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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
to think that this small Colony is an Imperial asset is an Imperial interest. It contributes to the prosecution of the now and it is maintaining British trade for, the trying and difficult period after the war. The only danger is that in our local preoccupation we may, per- haps, sometimes be a little blind to the larger Imperial need. In view of that larger Imperial need the Chain- ber of Commerce in April addressed the Government and asked for the introduc. tion of compulsion for the purpose of military service with H.M's, forces out- side the Colony. This Bill was introduced in consequence of that request and it is a real attempt to find some more men for the Army. The main question which arises on the Bill is what is the standard to be applied? In the first place, as has been already stated, it is intended, at present, to call up only men who would fall into the class of Al men in England, men who are perfectly physically fit and suitable for the front line. Unfortun- ately, that will restrict very considerably the number of men available, but for the time being that is the only class which the military authorities in England re- quire from Hongkong.
In the second place, there is the question of age. The age, of course, in Great Britain until recently was up to the forty-first birthday. That is the age which has been taken under the scheme which is now being ap- plied to British subjects in China. It is the age, as far as I can ascertain, adopted in the scheme in force in the Straits Settle ments, but in view of the terms of the telegram, it is proposed to take here only up to the 40th birthday. I would like to say here that it is intended to call up every man between the ages of 18 and 40 years who is physically fit-fit for the Al class and of pure European There is no intention of making any descent. selection beforehand, or of omitting to call up any particular class of men. All coming within the class specified will be called up and will come before the Tri- bunal. The third point on the question of standard is a much more difficult one. I would like to point out again that the need which this Bill proposes to meet is an Imperial need. It is a great need- an urgent need. It is not only an Imperial need. Sir, but it is our need, too. It is unthinkable that we should ever give up in this struggle in which the nation and the Empire is engaged. But if we were beaten, British trade interests
to remain.
and
an
Hongkong.
in Hongkong would be at the mercy of
entirely unscrupulous enemy, would not be worth many months' pur- chase. The Bill, of course, recognises, one ground on which exemption may be granted, one ground on which men are to be kept here, the ground of Imperial interests. That, I think, will not give rise to any difficulty. Clearly, if a man is directly helping on the war by his occupation here, he must be allowed to remain here, in fact he must be made recognises, as I said just now, that the. The Bill goes further and
Imperial asset, and anything essential- Colony is an Imperial interest, essential to the continued existence of the Colony--is also recognised as a ground grounds, the ground of Imperial interest for exemption. There are, therefore, two and the ground of essential Colonial interest, but I think that one must never forget the underlying reason for that second ground, and that is the question of Imperial interest. That must in all cases be the final touchstone. What do the eaven- tial interests of the Colony mean Clearly they include trade interests; and they include British trade interests in China which are controlled from The word essence means, of course, some- thing which remains after something else has been taken away. and essential interests mean something very different from the maintenance of the present state of affairs. The old standard of "Business a usual " which was swept away in England in the early days of the war is now to be abandoned here. Perhaps it has already been abandoned abandoned to a much more certain extent, but it now has to be stringent extent. The result will no doubt be loss larger businesses may have to be eur. to some and hardship to others. The tailed. New enterprises, however pro mising, may have to be restricted, and in the case of one man businesses and occupations it may be that some of them will have to be closed altogether for the time being. Essential, of course, does not essential to the Colony. The one man mean essential to the individual, but
which the Colony must have some, but occupation
may belong to class though some of that class may be neces eary it may not be necessary for Colony to have the number at present the existing and, in such cases, the Tribunal will have to decide which men are to go and which to stay. There is no intention, of course, to sacrifice the smaller to the larger, but if a man happena
to "
to bo
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
or
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Our
engaged in an occupation which is not and carrying on the best traditions of our essential then he will have to suffer for
race. We hope that the men who go from the good of the Empire. That brings me, Hongkong will do the same. But it was Sir, to the question of temporary exemp felt that the men who volunteered before tion. The only two grounds of absolute the Military Service Commission should exemption are the two grounds of be allowed to choose, as they would have Imperial interests and essential Colonia! been able to do, had they been set free interests. The third ground of exemp- on that occasion, the kind of service tion--but it is only for temporary which they will enter, subject of course exemption-is the ground of exceptional to the decision of the Army authorities. financial or business obligation or domes. It was intended to send those men tie position. No exemption granted on Home if they so prefer.
Anyone. Sir. that ground can last for a longer period who is not, for the time being at all than six months. The English Act does events, of military age must speak with not contain that definite period of six months, but it recognises that exemption which involves great personal sacrifice great reluctance in support of any policy granted on these grounds must be tem- on the part of others. One must feel an porary, and the reason for some limita almost equal reluctance in advocating & tion of time here is that men who get policy which involves financial and busi- exemption for three or six months will not be ready for the fighting line for this, as between these two kinds of sacri. asa sacrifice. But one can at least say year or fifteen months from now, and Any longer exemption would defer to little time ago
fice, as the Prime Minister said some long the man from being made available soldiers and sailors, and I think that the
in speaking of for the present need which is so great words might also be extended to the and so urgent. I do not profess to know what the conditions of the Colony arc.
splendid men of our mercantile marine, I do not profess to know how many or
Nothing that we who stay can give up or suffer can equal bow few this standard I have suggested
even faintly will realise, but I am convinced it is the approach what they are daily and true standard, and that the final test in
hourly called upon to endure. It is to every case must be that of Imperial in-help to lighten their burden and to help terests. Coming now to the detail of the to defend the Empire that we, the whole procedure under the Bill, I think it is
Colony, however our views may differ well known that the intention is to set
on details, now propose to send this little up & Tribunal, to contain a substantial further instalment of men which we hope commercial majority, to deal with the that this legislation will produce, men in the class which I have described who will come before it. The Tribunal says whether the men are to go or whether they are to stay. From that decision of the Tribunal there will be an appeal open either to the mazi, or to his employer, or to the military authorities. If the Tribunal decide that the man shall be enrolled and any appeal against that decision is dismissed. the man's name will then appear in the Enrolment List which will appear in the Gazette, and as soon as the name appears in that list be becomes a member of H. M'e. Forces and remains so during the period of the war. One exception is the case to which you. Sir. have referred that is a man who volunteered for service outside the Colony before the Military Service Corumission, before the 1st of May this year. It is not intended that any slur should be cast on any man who goes under this present Ordinance, any man who goes under the new provisions. There are thousands and thousands of man-con- scripts who have gone out from England who are eunobling the name of conscript,
onded the motion.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY sec-
HON. MR. H. E. POLLOCK In speaking on the second reading of the Bill I shall. of course, not deal with mere matters of detail, which will be moved in Committee, but I should like to deal with a few questions of general principle, and I hope that you, Bir, will be able, when you have heard what I have got to say, to give a sympathetic hearing to a few suggestions I have to bring forward. Your Excel- lency, in sending the telegram which was dispatched last night to the Secretary of State for the Colonies with reference to separate allowances and maintenance for the men who will go under this Bill, and also with reference to insuring their lives, has rightly gauged the feeling of the unofficial trembers, which, I believe. is universal throughout this Colony- namely, that although a number of people will go under this Bill, provided they pass the medical examination, it is the desire of this Colony as a whole that adequate provisions should be made for their
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