ENG-1955 — Page 179

Chapter 12: Legislation

Sixty-nine Ordinances were enacted in 1955.

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In the field of charities, two new trust funds have been established: the Grantham Scholarship Fund, by Ordinance No. 8, and the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Loan Fund, by Ordinance No. 25. Two existing funds have been made into statutory trust funds: Ordinance No. 9 created the Brewin Trust Fund, which originated in 1906 to commemorate the Registrar-General of that name (a post which was the forerunner of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs); and Ordinance No. 67 created the Education Scholarships Fund. The former wide powers to make regulations controlling publications, contained in the Control of Publications Consolidation Ordinance, 1951, have been restricted by an amending Ordinance, No. 57. Some of the regulations which had been made have been rescinded, and have been enacted in a modified form as part of the Ordinance. The Magistrates (Amendment) Ordinance, No. 2, has provided that where a magistrate has action brought against him for something done in the course of his duty, it is now a good defence for him to show that he had not acted maliciously and without reasonable and probable cause; a similar protection is afforded to doctors, by Ordinance No. 56, in respect of things done by them under the Mental Hospitals Ordin- ance (Cap. 136). The Administration of Justice (Summary Offences) Ordinance, No. 52, which is in force for one year, and may then be extended for further periods by resolution of the Legislative Council, is intended to relieve the congestion in the magistrates' courts. It provides that persons charged with certain minor traffic offences may, if they so choose, pay the fine prescribed in the Ordin- ance without having to attend court. Direct taxation for the 1955-6 year of assessment will be assessed in accordance with the amendments to the Inland Revenue Ordinance, introduced by Ordinance No. 36. Salaries tax may now be paid by tendering Tax Reserve Certificates, issued by the Commissioner of Inland Revenue under Ordinance No.