112550-1927-Supplementary-Bills-read-a-first-time--Printers-and-Publishers-Prisons-Amendment-Volunteer-Amendment-Railways-Amendment — Page 8

751

Objects and Reasons

1. This Ordinance repeals and re-enacts, with alterations, the Printers and Publishers Ordinance, 1886, Ordinance No. 4 of 1886.

2. There are several alterations in the interpretation section. The attempt to secure a full address, where one has to be given, by means of a definition in the interpretation section has been abandoned. Reliance is now placed on the requirement of a "full address" in sections 6 and 7 and in Form No. 1 in the Schedule, and on the fact that inquiries can always be made at the time by the Registrar in any case of doubt. Further, the old definition of place of business" and " place of residence" would have failed in more than one instance, e.g., in the ease of a block of offices or flats. The new definition of address " is confined to making it clear (1) that an individual may give his private or business address, and (2) that the address of a corporation is its head office within the Colony.

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3. "Editor "is defined as meaning the chief editor if there are more editors than one, and as including an acting chief editor.

4. The definition of

newspaper" has been shortened. It is widened to include periodicals published at intervals of a month. The definition of newspaper register" seems to be unnecessary : see section 4 (9) and (10).

5. The definition of "person "is new in the Ordinance but has been used in other Ordinances.

6. The definition of "printed document occurs in sections 6 and 7.

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is new.

The term

7. The definition of "printing press is also new.

deals with printing presses.

8. "Proprietor" is defined as including lessee.

Section 5

9. The definition of "Registrar" has been altered because it is intended to appoint the Secretary for Chinese Affairs as Registrar and the Registrar of the Supreme Court as Deputy Registrar under this Ordinance. The Secretary for Chinese. Affairs will take over the registration of Chinese newspapers, and the Regis- trar of the Supreme Court will continue to be the Registrar for English newspapers.

10. Section 3, which gives power to make regulations and prescribe fees, is new. No fees are in contemplation.

11. Registration of newspapers is dealt with in Ordinance No. 4 of 1886 in sections 3 to 10. Criticisms of the provisions therein contained are:-

(a) They secure the names of only (2) the proprietor and (ii) the printer or publisher. It seems desirable to have also the name of the editor, and to have the names of both the printer and the publisher if they are differ- ent persons.

(b) They ignore the possibility of the printer and publisher

being a firm or company.

(c) Sections 8 and 9 have not been found to be of any use. Registration of newspapers is dealt with in section 4 of the new Ordinance. Points which may be noted are referred to below.

12. The names of the proprietor, printer, publisher and editor must all be given: see Form No. 1 in the Schedule.

13. Provision is made in sub-section (6) for registration by a company or firm.