standing through all its stages at that meeting.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY second ed.
HON.
it
28
38
HON. MR. POLLOCK 1 suppose that this Bill will mean an increase in the staff if it is passed. That seems to be the result of a Bill of this sort.
18 EXCELLENCY--We have got a
MR. HON,
to be
ננה
Ail
POLLOCK- With
increase of staff. That
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
retrospective application of the Bill will The "Objects and Reasons state the make them all liable. Clause 41,
the and the consideration of His the object of this Bill is to provide for which lays down that all persons embark-doubtless be considered, and after Majesty's Government has been invitede taxation of tobacco consumed in thing shall have their luggage searched is Bill passes, should later on further on the subject. This case is not analo. Oplony. It is based on the Liquors Co Dos extraordinary clause, and I amendments be considered necessary, they think it will be difficult to find any pre- will doubtless receive the sympathetic gous to the legislation which the hon. solidation Ordinance, 1916.
cedent for such extraordinary legislation consideration of the Government. member who spoke third on the subjret referred to, and which, by the way, this
as that. It will mean a great deal of Government got very little credit for at
the Colony. I think that this is the first inconvenience when one wishes to leave the time from unofficial members in Hong
time in the history of the Colony that kong or the unofficial public generally,
passengers who embark here will have to That legislation was passed with and by
undergo the inconvenience of having the consent of His Majesty's Government.
their luggage searched, and have a white The legislation entailed by the resolu
chalk cross or some other sign placed staff. tion proposed is legislation which His
showing that it has been pon Majesty's Government have most care- fully considered and to which they can-
examined by a Revenue Officer. Such an 1 would appeal
experience will be entirely new in the deference, Sir, I think there will have not give their consent. to hou, members that if this Council, in
Colony, and 1 think it is a restriction of a most vexatious kind. We are told that seems to be obvious to anybody taking this Bill is founded upon the Liquors a
view of it. Thera spite of the opinion given to it by the
Ordinance, but there are great differences must be some staff employed in Attorney-General, passes this resolution and thereafter devotes much time to legis
between this Bill and the Liquors Bill. These are points which I have so far been lation which would inevitably be vetoed,
ble to find out in connection with the it would be, at a very serious time, em-
proposed Bill, and I submit that it is barrassing His Majesty's Government. I understand we are at war, and I under
has been put down for first reading to not right and proper that this Bili, which stand that it is the duty of all the
day, should be rushed through in this Colonies in all the corners of the Empire
way, and I beg to move as an amendment to rally to the flag, and to asseit His
that the further consideration of the Bill Majesty's Government in every way in
he postponed for a fortnight. 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 is not pressed for. I therefore ask the hon. member not to press this resolution, which, I think, after what the Attorney General has said, it will be realised is not convenient.
Om
HON. Ma. 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 ment 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.
Tobacco Tax for Hongkong
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved The first reading of a Bill intituled, "An Ordinance to provide for the tax ation of tobacco."
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY second- ed, and the Bill was read a first time.
HOLYOAK-I HON. MR.
Commonsense
con-
not
n. POLLOCK ·T rise oppose the suspension of the Standin Orders. This Bill was only sent out wit the Orders of the Day, and we were the told that it would only come up for fire reading to-day. My objection is not Ronnie purely foroil one.
nection of the matter. 1 am members he had this Bill in the
all at satisfied that some other measure, possession for barely three days-1 sar it for the first time on Tuesday morning
such as an increase in the Bating assess and it is unreasonable to expect us
ment, could not have been devised to give know much about it, because this B requires a great deal of study. I do
additional cost for collection. us the extra revenue needed without any We dłu think there is an unofficial member wh
not know exactly what revenue we shall can be said to have had sufficient time
get from the measure, we are acting very consider the measure, and the Obje
much in the dark, as to the exact amant and Reasons, which are usually finger
to be produced, and we are going to em- posts to guide us where to look, are the shortest possible nature in this Bill
ploy an additional staff, the expenditure beg to on which Mr. Hutchison estimates at By the courtesy of the Attorney-Generond that. I agree that insufficient I was supplied with a copy of the Strait time has been given for the consideration15,000 per annum. Settlements Ordinance on this matter of the Bill, which is an important That, I find, Sir, is quite a new measu
measure and which has so many contro- HIS EXCELLENCY--Hon. members and, therefore, it cannot be said to hu
versial points. I may say, speaking on
who have lived in the Colony, which is anything to recommend it from the yo behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, who a free port, for a number of years are of view of experience. I find that the have already considered the question in no doubt unaware of what happens in are various matters in regard to the brief time allowed, that they consider Colonies where the principal source of measure which are very much open i the principle of
taxa revent is import duties. Now, tion grossly unfair to the Colony was for Some criticism, and I do not mean there
time in the Colony For instance, this Bil and a thing almost, if not en of Fiji. and there the principal small details. proposes to tax retrospectively tobac tirely, without precedent. Another thing source of revenue was the import duties. which may have been in this Colony which I should like to mention is And knowing what has happened there the last year or two. It is not propos the sudden manner in which this Bill I have learned that if you want to tax to tax tobacco imported into this Colon has been fung upon us, because, as far
new matter you have to put the tax on we will say, to-day or to-morrow, buti as my recollection serves me, it was dis very quickly or otherwise you will simply is proposed to tax tobacco which a finetly stated when the last Liquor play into the hands of the dealers and have been imported a year or two an Ordinance was passed that the revenue cigars and cigarettes, and make the raised by the increase in duties would see liable to duty. That, Sir, is one poin us through for this year. One is therefore Another point in the Objects and Reason particularly interested in knowing what is that this Bill is based on the Lique this money to be raised by the Bill is Consolidation Ordinance, 1911.
Clau for.
retrospective
17 of the proposed Ordinance says th the owners, charterers, agents, master HON. MR. E. SHELLIM-I beg to differ or compradores of any ship shali preves from the Hon. Members who have just the discharge of any dutiable tobacs spoken. The principle of the Bill hav- I cannot find a clause in the Lique ing been accepted I am of opinion that Ordinance resembling that. Clause it should go through at this sitting. In and 28 refer to the same people; y Comulitise various amendments, such as,
I
rchants and use untold revenue and see undone what you have really worked
for. In Fiji it was the custom to table without any notice being given to un- a Bill containing alterations of this kind
official members whatsoever. It was in- troduced and put through at a sitting. Now this is a Bill for the taxation of tobacco. In connection with the measure, on April 7th, we wrote to that august body, the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, and 1 do not call them august
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.