232230-1936-Supplementary-Bills-read-a-first-time--Pensions-No-4-Amendment-Quarantine-and-Prevention-of-Disease-Lighting-Control-Wild-Animals-Protection-Currency-No-2-Amendment-Buildings-No-2-Amendment-Coronation-of-Souvenirs — Page 5

Short title.

Power to make regulations,

Exoneration from

liability of

persons

complying

with

regulations.

Penalty for refusal or failure to comply with mandatory regulations.

1114

A BILL

INTITULED

[No. 45-7.12.36.-1.]

An Ordinance to provide for the total or partial cessation of lighting in the Colony by Regulation of the Governor in Council on occasions of emergency or public danger or by way of experiment or practice for such occasions.

Be it enacted by the Governor of Hong Kong, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-

1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Lighting Control Ordinance, 1936.

2. On any occasion which the Governor in Council may consider to be an occasion of emergency or public danger, and also whenever he may consider it necessary by way of experiment or practice for any such occasion, the Governor in Council may make such regulations as he may consider desirable providing, either by express command or by request for co-operation, for the total or partial cessation of lighting in the Colony.

3. Compliance with any such express command or with any such request for co-operation shall exonerate any person from any liability, contractual or otherwise, resulting from such compliance.

4. Any person who refuses or fails to comply with any such express command shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars.

Objects and Reasons.

1. The Emergency Regulations Ordinance, No. 5 of 1922, enables the Governor in Council to make Regulations in the public interest on occasions of emergency or public danger but contains no power to secure the total or partial cessation of lighting by command, or by request for co- operation, in normal times.

2. It is necessary in normal times, however, for experi- mental or practice "black-outs" to be undertaken occasionally so that they can be successfully applied when emergencies

occur.

3. The object of this Bill is therefore to make provision for such black-outs" whenever the Governor in Council considers them necessary.

4. The object of clause 3 of the Bill is to exonerate persons from liability, contractual or otherwise, resulting from compliance with any command, or request for co- operation, in effecting the "black-outs."

C. G. ALABASTER,

Attorney General.

December, 1936.

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