HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
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and then he resumes his cutting and stealing. The present Bill proposes to tackle this problem from a new point of view. The proposal is that certain definite, carefully selected areas should be declared prohibited areas and it will be an offence not merely to cut trees in such areas but an offence to be found in those areas. The areas will bo carefully selected by the Governor-in-Council, the boundaries will be clearly marked and there will be no excuse for anyone straying into those areas inadvertently. It will be made quite clear that the area is one that should not be entered. The prohibition against entry into these areas will be absolute so that only will persons who wish to cut wood or grass be prohibiting from entering, but also shooting parties and picnic parties will, for the general good, have to keep out of these areas as well. It is the intention at the moment merely to make a beginning by declaring prohibited a certain area on the hill-side between Tai Tam harbour on the West and Big Wave Bay and Shek O on the East. The Ordinance does not apply to the New Territories, other than New Kowloon.
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THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a first time.
OBJECTS AND REASONS.
1. The afforestation operations of the Botanical and Forestry Department are greatly hampered by the practice of cutting and stealing the trees in the afforestation areas. Very young trees are sometimes also cut in the course of grass cutting. The areas in ques- tion are so widely spread that it is difficult to detect and catch offenders. One expedient adopted by them is to hide their cutting implements in a plantation, so that they are not found approaching the plantation or coming from it with any cutting implements. Further, if while engaged in cutting in a plantation they see forest guards approaching, they hide their implements and, when questioned, say that they are merely passing through the plantation. The forest guards have to proceed on their patrol and the wood stealer can then recover his implements and continue his cutting.
2. This Bill is an attempt to preserve the plantations from such depredations by making it an offence to enter any prohibited forestry area without lawful authority or excuse. It will be much easier to detect and prove presence in such an area than to prove actual cutting or stealing.
3. The area will be declared by the Governor in Council in each case to be a prohibited area, and the boundaries will be marked or indicated by means of fire barriers or otherwise. Warning notices in English and Chinese will be placed along the boundaries at intervals not greater than 440 yards.
4. It is obviously necessary to make the prohibition of entry into the prohibited area an absolute one applying to all persons, because
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