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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
(a) Fixing a scale of fares, or
(b) Insisting that each motor car so plying carries with it a meter
registering an approved scale of charges.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY- I regret that the answers to these questions are not yet ready.
FINANCE.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. The Governor, laid upon the table Report of Finance Committee No. 10, dated 29th August, and moved that it be adopted.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and this was agreed to.
PIRACY SUPPRESSION.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled, "An Ordinance to amend the law relating to the suppression of piracy."
In doing so he said-This Bill is one of the measures decided upon in consequence of the report of the "Sunning" Piracy Commission. It will repeal the present Piracy Prevention Ordinance of 1914 and all the Regulations which have been made thereunder.
The present system, therefore, by which ship owners enter into a bond to carry out certain regulations, within and without the Colony, will disappear. The Bill besides repealing the present Ordinance and the regulations will give power to make new regulations. The draft of the proposed new regulations will, it is hoped, be published in the Gazette on Friday, September 16th. That draft is not necessarily the final draft, because it has not yet received the approval of the Government, but it is expected it will represent fairly accurately what eventually will be enacted by the Governor-in-Council. There are two particular features in the new regulations. First of all they will relate solely to acts to be done and powers to be exercised within the territorial limits of the Colony. Secondly, they are confined to the searching of vessels. They will contain no provision for any structural alterations, grilles or otherwise. The question of the Piracy Prevention Guards is still under consideration and it may be that the final passing of this Bill, or at least its final coming into effect, will be postponed until that question has been further considered It is probable, therefore, on the next occasion this Bill comes before Council I shall move for the addi- tion of a Suspending Clause which will provide that the Ordinance shall not come into force until such date as may be fixed by the Governor-in-Council.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded the motion, and the Bill was read a first time.
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