CO129-577-5 Naval Volunteer and Defence Ordinance 1939 4-7-1939 - 28-12-1939 — Page 21

Objects and Reasons.

1. The clauses of this Bill follow the language of the clauses of the second model Ordinance prepared in 1933 by the Colonial Office in consultation with the Admiralty.

2. The first model, to which the second is supple- mentary, has already been enacted, with three additional sections at the end, as Ordinance No. 30 of 1933.

3. The Schedule to the Bill follows the language of the Schedule to the Second Model with certain variations (set) out and explained in the Table of Variations attached to the Bill) which are considered desirable to meet local require-

ments.

4. With regard to the implications of clause 4 of the Bill relating to service and training outside the Colony, it may be explained that the primary function of the Hong Kong Naval Volunteer Force is the defence of the Colony and its sea approaches, and that, although in time of war emergencies might arise necessitating the temporary employ- ment of the Force away from the waters of the Colony in the interests of the more effective prosecution of the war and so indirectly of the defence of the Colony, that primary function would always be kept in view.

5. In times of peace liability for service, other than training, outside the Colony would not be enforced, except in the case of piracies or similar emergencies which, though occurring outside the waters of the Colony, directly affected the interests of the Colony.

6. With regard to training outside the waters of the Colony, it will be appreciated that to confine the movements. of the Force to the comparatively restricted limits of Hong Kong's territorial waters would be prejudicial to effective naval training. It is not contemplated that training would be carried out at such a distance from the Colony as would result in serious interference with the civilian duties of the members of the Force.

C. G. ALABASTER,

Attorney General.

May, 1939.