CO129-476 - Acting Governor Claud Severn & Governor Sir Stubbs - 1922 [8-12] — Page 172

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receiveu, mereu, forcibly using me legislative power of this Colony to ueprive our clients of their right to ave their legal claim testeu by the Courts of this Colony, in other words the Government of hongkong proposed to make for themselves a defence which they otherwise nad not got to our clients action by passing a special gruinance taking away our clients legal rights.

The oruinance in question passed its first reauing on

the 1st September 1921, see longkong naisaru for 1921, page

109, but in ueference to strenuous opposition nelu over the

second reading until the 3rd August 1922 when again strenuous

opposition was made in the Legislative Council by our clients

to the passing of the second reading, see report of the

Hongkong Jaily Press. The miru and final reauing of the

oruinance will take place on the 17th August 1922.

Between the first au secoДu reading of the ordinance

negotiations took place between the hongkong Government and

our clients with a view to ascertain whether a settlement

could be arrived at, anu certain proposals were discussed

with our clients the effect of which would have been that the

$2, 201, 204.11 was to be divineu equally between the mongkong

Government and our clients, but the unofficial members of

the Legislative Council of unis colony refused to enworse

the Hongkong Government's suggestion, and consequently the

proposal was withdrawn and the second reading passed.

From a reference to paragraph lo of the printed Petition

it will be seen that the snipowners concerned have notwith-

standing the payments made by the Hongkong Government

sustained enormous losses, and our clients therefore submit tuat, navina rezaru to the enormous losses which the, nave sustained, to the terribi, uepressed state of the slipping

trade in the Far East to the enormous foreign competition

which they nad and nave to contend with, it is only right

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