1939-07-28 — Page 7

HONGKONG DAILY PRESS

COMPULSORY SERVICE BILL

GENERAL

BECOMES

LAW: SPIRITED ADDRESS BY THE G.O.C.

The Hon. Mr. M. K. Lo Pledges Support Of The Chinese Community

THE COMPULSORY SERVICE BILL BECAME LAW YESTERDAY WHEN IT PASSED THROUGH SECOND AND THIRD READINGS AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUN- CIL MEETING. Its passage was featured by a spirited address by His Excellency the General Officer Commanding Troops in China, Major-General A. E; Grasett, in the course of which he affirmed that in the eventuality of the Colony being attacked, "we shall resist to the full power of our resources and strength."

NO RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

The Hon. Mr. M. K. Lo, Unofficial Chinese mem- ber, also spoke, again pledging the support of the Chinese community in any measures which it may be found necessary to take in the interests of the Colony in these abnormal times. He also raised the question of the possibility of racial discrimination in the Hong- kong Volunteers, in reply to which the Acting Colonial Secretary, Hon. Mr. W. J. Carrie, said that fears on that subject were groundless. Other Bills passed at the meeting were Bills amending the Volunteer Ordinance, 1933, the Registration of Per- sons Ordinance, 1939, and the Hydrocarbon Olls Ordinance, 1939.

NO AMENDMENT Attorney General Explains Why

business secrets which ought not to be so disclosed, and that In a matter of this kind em- ployers should realize the elasticity of the clause drafted and trust to the good sense of the tribunals.

I may add that the provisions of the clause are practically Iden- tical with those of section 12 of the Military Service Ordinance, 1918, which dealt with the tribun- als which sat twenty-one years ago and which worked quite smoothly.

1. the

Moving the second reading of the Compulsory Service Bill, Attorney-General' sald:--

"Sir,-Since the first reading of

イ

HON. MR. LO

MAJ-GEN. GRASETT

#!

this Colony will understand that this Alferentiation is being made solely on the grounds of practicabliity.”

this Bill it has been suggested to CHINESE SUPPORTtion of your statement?

me by

RE - PLEDGED

Hon. Mr. M. K. Lo said:—

ATTENDANCE AT COUNCIL

Present at the meeting were:-His Excellency the Governor Sir Geoffry North- cote; His Excellency the Gen- eral Officer Commanding,' Major-General A. E Grasett: the Acting Colonial Secretary, Hon, Mr. W. J. Carrie; the Attorney-Get Hon. Mr. C.G. Alabaster; the Acting Secre- lary for Chinese Aftalts, Hon. Mr. H. R. Baiters; the Floan- cial Secretary, Hon Mr. S. Caine; the Harbour Master, Hon. Comdr. G. F. Hofe, R.N. (Retd.): the Acting Director of Public Works, Hon. Mr. A. B. Purves: the Director of Medical Services, Hon. Dr. P. S. Selwyn-Clarke; the follow- ing bonourable Unofficial members:-Sir Henry Pollock, Mr. T. N. Chau, Mr, M. K. Lo. Mr. S. H. Dodwell, Mr. Leo D'Almada e Castro, Jnr., Mr. J. K. Bousfield and Mr. Li Tse-fonz: and Mr. C. B. Bur- ress (Deputy Clerk of Coun-

clis).

FRIDAY, JULY 28, 1939. —PAGE

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word about the Corps.

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THE VOLUNTEERS

Sir, the Colony is Justly proud May I on behalf of my collea-of its Hongkong Volunteer Defence gues and myself, express to Your Corps. But in order that its Excellency our grateful apprecia-splendid esprit de corps, its em

ciency, may not be impaired, it is Chinese British subjects have essential that all Its members the representatives of

never failed to respond to the should be able to feel that, as certain bustriess houses that the

Colony's call in time of her need, fellow members., working in union public sittings of the tribunals

and if this "measure were an or- for a common cause, they do in provided for in clause 12 (1) of the

Your Excellency—I suppose it is dinary measure for compulsory fact receive equal treatment in Elll might lead to the disclosure of human nature fer peoples of every military service, with the implica- every respect, and in all matters. secrets of business organization clime and place to imagine that tion. I have suggested. I would without any discrimination be- which it would harm any firm the times through which they are have deemed it my duty, as a re-tween race or creed. concerned to disclose in public. living constitute a record of diffi-presentative of the Chinese,» to I understand, Sir, that there has This question has been consider culties. I venture to think that submit that no case whatever had been some rumour as to the possi- ed by Your Excellency and your such a view of our contemporary been made out as against them advisers as well as by the chair-

times will have more historic for compulsory military service." men of the two tribunals and I am authorized to state that the justification than any Government is not prepared to amend the sub-clause, as that clause already gives the tribunals power to conduct their proceedings wholly or partly in private when- ever the majority of the tribunal so decides.

It is considered inconceivable that the tribunals, will force anyone to disclose in public-

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such view

in past history. It seems impossi- ble to doubt that future genera-.

tinns' of ман will read with

astonishment and bewilderment the history of our epoch.

of

bility of racial discrimination being made in regard to pay on mobilisation, and that this rumour has occasioned come concern.

