53835-1917-Supplementary-Military-Service-Bill-and-Regulations — Page 4

309

Objects and Reasons.

The object of this bill is to make all male British subjects between the ages of 18 and 55 who are ordi- narily resident in Colony, with certain exceptions which are specified in clause 2, liable to military service in the Colony when called up for such service.

Every person called up for military service under the Ordinance will, upon service of the notice calling him up, become ipso facto a member of the new Hongkong Defence Corps which is established by the Ordinance, and, subject to any regulations made by the Governor in Council, will become and remain subject to the Army Act.

Power is taken to accept for military service male British subjects who would otherwise be exempt from such service on account of their age or for any other reason. Persons so accepted will be required to take the oath or declaration of allegiance and to sign an enrolment form, and they will thereupon become mem- bers of the Hongkong Defence Corps, and will remain members until discharged or dismissed or exempted by the Governor in Council, and, as such will, subject to any regulations made by the Governor in Council, be- come and remain subject to the Army Act.

Persons who reach the age of fifty-five years while members of the Hongkong Defence Corps will be discharged upon reaching that age unless they elect to continue subject to military service. If they so elect, they will take the oath or declaration of allegiance and sign the enrolment form, and they will then remain members of the Corps until discharged or dismissed or exempted.

It will be seen that no person who has attained the age of fifty-five years will be made subject to military service against his will, but that if he once accepts such liability he will remain subject to it until he is dis- charged or dismissed or exempted.

Power is given to the Governor in Council to exempt any person from military service on the ground of physi- cal unfitness or for any other reason. Any person so exempted may be called up later for service in the dis- cretion of the Governor in Council.

J. H. KEMP,

Attorney General.

28th July, 1917.

Regulations made by the Governor in Council under Section 8 of the Military Service Ordinance, 1917, Ordinance No.

of 1917, on

the

day of August, 1917.

1. These regulations may be cited as the Hongkong Defence Corps Regu- Short title. lations, 1917.

2. In these regulations-

"The Administrative Commandant ' means the officer for the time

being entrusted with the general administration of the Corps.

The Corps" means the Hongkong Defence Corps.

The General Officer Commanding the Troops includes the Senior

Officer for the time being commanding the Troops.

CONSTITUTION OF CORPS.

3.- (1.) The Corps shall consist of the following units:

(a.) A company of artillery. (b.) A company of engineers. (c.) A battalion of infantry.

Interpreta-

tion.

Composition and com-

mand.