CO129-440 - Others & Individuals - 1916 — Page 55

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Confidential.

C

0

Sir,

62357

Go

REC

REG 28 DEC16

59655

54

22nd December, 1910.

ith reference to your letter of yesterday

enclosing a despatch and enclosures from the Governor of

Hong Kong regarding the censorship of the Press in that

colony, and inviting our observations on the Governor's

proposals, we have read the despatch end enclosure 21,

not the various questions of censorship discussed in the

other enclosures to the despatch.

but

As regards the pronosed censorship Regulations, they appear to be based upon Reguletions 18, 27, 48, and 51, under the Defence of the Realm Act, and while they seer

to us to meet the case where they follow the Tnglish Regulations, we suggest the following alterations for the

consideretion of Mr. Secretary Long.

(a) The hission of the word "such" in the last

line of the first page of enclosure 21.

(b)

(c)

On the second page of the same enclosure

Regule tion 3, line 10, the word "been" appears to have been, omitted, and in the next line where it is laid down that "in contrevention of Regulation 2", we suggest that this should read, "in contravention of Regulation 1 and 2". The corresponding English Regulation is No.51, and we have always thought that the omission in that Regulation of No.18, must have been en oversight.

On the third pege of enclosure 21, lines 7 and 8,

for the words "The Magistrete may issue a warrant authorizing a constable to enter", we suggest that where as in Hong Kong there is a police force largely composed of native constables, it is advisable to substitute for the word "constable", either, "an inspector of police" or

Lower at least "A European constable of police". down on the same pege, Regulation 5 for "any police officer" we suggest "any European police officer", but in this latter case it may not be