I need hardly point, out that.. this concern has no reference to the sordid question of mere dollars and cents. It arises from a deep "conviction that volunteers working for a cam- mon cause should receive equal; treatment, and from a just re- sentment that any racial dis- crimination should exist in any matter whatsoever.

LANE CRAWFORD

LTD.

The House of Quality & Service

the Legislative Council meet- ing yesterday,

NOT MERE CONSCRIPTION

But, Sir, in my view this Bill is not a mere military conscription 'Bill; it is, as its

· preamble states, a messure "to make provision in respect to They will read of the advance

compulsory service." In scientific knowledge, and

As I understand. the position, material progress unaccompanied the idea underlying the measure by any corresponding evolutionary is this:-that in order to be pre- advance in ethics and morals, of

pared to meet most effectively, unbridled aggression, and as soon as possible, an emer- a reign of and of "grab and take" reminis-gency which we all devoutly hope cent of the jungle days; of a great will never eventuate. it is consi-

I therefore venture respectfully peaceful country, the Republic of dered essential that there should to invite Your Excellency to state children.. China, being overrun by an aggres-exist

some central authority, In this Council that any fear of

efforts of

The largest vote was for $120,000 under Public Works Extraordinary for the purpose of erecting a new camp on the Mental Hospital site in Argyle Street for housing Chi- nese interned soldiers whose pre- sent quarters at Ma Tau Chung Refugee Camp will be made avail- able for destitute, women and

Exports

and Under Imports sor, of the well-nigh superhuman equipped with the necessary power, racial discriminative treatment in office, a sum of $31,000 was passed Great Britain to arm to organise, in orderly stages and the Corps in any matter is ground-for the preparation and carriage herself against unprovoked aggres-without sion and to make her influence felt once more in the sacred. Cause,! of Peace amongst nations.

WILLINGNESS OF PEOPLE

waste of overlapping less. (which would not be easy in any system of voluntary service), all available personnel for all the varied essential services of the

In such a historical picture the Colony. In such a general mobi- willingness of the British people lisation of services for the common in England to submit, in "peace" good, all who are selected for ser- time in 1939, to compulsory mill-vice under the provisions of this tary service, which is so repugnant Bill will be performing valuable to the British ideal of personal public services. For them there freedom, will no doubt be noted should be public with admiration:

there can be no question of per- Isonal stigma.

appreciation;

Such, Sir, is my understand- ing. I realize that it is possi

2 somewhat ble to extract different view from certain words" which fell trom my Honourable friend the Attorney General at last week's meeting." but I have no doubt no such" impression, was ever intended by him.

And it may be that, in such a picture, the action of this Council with the complete unanimity of its members, in passing this Bill into law. which is the first measure of its kind in "peace" time in the history of the Colony now ap- proaching its. Centenary, will have a foot-nota as a signif]- cant action of a tiny part of. the British Empire in the Under clause 11 of the Bill, general cause of Peace.

every person assigned to the Mill- Sir, in explaining at last week's tary or Air sections of the Hong meeting that it was intended at kong Defence Reserve "shall be the present time to apply the pro-deemed to have been duly admitted visions of this Bill only to British as a member of the Hongkong |subjects of European descent. Your/Volunteer Defence Corps."

Excellency was kind enough to

~~

stabe:-

I trust sincerely that the many other British subjects in

HE SHOULD WATCH HIS STEP

WHEN A GREAT PAINTER

Under clause 6 a person certified. as medically-at in the Reserve can enrol in the Corps, subject to Your Excellency's announcement as re-

STEPS BACK TO SEE THE

EFFECT OF HIS WORK HE GETS A REAL

KICK OUT OF IT!

SUPPORT RE-PLEDGED Finally, may 1, Sir, on behalf of my Chinese colleagues and myself, once more pledge the willing co-operation and sup- port of the Chinese Community In any measures which Your Excellency may find it neces- sary to take in the interests of the Colony in these ab- normal times?

COL. SECRETARY

of opium, it being pointed out that owing to the Sino-Japanese hostilities there has been much less importation of illicit opium to the Colony and sales of Govern- ment oplum have Increased to several times the previous average. "Under Public Works Recurrent and Water Works. vote of $80,000 was approved for typhoon and ralustorm, damages.

2

The damage caused this year by rainstorms are given as Buildings $8,000; Drainage $12,550; Electri- cal Works $2,245; Forts Works The Colonial Secretary: "The $11,000; and Roads $41,282, mak; only point which has arisen toing a total of $75,077. which an answer seems required is

the suggestion of racial discri REPORTS TABLED

•IN

COUNCIL

mination within the Hongkong Volunteer Corps. I am grateful to the Hon. Mr. Lo Man-kam for the

A voluminous Report on the So- opportunity to state that his fears

cial and Economic Progress of the on this subject are groundless.

This Government fully agrees] Feople of the Colony of Hongkong. that all members of the Corps for the year 1938, with an appen should receive equal treatment in dix on the Effects of the Sino- every respect and at all times."

FINANCE VOTES APPROVED

Supplementary votes, total- Ung $278,605 were approved: by the Finance Committee at its meeting immediately following

ESPECIALLY...ER

Japanese hostilities, was tabled in Legislative Council. yesterday.

Other reports laid were those of the Chairman of the Urban Coun- cil, the Superintendent of Imports and Exports and the Superinten- dent of the Botanical and Forestry Department.

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