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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 23TH JUNE, 1881.
His Excellency moves the second reading of the Bill entitled the "Penal Ordinances Amendment Ordinance, 1881."
The Honourable F. BULKELEY JOHNSON, while congratulating His Excellency on having introduced this Bill, and expressing his concurrence in the abolition of branding and flogging, enquires if it is true that since the abolition of flogging the crime of ear-ring snatching had increased.
The Honourable Member also remarks that some of the Ordinances about to be repealed by this Bill were enacted in the time of the late Sir RICHARD MACDONNELL, and details at length the causes which at the time prompted the introduction of those Ordinances,
The Honourable the Acting Chief Justice expresses his views in favour of the suspension of branding and public flogging, and remarks that crime has very much decreased, especially crimes of violence, since the sentencing of prisoners to long terms of imprisonment, instead of flogging and deporting them.
His Excellency expresses his acknowledgments to the Honourable Member (Mr. BULKELEY JOHNSON) and to His Honour the Acting Chief Justice for the support they had given to this impor- tant Bill, He had no reason to believe that there had been any increase in the crime of ear-ring snatch- ing on account of his having stopped unnecessary floggings. As the Acting Chief Justice had pointed The severe penal laws, and the bad system out, crime had declined, and especially crimes of violence. this Bill would sweep away, had created and fostered a criminal class. Crime had been manufactured by branding and the lash; whereas a more rational system had now reduced crime. The report just laid on the table of the Superintendent of the Gaol, for 1880, showed that the number of admissions to the Hongkong Gaol had steadily declined from 1877 to the end of last year; that is, during the period when, in the exercise of his prerogative, he suspended branding and public flogging, and gradually reduced the number of floggings, till, of late, not one was inflicted. He was bound to say that Mr. TONNOCHY, by reforming the discipline of the Gaol, contributed to this result. The changes ordered by the Government in 1878 in Police administration, which had also worked well, would not have been practicable but for the first-rate condition into which Governor Sir ARTHUR KENNEDY had brought the personnel of the Force.
The Bill is then read a second time.
At the request of the Honourable the Attorney General, the going into Committee on the Bill is postponed until next meeting,
The second reading of the "Banishment and Conditional Pardons' meeting.
The following Bills are read a first time :-
"An Ordinance for the Naturalization of Fung Ming-shán.'
"An Ordinance for the Naturalization of Wong Shé-tai." “An Ordinance for the Naturalization of Shi Shang-kái.” "An Ordinance for the Naturalization of P'áng Im." “An Ordinance for the Naturalization of Ip Him-kwong,” "An Ordinance for the Naturalization of Ün Man-ts'oi."
"The Companies Ordinance, 1881,"
Second reading to be taken at the next meeting.
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Bill is postponed until next
The Honourable F. BULKELEY JOHNSON asks for leave to introduce a Bill for the construction of Tramways in the Colony. He explains the details and advantages of the measure, and the general principles on which it is based.
The Honourable P. RYRIE supports the motion.
The Honourable the Attorney General moves that the introduction of the Bill be postponed, to admit of the proper formalities being observed.
M
His Excellency reads the Governor's Instructions and the Standing Orders of the Council on the subject, and observes that the Bill should be published in the Gazette for a certain time before it can be introduced. Without pledging the Government to support the Bill, His Excellency expresses his cordial concurrence in the general principles laid down by the Honourable Member (Mr. BULKELEY JOHNSON).
Permission is also asked by the Honourable NG CHOY for the introduction, at a future date, of a Tramway Bill on behalf of another Company.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.