Gazette" published the text of a draft BW, which will be introduced into the Legislative Council this afternoon, providing that all British subjects resident in the Colony, between the ages of 18 and 55 years shall serve with the Hongkong Defence Reserve, the members of which shall be liable for service with the Hongkong Volunteer Defence Corps, the Hongkong Naval Volunteer Force or in essential services.
The decision of the Hongkong Government to introduce such a measure is not the result of any worsening of the situation, nor to any sudden scare, but is the logical step following upon the recent registration of British subjects. The Bill has been several months in preparation and has received the approval of the Home Government. When this Bill becomes law, as it is confidently expected, Hongkong will be the first part of the British Empire to follow the lead of the United Kingdom in introducing compulsory service. In fact the proposed legislation is based upon the General Military Service Ordinance of 1918 which was repealed at the end of the Great War, and all it actually requires is that able-bodied British subjects with certain exceptions shall join up as reservists. All male subjects within the age limits mentioned above will be required to enrol but those who have reached forty-one years of age, or are conscientious objectors will not without their consent be posted to the combatant group of the reserve. This new legislation is interesting in view of the Japanese rumours which have been actively circulated to the effect that in the event of war. Hongkong would not be defended. Such a thing has never been contemplated by the British authorities, and it is to be believed that should hostilities
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.