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1
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Enclosure 3.
(B)
459
67
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Chinese boat population knew a typhoon was about and were prepared to a certain extent, but the gale veered round later the day and blew directly into the harbos, causing the boats to drag their anchors, of life reported.
There was no loss
(3.) The police have no signals. Unless it is certain that in
typhoon formation can always be obtained of orders for the hoisting of typhoon signals, it is best not to hoist them at all,
Compulsory Military Service for Hongkong
Council then considered the second reading of the Bill intituled, " An Ordi- nance to make provision with respect to military service and to provide for the establishment, maintenance and control of a local defence corps."
reading of the Bill. The first point, Sir, arises in Clause 2," Liability to military noted that it is proposed to call up for Service." Cader this clause it will be military service all British subjecte in this Colony between the ages of 18 and 55 years. Now, Sir, my contention upon that point is that the age of 55 is too high an age to be introduced into a com- pulsory service measure. Home making compulsory service, which The Act at is Act 6 and 7, George 5th, Chap. 15, makes every male British subject, ordinarily resident in Great Britain, between the ages of 18 and 41 liable to be called up for military service during the period of period for military service is laid down the war. Therefore at Home, Sir, the Straits Settlements, although the age of As between 18 and 41 years. In the
only persons between the ages of 18 and 50 appears in the Ordinance of 1913, 40 are called up for military service, and sons between the ages of 40 and 55 are are liable to military training, and per- called Civil Guards, their duties bring merely for the preservation of the peace, and they are placed under the general control of the police officials. Sir, that in Hongkong, with the condi- tions of the elimate prevailing here, that
I submit
the age limit in clause 2 of the Bill should be reduced from 55 to 45, and that of to volunteer, and no doubt there will be course will not prevent those who desire many over 65 who will desire to volunteer. coming in under clause & of the Bill, and asking to be accepted as members of the Hongkong Defence Corps. The next
HON. MR. POLLOCK-Sir, I desire to state in the first place that I am not personally satisfied that any sufficient case has been made out for passing a compulsory service bill at all. It will be within the recollection of all members of this Council that only a few weeks ago we were congratulated by the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies upon the fact that voluntary service in this Colony had led to such good results. And, in view of that, Eir, and in view of the fact that undoubtedly the civil residents of this Colony have come for ward very willingly and freely offered their services, it seem to the that a comclause to which I would refer is clause & pulsory measure is quite unnecessary, I of the Bill, Application of the Army would also submit that the main objeer. Act," and here again there is a provision apparently, which is aimed at by the which is widely opposed to the spirit of regulations attached to this Bill, namely, the legislation in the Home the improvement of the organisation of Inder the provisions of that clause. if the Volunteers and the Volunteer Reserves it wore passed, the effect of it will be country. forres, could equally have been effected that all persons in this Colony from the without the necessity of any compulsory ages of 18 to 55 a much wider limit than And with regard to the fusion exists at Fame-would be subject to the which is sought to be brought about by provisions of the Army Art for an this Bill of the Volunteers and Volun- absolutely indefinite period. for teer Reserves, it would have been quite the duration of the war and six months easy to have brought that about by a thereafter. Now, Sir, as is well known, simple measure, such as was passed in the the Imperial Parliament are very loth to sister Colony of the Straits Settlements enact the Army Act for a long and inde- in the year 1916. pressing these views, Sir, I think, per paid at Home to the liberty of the subject However, whilst ex-finite period. There is so much regard haps, that under all the circumstances. I that we find that even in war time, even had better now bass on to the consider last year, in April, 1916, under the tion of the various details in the Bill provisions of 8, George 5th, Chap. 5, and they are so important, Sir. that I although the war had then been going on think I had better address myself to them for nearly two years-and of course the now, upon the motion for the second war at Home affects them much
measure.
more
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
68
to
2. Right of freedom to attend public
meetings.
3.
very
neces-
nearly than it does us they continue the koug Defence Corps, in regards practice which has existed for centuries, any of the following matters, namely:- I think, of only having an not applicable
1.--Right to the writ of Habeas Corpas to the United Kingdom for the period of one year, from April 30th, 1916, to April 30th, 1917. There can be no doubt, E that at Home they are very lous
Right of freely criticising Govern- ment measures either by speech or apon the subject of the Army Act being
by writing to the papers. put into force for a lengthy period. And,
4-Right of generally or separately br, I would venture to submit that so
petitioning for redress
of any far as any application of the Act is u
grievance, cerned, it would be quite sufficient in this It seems to me that it is Colony, for all practical purposes, if the sary that such a provision should be provisions of the Volunteer Ordinance, inserted in this Bill, seeing that it No. 4 of 1893, section 17, were made ap is proposed to place us plicable to this Defence Corps. I will Army Act, compulsorily, for an indefinite under the read the first part of Section 17 to make period, and seeing also that under Clause my point clear, With respect to the of the Bill there is an indefinite power discipline of officers and volunteers, when vested in the Governor-in-Council to they are under actual military service, make regulations for the constitution, or are undergoing drill, exercise, train- ing or instruction, or who are doing sipline of the Hongkong Defence Corps. management, training, service and dis- Volunteer duties together with His Majesty's regular force, or any part I think that it ought to appear clearly thereof, the following provisions shall in this Bill that the civil rights of the take effect, namely, the provisions of civilian subjects of this Colony are to the Army Act of the Imperial Parliament, remain unaffected by it. I now came, Sir, or so far as the same are applicable and
to consider Clause 8 of the Bill, Power consistent with the provisions of this to make regulations." I must confess, Ordinance, apply to ali officers and Sir, and I say it with all respect, that volunteers, with the following modifica- I was very much disappointed to hear tions only." Then there are various at the last meeting of the Council what modifications of the Army Act mentioned.
your Excelleney said with regard to re- Bat the point, Sir, in that enactment is gulations being laid before the Legislative this, that the Army Act shall only apply Council and approved by it. As I then to officers and volunteers who are doing pointed out, these regulations are regula actual military service, or who are under tions which affect a large and important going drill, exercise, or instruction with
number of the civilian residents of this His Majesty's regular forces, or any part thereof. And under such provisions as that, Sir, I think there would be no feary way of compromise that the Governor- that the ordinary civil rights of the in-Council should make the regulations subject would be likely to be interfered ander Clause 8, but that such regula with. But, Sir, when we come to the tions should not come into force until clause of this present Bill we find that approved of by the Legislative Council. the provisions of the Army Act are to In that way the actual framing of the apply for the indefinite period I have regulations would rest with the Executive mentioned, and there is no doubt, Sir, Council and the right of public criticism that considerable apprehension exists in of these regulations would be reserved by this Colony lest under the shadow of the this provision making them subject to the Army Act some derogation may take approval of the Legislative Council, and place of the natural civil rights of the in that way unofficial members of this citizens of this Colony. Accordingly. Council, as the representatives of the Bic, when the time comes in Committee, public, will have an opportunity of men- I propose to move an amendment which I think will probably he numerically the regulations. I thought, Sir, it might tioning the views of the public upon Clause 12 of the Bill, to the effect that
have been possible to accept this sug- "Nothing contained in this Ordinance, or in any regulation to be made thereunder, gested compromise. I pass on to Clause or in the Army Act, or in the King's 10 of the Bill," Members Regulations, shall be decried to take .K.V.C, and H.K.V.R. to become mem- away, or shall take away, the ordinary bers of the Hongkong Defence Corps and civil rights of the members of the Hong- to have their former rank."
Colony, and it occurred to me to suggest
of the
Hon. mem-
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.