controlled so far as "Hong Kong residents are concerned. Whether or not, accommodation is reserved for such residents would not really affect the petitioners if they were allowed to apply the charges paid by transient guests.
The petitioners are, however, afraid that the wide powers conferred on the Quartering Authority by section 4 of the Ordinance might be used to increase control still further. I suspect that this is the main grievance. If I am right, perhaps it would be possible to allay petitioners' fears by conceding that the Quartering Authority will be assisted by en Advisory Committee consisting of, say, 4 members, two of whom would be hotel managers or directors Further concessions might consist in toning down paragraph (e) of section 4(1) which enables regulations being made "requiring the manager or any persons concerned in the management or any hotel to supply any specified services".
J
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7. However, the difficulty facing the petitioners is that the Ordinance was passed by an overwhelming majority (only one vote against). They now seek to have the Ordinance disallowed and I wonder whether they realise that such a step is not resorted to unless there are very weighty objections against an Ordinance.
(Sgd.) M de Comamond
4.4.49
154
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