Sessional_Paper_1900 — Page 118

114

( 8 )

Having satisfied myself as to the necessity for the Ordinance I regret that I cannot accept your suggestion that I should refuse my assent to an Ordinance passed unanimously by the Legislative Council.

The Honourable

T. H. WHITEHEAD,

Very truly yours,

(Signed), HENRY A. BLAKE.

(Speech by His Excellency the Governor on 21st December, 1899.)

I think the observations of the Honourable Members who have just spoken are very much to the point, and I think it is only right that not alone the Council but that the Chinese people in the New Territory should have some idea why this Bill is introduced by the Government at the present time. The condition of the New Territory is peculiar. The Chinese do not understand our ways, and we desire-I desire most heartily-to interfere with the Chinese and their customs as little as possible, but it is absolutely necessary that the land in the New Territory should be registered. Of course, all Members of the Council know that in the in- terests of the Chinese themselves it should be registered; but for some reason, probably some suspicion which I hope will be removed in the course of time, the Chinese have not been for some time as anxious to register their land as they might be, and for a considerable time we have found great difficulty in getting the Chinese to come forward and give any information about their land or about re- gistration. It then became necessary to approach the Chinese through their elders, their leaders, for the purpose of explaining why it was necessary that land should be registered. However, on more than one occasion when these Chinese elders had been invited to come in they gave no attention whatever to the invita- tion. Such conduct under Chinese jurisdiction-refusing when invited by a high official to come in and assist him and give him information-would not have been tolerated for an instant. We do not propose to take the stringent measures which would have been taken had the people remained under Chinese jurisdiction, but we do wish to get the power to compel their attendance and to inflict a small fine. in case they disobey the summons. As to the observations of the Honourable Gentleman with reference to the supervision, so to speak, of the exercise of this power, the Honourable Member will see from the second clause that "The Gov- ernor may at any time direct the Registrar General to enquire into and report as to any matter which is connected with the New Territories as defined by section 2 of Ordinance No. 12 of 1899, if such matter exclusively concerns persons of Chinese race, whether British subjects or otherwise." The Registrar General will only summon Chinese to come before him in certain cases into which he is direct- ed by the Governor to enquire. Therefore, in no case can there be any action whatever without the direction of the Governor, and I think the Honourable Mem- ber will accept my assurance that the Ordinance will be carried out with every consideration for the Chinese and with every anxiety on the part of the Govern- ment that we shall never be forced to bring the provisions of the Ordinance into operation at all. I think that when it is known that we have power to compel the attendance of these people who do not up to the present appear anxious to come forward. the Chinese will yield gracefully to the necessity and come in when invited without our having to resort to this power. With reference to the suggestion of the Honourable Member that this Bill should have a duration clause, I think it is a very fair suggestion. I shall have no objection whatever to it. I hope that in a short time the necessity for any such Ordinance as this will disappear.