CO129-443 - Governor Sir May - 1917 [7-9] — Page 521

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of an office or situation of emolument under the Crown, but it was thought advisable to make the point quite clear, and that conceivable constructionis accopay1hätived by paragraph (a) of section 2 of

this Ordinance.

2.

Paragraph (b) of section 2 of the Jury Amendment Ordinance, 1914, Ordinance No. 26 of 1914, exempted from liability to' jury

service all officers and non-commissioned officers of the Volunteer

Force, and such other efficient menbers of the Volunteer Force as

might be allowed by the Governor in Council. This exemption had

30 been approved by the Secretary of State in his despatch of the 20th

2004 July, 1914, Although the average degree of intelligence and in-

ependence in the case of common juries in this Colony leaves some-

thing to be desired, especially in the present depleted state of

the European population, and although it would have been desirable

to strengthen the common jury list by the inclusion of these exemp-

ted persons, it was thought advisable not to abolish at this stage

this privilege which was enjoyed by certain members of the Volunteer

Force.

Accordingly paragraph (b) of section 2 of this Ordinance

confers the same imunity in respect of the corresponding members

of the Hongkong De fence Corps. No members of the Volunteer

Force other than officers and non-co-missioned officers were ever

exempted from jury service by the Governor in Council, and it is not

at present proposed that this power of exemption by the Governor in

Council should be exercised,

3. In my opinion this is an Ordinance to which His Excellency

the Governor may properly assent in the name of His Majesty and on

ils behalf.

Face

Attorney General,

13th September, 1917.