33. Lieut.-Colonel JOHN WARDasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to a proposal made on 27th October in the Legislative Council, of an Ordinance to provide a special law to build and establish a hostel of the Jesuit Order in connection with the University of Hong Kong; if he will explain why one religious body should be given privileges which do not apply to others; and whether he has approved, or intends to approve, of such Ordinance?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI have recently received an Ordinance providing for the incorporation of the Procurator in Hong Kong of the English Assistancy of the Jesuit Order, and I understand this incorporation is intended to facilitate the building of a hostel for Jesuit students at the University. The Ordinance follows the usual form of Ordinances which create a corporation sole and grants no special privileges. I see no reason why the Ordinance should be disallowed.
Lieut.-Colonel WARDThe main part of my question is the latter part, where 208 I ask whether similar opportunities will be given to other religious orders or denominations, or whether this is special to this particular order?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI understand that it constitutes no privilege to the Jesuit Order that is not equally given—invariably—to other orders and religious denominations who wish to found hostels, but under the circumstances of Hong Kong, where each denomination desires a hostel, they have a special Order.