LICENCES (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

10.38 a.m.

The Chief Secretary (Mr W. A. C. Goode): Sir, I move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

The purpose of this short Bill, Sir, is fully explained in the note appended to it. The Licences Ordinance now makes provision for delegation of the licensing powers of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, but it does not make provision for delegation of the licensing powers of the Commissioner of Police. It is not necessary that the Commissioner of Police should be burdened with the issue of petty licences. In fact, it is more important that he should be relieved than the Deputy Commissioner, and the purpose of this Bill, Sir, is to enable the Commissioner's powers of licensing also to be delegated to the appropriate police officer.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time.