PRESENT:—
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25TH JANUARY, 1899.
—(1.) That it does not embody the arrangement
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR, Sir Henry BLAKE, G.C.M.G.
His EXCELLENCY Major-General GASCOIGNE, C.M.G. (Officer Commanding the Troops). Hon. T. SERCOMBE SMITH (Acting Colonial Secretary).
Hon. H. E. POLLOCK (Acting Attorney General).
Hon. R. MURRAY RUMSEY (Harbour Master). Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Captain Superintendent of Police).
Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Acting Colonial Treasurer).
Hon. R. D. ORMSBY (Director of Public Works).
Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
Hon. Dr. HO KAI.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, C.M.G.
Hon. J. J. BELL-IRVING.
Hon. WEI A YUK.
Mr. J. G. T. BUCKLE (Clerk of Councils). MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and adopted as a correct record. PAPERS AND FINANCIAL MINUTES. The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the Coroner's returns for 1898, the report on the Widows' and Orphans' Pension Fund for 1898, and financial minutes Nos. one to four, moving that the latter be referred to the Finance Committee.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was carried.
NATURALISATION.
On the motion of the ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, seconded by the ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY, the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance for the Naturalization of Mak Ngan Wan, alias Mak Chin K'i, alias Mak Sui Nin, Mak Yat Wo, alias Mak Sun, was passed.
THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANK ORDINANCE.
On the motion of the ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, seconded by the ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY, the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend Ordinance 5 of 1866 and the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Ordinance Amendment Ordinance, 1882, was passed.
This Bill is introduced under instructions received from the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, who considers that Ordinance No. 6 of 1898 is incomplete, in the following respects, namely:
which was made with the Bank in 1889 with regard to the security for its ordinary note issue, and (2.) That it does not provide with sufficient clearness that the deposit which is required in respect of the excess note issue is to be under the custody of the Colonial Secretary and the Colonial Treasurer and not under that of the Bank.
THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND PLACES ORDINANCE.
On the motion of the ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, seconded by the ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY, the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend Ordinance 8 of 1870 (Public Buildings) was passed.
The object of the amendment to Ordinance 8 of 1870 which is contained in section 2 of this Ordinance is to confer power upon a constable, custodian, watchman, or keeper, to arrest and detain on the spot without any warrant, summons, or other legal process, any person found committing a breach of any regulation made under Ordinance 8 of 1870. The object of the amendment coutained in section 3 of this Ordinance which is founded upon a portion of section 78 of the English Highways Act, 1835, is to remove any doubts as to the way in which a Magistrate ought to deal with a person who obstinately refuses to give his name and address.
THE RESERVATION OF SUNG WONG T'OI. On the motion of the ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, seconded by the ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY, the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to provide for the reservation of certain land at British Kowloon as Sung Wong T'oi or Sung Wong T'ong was passed. THE IMPORTATION OF DOGS.
On the motion of the ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, seconded by the ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY, the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the Dogs Ordinance, 1893, was passed.
The object of this Bill is to enlarge the power to make regulations, which was originally conferred upon the Governor-in-Council by section 5 of Ordinance 9 of 1893, in such a way as to authorize the Governor-in-Council to make regulations relating to the importation of dogs. It seemed advisable at the same time to increase the maximum penalty which could be imposed under section 6 of that Ordinance from ten to one hundred dollars, which latter fine is the
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maximum laid down in the Singapore and Malacca Dog Regulations. It seemed also desirable to specify a maximum term of imprisonment in default of payment of the fine.
THE REGULATION OF VEHICLES.
On the motion of the ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, seconded by the ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY, the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance for the Regulation of Vehicles was passed.
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The object of this Ordinance is to render compulsory in this colony the observance of the ordinary rule of the road and the proper lighting of vehicles at night, and this legislation applies to private as well as to public vehicles. Section 6 of the Ordinance is framed with the object of rendering less probable the occurrence of certain classes of street accidents which are due to negligence or recklessness.
THE LAW RELATING TO SOLICITORS. On the motion of the ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, seconded by the ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY, the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the law relating to Solicitors of the Supreme Court was passed. The first twenty sections of this Bill, as will be seen from the marginal notes to them, correspond with the provisions of certain Acts of Parliament, relating to solicitor's costs, which are now in force in England but have not hitherto been extended to Hongkong. Section 21 of the Bill is borrowed from a similar provision contained in the Straits Settlements Ordinances, and in the Statutes of some of the Australian Colonies, and its object is to prevent a solicitor, who has only newly arrived in the colony and about whose antecedents and character nothing is known, from setting up in practice on his own account. Section 22 provides for the payment by solicitors of a moderate fee on admission. ADJOURNMENT.
The Council then adjourned until Wednesday, 1st Feb., at 3 p.m.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was held immediately after the Council, the Acting Colonial Secretary presiding. The following votes were agreed to:—
A SCHOOL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE.
A sum of $2,609, equivalent to £250 at 1/11, being contribution towards the proposed establishment of a School of Tropical Medicine in London and the institution of a travelling commission to enquire into Tropical Diseases.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY explained —As the financial minute shows, this vote is recommended on behalf of two objects, the first being a School of Tropical Medicine and the second the institution of a travelling commission to enquire into tropical diseases. It is proposed to establish a School of Tropical Medicine in London at which
medical officers for the colonies may be given special instruction in the treatment of tropical diseases. The authorities of the Seamen's Hospital at Greenwich, of whose teaching staff Dr. Manson is a prominent member, have agreed to the establishment of such a school in connection with that institutition, The estimated cost of the necessary buildings for the accommodation of the school is £3,550, towards which sum the Lord Commissioners of the Treasury have agreed to contribute £1,775 on behalf of the exchequer-aided colonies and protectorates on the condition that the British possessions concerned contribute the remaining moiety. With regard to the proposed travelling commission to study the subject of tropical diseases, it is estimated that the total cost will be at least £5,000, towards which the Royal Society will contribute £600, leaving £4,400 to be contributed by the colonies interested. The total amount which these colonies are required to contribute towards the two schemes is therefore as follows:— School for Tropical Medicine £1,775; Malaria Investigation Commission £4,400; total £6,175, In view of possible unforeseen contingencies it is considered advisable to increase this sum to at least £7,000. The Government of Hongkong is requested to contribute the sum of at least £500, to be spread over two years.
THE FURNITURE AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE. A sum of $5,000 in aid of the vote "Repairs to furniture at Government House." The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY—I simply have to say in explanation of this that the furniture at Government House is in such a state as I feel sure no person in this colony would like it to remain in.
THE ROAD FROM VICTORIA GAP TO MOUNT KELLETT ROAD.
A sum of $2,438.67 in aid of the vote "Road from Victoria Gap to Mount Kellett Road."
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY explained —The estimated cost of the road was $26,000. The actual expenditure was $25,318.54, or $681.46 within the estimate. In 1897 $10,000 was voted and in 1898 $12,900 —making a total of $22,900—but of these sums only was expended, leaving a balance due to the cost of $2,438.67.
"EXTRAORDINARY PUBLIC WORKS." The following sums being unexpended
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balances of the votes for 1898 under the heading "Extraordinary Public Works":— Water Supply, Kowloon $3,251; Extension of Station Street. North, Kowloon $3,902; City of Victoria and Hill District Waterworks
$2,096; Forming and kerbing streets to provide for extension of the City and Villages $429; Waterworks, Miscellaneous $3,873; Gaol Extension $2,507; total, $16,058.
The Committee then adjourned.