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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 4TH JUNE, 1879.
His EXCELLENCY.--I am a little disappointed in learning that, because, when I consented to the suggestion of referring this Bill to a Committee with the Merchant Shipping Bill, I expressed a hope that the short Bill for the survey of steamships and boilers would be brought into operation without delay, and therefore that the Committee would deal as shortly as possible with that part of the question. The Committee have given to it great discussion, and I don't say they have not acted wisely in doing So. But now they come before us as separate measures, that is, the Attorney General has before him the printed copy of the Bill for the survey of steamships and boilers, and in order that the matter may come before us in regular form, I venture to move that we go into committee upon that Bill.
Honourable W. KESWICK.-May I remark, with regard to the deviation from your Excellency's wishes, that what was understood was that, instead of there being delay, the matter would be pushed through very promptly, and therefore that in considering the small measure with the larger we should get on with the whole business. We did not anticipate such delay as has occurred.
The Council then went into committee on the Bill.
On clause 3-
Honourable W. KESWICK said :-The application of this Ordinance would be only to British ́vessels; consequently there would be a distinction between the requirements in the way of survey of British steamers and those of other nationalities. I think the objection originally taken is as forcible to-day as it was then, and it is very important. It is a difficult matter to introduce anything with regard to foreign flags, but it is quite clear it is not fair to English vessels that they should have a burden to bear that is not borne by vessels under another flag. I think it might be possible to intro- duce a clause by which the inspection might be made imperative on the part of consignees, otherwise there is a spirit of unfairness in it towards our own flag.
The ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL.-In the larger Ordinance, your Excellency, I have taken notice of that, and I have inserted a clause which I thought would be satisfactory to all, to the effect that if a certificate was produced from any foreign nation to the satisfaction of the Governor of this Colony, such a survey as is here required would not be compulsory. I really think that the whole question involves such difficulties--and I have looked carefully through the books on the subject that I don't know that your Excellency or the Council would be quite justified in such a question as this, affecting shipping interests-that it would be wise to bring in that point without a reference home.
HIS EXCELLENCY.-I need hardly say, gentlemen, that when a measure of this kind comes before us I am most anxious to obtain the views of the commercial gentlemen on the Council, and the honourable gentleman who has just spoken has pointed out that this clause we are now dealing with practically applies this Ordinance to all British steamships within the waters of the Colony and excludes from its operation ships under foreign flags. The full operation of the Ordinance applies only to vessels of fifty tons and upwards plying within the waters of the Colony. Well, whether it is a steamship flying the German flag or the British flag, so long as it is plying in the Colony we could apply the Ordinance to it, but no doubt as the Bill stands, in dealing with a far more important question of steam- ships plying to other parts of the world, the survey would apply only to those flying the British flag. I understand the honourable gentleman objects to that on the ground that it would be subjecting the British shipowner to a survey to which the foreign shipowners are not subject. Well, it may be argued that the survey is one that would be useful to the shipowner; at the same time, if I understand my honourable friends, the commercial members at this table, support the view of the honourable member who has spoken, and that they would wish to have this Bill extended to the steamships of foreign nations as well as British steamships, I would be ready to give that my best consideration, because I do think that in this or any other Colony we ought to have the fairest play between all, and certainly not to place the British shipowner at a disadvantage as compared with others. The Germans, Americans, and others enjoy the advantages of this Colony, they pay not one whit more taxes than the British merchants, whilst some of them are exempt from doing duties a British merchant has to perform, and it would certainly be hard to the British shipowner that his ship should have to submit to hardships which the others would not. Therefore, if I understand the commercial gentlemen present agree with what has been said, I would be fully prepared to represent their view to Her Majesty's Government, and to send this Bill to the Government stating the view expressed by the honourable members at the Council table and asking how far Her Majesty's Government would authorise me, for I would not have the power myself, to make a change which would include foreign steamships in this clause. Honourable H. B. GIBB concurred in the remarks which had been made by Mr. KESWICK, and thought that all vessels coming to this Colony should undergo a survey.
HIS EXCELLENCY.-Under these circumstances, I will not press the Bill to-day. I shall take the opportunity of at once referring the question to the decision of the Secretary of State, and when we get his reply, which I hope will be in three months, I will communicate it to the Council. With respect to the Merchant Shipping Consolidation Ordinance, I think it is plain from what we have heard that another meeting had better be called to put that in order, and bring it before us about the same time as the other will come under consideration.
THE NAVAL YARD POLICE.
HIS EXCELLENCY moved the second reading of "An Ordinance to extend Ordinance No. 1 of "1875 to provide means for enforcing good order and discipline in the Police Force employed in the "Royal Naval Yard to the other Establishments of the Royal Navy in this Colony."
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