354
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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
ships which go to and fro, the labour employed on the water-front and in the harbour. the work which goes on in merchants' offices. If export is prohibit- ed, imports cease and the trade will no doubt go to some more accommodating centre, the Colony being left with the very poor consolation of a few thousand tons of extremely expensive rice which happens to be the godowns when the prohibition camo into force. The general situation is that export at all the produc- ing centres is practically at a stand-still. The Government holds considerable stocks, partly purchased in Saigon, part- ly purchased locally and partly requisi- tioned locally, and, in this connection, I may express the Government's apprecia- tion of the assistance rendered by the Kwangtung Food Relief Association and the Military Government of Canton for allowing the export of 10,000 piculs from Canton to Hongkong. The Government is in negotiation with various centres for further supplies and it earnestly hopes, and has very good reason to believe, that sup- plies will be forthcoming at a rate which will enable it to put on the market & con- siderably cheaper grade of rice than the cheapest grade now being sold, the price of which is $11.11 a picul. But, of course, it must be borne in mind that prices may continue to rise and, in that event, the Government will be faced with the alternative, either of raising its price or of selling at a heavy loss which will have to be met out of fresh taxation. I was informed this morning that the pros- perts of the crops in Siam and Indo- China are very good. It must be re- membered, too, that large quantities of other food-stuffs are continually passing through the Colony. Beans come favan North China where they are a staple food-stuff, whilst flour constitutes an im- portant trade. If the price of rice re- maine permanently at a high level no doubt, in time to come, the Chinese will accustom themselves to at least a partial substitution of some cheaper form of dietary. I take this opportunity to ex- press the obligation of the Government to employers of labour for the assistance they have rendered in the matter by giving special rice allowaDors. The Gov- ernment is also under obligation to the Tang Walt hospital
help for their in the matter generally, and, more par- ticularly, in the management of the congee stations which are now working, also to the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank which rendered most useful assistance in the matter of financing the large pur
chases which have been made. I beg to move the first reading of the Bill.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL seconded, and the Bill was read a first lime.
Objects and Reasons
The Objects and Reasong state: The objects of this Bill are as follows:-
-Clause 2 removes any doubts as to the validity of any acts heretofore done by the Govemment and by its Officers or any person acting under its direction to cope with the recent abnormal rise in the price of rice.
2.Clause 3 gives the Governor power to requisition and resell rice on payment of compensation either agreed upon be- tween the parties or settled by a Board therein provided, and prohibits any per- son neglecting to obey or impeding the exevation of any such orders.
3-Clause 4 excuses a breach of con- tract in so far as it has been caused by any requisition.
4.
Clause 5 enacts that the Government shall not make a profit on the total pro- ceeds of all sales of rice.
5. Clause prohibits the removal from the Northern District of any rice with- out the permission in writing of the dis- trict officer.
6.Clause 7 provides for the fixing of retail prices of particular qualities of rice.
7. Clause 8 provides for Standard Government qualities of rice.
9.- Clause 9 makes it an offence to sell
rice purporting to he of Standard Gov. ernment quality when it is not such.
9.
Clause 10 prohibits the sale of any rice supplied by the Government except under a licence from an officer appointed by the Governor.
10. Clause 11 prohibits the mixing of different qualities of rice and their mix- ture with any foreign substance.
11. Clause 12 contains a power of entry and inspection and of taking samples. 12. Clause 13 is a penalty clause. 13. Clause 14 gives power to Governor-in-Council to make Regula- tions.
the
14. Clause 15 contains a saving of other powers.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Billintituled, An Ordinance to prohibit former Enemy Aliens from being within the Colony without a per-
62
Enemy Aliens Restriction Ordinanca H.E. THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING
THE GOVERNMENT In view of re presentations made to me that the passing of this Bill is a matter of great urgency. and as I am of the opinion that such urgency exists, I have granted permission ander Standing Order 48 for a motion to be put to the Council that this Bill he carried through all its stages in one sitting,
mit.
Council.
In doing so, he said:-This Bill, Sir, has had to be prepared at somewhat short notice, and hon. members will see from the star next to the Bill that it is pro- posed to pass the Bill through all its stages at this meeting of the Council, The hon. member who represents the Justices of the Peace has been good enough to make suggestions to me in re- gard to some matters of detail in con nection with this Bill, and I think the Bill itself, which we gather from instruc- tions from the Secretary of State forms part of the Imperial policy of the Home Government, will commend itself to this
TheObjects and Reasons clearly state the objects of this Bill. The definition of a former enemy alien has been specially drawn so as to exclude subjects of new friendly States which have come into being since the Peace Treaty from the definition of former enemy aliens. By Clause 3 of the Bill it is enacted that no former enemy alien as so defined shall come or be within the Colony of Hongkong either generally or for a limited period unless he possesses a permit for that purpose signed by the Colonial Secretary. It is also epacted that such permit may contain such con- ditions as the Government may direct. I am quite sure hon. members will appre ciate the fact that it is necessary there should be considerable latitude in this matter of granting permits and, further, to impose such conditions as the Governor may direct. Clause 4 is the penalty clause, and it provides a double kind of penalty, that is to say, either deportation under the Deportation Ordinance of 1917 or, if a further penalty is required be- yond that, when a person commits a breach of Section 3 he shall also be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 and imprisonment for any term not exceeding one year. The term of the duration of the Ordinance is fixed by Clause 5 at a period of three yeats from the date of commencement thereof.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY second- ed, and the Bill was read a first time.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL then moved that the Standing Rules be suspended in order to enable the Bill to be passed through all its stages.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and this was agreed to.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL then moved the second reading of the Bill.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY second- exi, and the Bill was read a second time.
The Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.
THE HON, MR. E. V. D. PARR-May I ask if the Bill will come up for discussion again at the end of three years.
H.E. THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT-I cannot say. It is a matter which may or may not come up. No doubt if there are good reasons for wishing to continue the period now fixed they will be made known. I cannot possibly say what the policy of H.M's. Government will be at the end of three the subject of very careful consideration years. No doubt this period has been before it was fixed.
The Bill passed through Committee without amendment, and, upon Council resuming, the Attorney-General moved the third reading.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
TheObjects and Reasons"
state:-
based on instructions received from the 1. The object of this Bill, which is Secretary of State for the Colonies, is to prohibit any alien enemy from coming and being within the Colony of Hong- kong without a permit from the Govern ment, issued by the Colonial Secretary,
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