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it requires to be thoroughly pvør-hauled, and parts of it are fit only for the scrap- heap. (Applause). That part of the system mostly in need of the scrap.heap. is that which is based on the outrageous; fallacy that a section of the Empire with a predominantly alien population cannot be fairly governed according to the tradi tional principles of British justice with out Brst disfranchising the English, Scotch, Welsh and Irish, who have made and are making the Colony what it is and who in times of war and other dan- gers are expected to shoulder the main burden of defence. (Hear, hear). Gen- tlemen, we do not even ask that the Colony's Charter should be revised. That Charter provides that there shall be a Legislative Council and that it shall con sist of such persons as may be indicated in instructions issued from time to time under the Royal Bign Manual and Signet. During the course of the Colony's growth these instructions have been amended
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many times The last time they were amended, they were amended to give an opportunity for Chinese representation in the Council, so it is time for every section of the community to claim consideration in their turn. We now ask that the elective principle already recognised for the last 25 years in the case of two mem- bers should be extended to cover the selec tion of at least, seven members. Of this seven we consider that the Chamber of Commerce has done nothing in the past to forfeit its right to continue to elect a commercial representative. (Applause) This is a part of the world which is pri marily dependent on commerce, and as long as the Chamber of Commerce con- tinues to elect members of the calibre of the late Hon. Mr. E. A. Hewitt and the Hon. Mr. P. H. Holyoak wo have reason to ask for a change. (Applause). Again, the Justices of the Peace have in the past selected worthy representatives I need only mention the names of the Hon. Mr. Murray Stewart and the Hon. Mr. H. E. Pollock to show you that we ought to be satisfied with the intelligence. and judgment of the Justices of the Peace. (Applause). But the body which has the greatest claim to recognition, and which has already been spoken of in the amend ment which we all support, is that of the Jurors of Hongkong and those who are exempt from jury service by reason of their professions, traden or occupations. (Applause). Especially is this so in the case of those who are on the jury list. As representatives of law and order they perform cheerfully and conscientiously, without remuneration. an arduous duty in the Administration of British Justice, which in the basis of the whole fabric o the British Empire. (Applause). In fact, Bo well qualified are the jurors of Hong kong for the performance of their import- ant duties that, under the laws of the Colony, even in a case of life and death we do not require more than soven men to do the work which in the Mother Country cannot be entrusted to less than twelve. (Applause). I have given you some reasons why we should insist that the bulk of the members should be of British race. A. considerable section of the jurors trace their ancestry to those pioneers of civilisation, the Tastuguese,
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(Applause). They also have big interests and points of view of their own which can not fairly be ignored, and they form ag essential part of the Commercial Com munity. We are therefore prepared to reserve one seat for a British subject of the Portuguese race, and I think that though he is elected by the whole of the British Community he could nevertheless place the point of view of his com patriots before the Legislative Council as. well as two Chinese members who are nominated by a single Irishman. (Laugh ter and applause.) Nobody had yet said that the two Chinese members nominated by a single Irishman did not represent the Chinese community. Until the other day, it was not noticed that we had left onl of our resolutions the Chinese. We did so because in the clearest possible man- ner they indicated to us that they did not wish to be associated with electorat reform. But within the last week, stirred doubtless by our example, they have pass- ed resolutions to the effect that they wish one additional member, and that he should be elected by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Well, we are broad- minded enough to say that we will sup port them if that is their view. The view has been so recently put forward tha we do not know yet whether the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the Tung Wab Hospital, or some other such body should choose the representative. Mr. d'Almada thinks that we are endangering the E- pire by giving the vote to certain Chinese who are not British subjects. [Mr. d'Almada: I did not say anything of the sort]. I can assure Mr. d'Aimada that the Government at Home will be informed by the Government of the Colony if the peace and order of the Colony will be endangered, and if necessary, safeguards will be introduced to limit the right of voting to British sub- jects only. We are here not speaking on behalf of the Chinese, and, therefore we have no right to curtail their demands. I have great pleasure in supporting Mr. Cartwright's amendment. (Applause.)
The CHAIRMAN: Mr. Alabaster has very ably replied in support of the re- solutions, but he has failed to point out to you that the British Government at Home is not likely to support a resolu tion which gives a rote to a non-British subject in the Colony. I am somewhat surprised at the audacity of the request made by Mr. d'Almada, simply and solety because this is a British Colony. (AP plause.) I do not think that if we were to go and attempt auch thing in the neighbouring Colony of Macão it would be considered for one moment. We are only prepared to support British-Portuguese subject, supported by a British Portuguese electorate.
The CHAIRMAN then put Mr. d'Almada's motion to the meeting and it was rejected by an overwhelming majority,
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Mr. CARTWRIGHT'S amendment then carried by a very large majority. On being put as a substantive motion with the remainder of the resolutions it wa agreed to unanimously
After a vote of thanks to the Chairman, moved by Mr. Ormiston and seconded by Mr. Dowbiggin, the National Anthem was wung and the proceedings closed."
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