LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 11.
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THURSDAY, 15TH SEPTEMBER, 1904.
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PRESENT :
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR
(SirMATTHEW NATHAN, K.C.M.G.).
The Honourable the Officer Commanding the Troops, (Colonel LOUIS FAULKNER BROWN, R.E.). ,, the Colonial Secretary, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.).
,, the Attorney General, (ERNEST HAMILTON SHARP,K.C.).
,, the Colonial Treasurer, (LEWIS AUDLEY MARSH JOHNSTON).
,, the Registrar General, (ARTHUR WINBOLT BREWIN).
,, the Director of Public Works, (PATRICK NICHOLAS HILL JONES).
,, the Harbour Master, (Capt.LIONEL AUBREY WALTER BARNES-LAWRENCE, R.N.(ret'd)). ,, Sir C. P.CHATER,Kt., C.M.G.
,, HO KAI, M.B., C.M., C.M.G.
,, WEI YUK.
,, ROBERT GORDON SHEWAN.
,, WILLIAM JARDINE GRESSON.
,, GERSHOM STEWART.
The Council met pursuant to summons.
The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 19th July, 1904, were read and confirmed.
NEW MEMBERS.—Colonel LOUIS FAULKNER BROWN and Messer. ERNEST HAMILTON SHARP and GERSHOM STEWART took the Oaths and assumed their seat as Members of the Council.
FINANCIAL MINUTES.—The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following Financial Minutes, (Nos. 41 to 47), and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee:—
M. NATHAN.
C.S.O. No. 2076 of 1904. Extension.
The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One hundred and ninety-five Dollars ($195) in aid of the vote Botanical and Afforestation Department, Personal Emoluments, being salary for a Forestry Licence Clerk, New Territory, from 5th August to 31st December, 1904.
Government House, Hongkong, 5th August, 1904.
M. NATHAN.
6405 of 1904. The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Three hundred thousand three hundred Dollars
C.S.O. No.
($300,300), in aid of the votes Public Works Recurrent and Public Works Extraordinary, for the following items:—
Public Works Recurrent.
3. Maintenance of Telegraphs, ........................................... $ 3,500
4. ,, ,, New Territory, ............... 2,500
6. ,, of Praya Wall & Piers, ............................. 1,500
13. ,, of Roads and Bridges in New Territory,. 2,000
14. ,, of Sewers, Nullahs, &c., .......................... 2,000
15. Miscellaneous Services, .................................................. 4,000
23. Drainage Works, Miscellaneous, ................................... 9,000
24. Maintenance of Water-works, City and Hill District, . 16,000
25. ,, ,, Kowloon, ....................... 4,000
$ 44,500
Public Works Extraordinary.
3. Disinfecting Station, Kowloon, ...................................... $ 13,800
4. Gunpowder Depôt, Green Island, .................................. 40,000
5. Harbour Office, ................................................................ 17,000
6. Law Courts, ...................................................................... 51,000
7. Market, Western, .............................................................. 22,000
30. Road across King's Park, ................................................. 5,000
38. Water-works:—Tytam Byewash Reservoir, ............... 7,000
39. Tytam Tuk Scheme, ......................................................... 100,000
255,800
C.S.O. No. 3938 of 1904. Extension.
Total, ........................................................$ 300,300
Government House, Hongkong, 19th August, 1904.
M. NATHAN.
The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Seven hundred Dollars ($700) in aid of the vote Land Court, New Territory, Other Charges, for purchase, refloating and repair of houseboat for use of Land Court Department as an Office in the New Territory.
Government House, Hongkong, 26th August, 1904.
M. NATHAN.
5296 of 1904. The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Thirty thousand and fifty-two Dollars ($30,052),
C.S.O. No.
for the following items on account of the Rider Mains Work, chargeable to Advance Account:— Personal Emoluments.
Assistant Engineer, at ₤360 per annum—
½ Salary from 5th March to 16th April, 1904, ............. Full Salary from 17th April to 31st December, ............
$ 228.65 2,913.36
$ 3,142.01
Overseer, at ₤180 per annum—
½ Salary from 26th February to 12th April, 1904, ....... Full Salary from 13th April to 31st December, ............
$ 124.76 1,478.87
1,603.63
Clerk—from 26th July to 25th October, 1904, at $960 per annum, .................................................................. from 26th October to 31st December, at $1,200 per annum, ...........................................................
$ 240.00 219.35
459.35 Total Personal Emoluments, .......................................$ 5,204.99
Other Charges.
Conveyance Allowances, $244 per annum— Assistant Engineer from 17th April to 31st December, 1904, ..................................................................... Overseer from 13th April to 31st December, ................ Estimated Cost of No. 1 Rider-Main District— Labour and Material, .......................................... Service Connections to every house in No. 1 District,... Incidental Expenses, .........................................................
$ 172.15 174.86
15,000.00 9,000.00
500.00
Total Other Charges, ................................................. 24,847.01
Total, ...........................................................$ 30,052.00
Government House, Hongkong, 1st September, 1904.
M. NATHAN.
4193 of 1904. The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Twenty-four thousand eight hundred and
C.S.O. No.
ninety-three Dollars ($24,893) of which $16,892.05 is a re-vote of an unexpended balance of the vote Public Works Extraordinary, (24) Praya East Reclamation, for raising the carriageway and the footpaths from Arsenal Street to Jardine's Bazaar, Praya East, chargeable to Advance Account.
Government House, Hongkong, 1st September, 1904.
M. NATHAN.
5493 of 1904. The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One thousand five hundred Dollars ($1,500) in
C.S.O. No.
aid of the vote for Telegraph Service—Telegrams sent and received by Government—under Miscellaneous Services.
Government House, Hongkong, 9th September, 1904.
M. NATHAN.
3981 of 1904. The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Four thousand Seven hundred Dollars ($4,700)
C.S.O. No.
in aid of the vote Fire Brigade, Other Charges, for Repairs to Engines, Hose, &c., and Gratuities. Government House, Hongkong, 12th September, 1904.
The Colonial Treasurer seconded.
Question—put and agreed to.
SANITARY BYE-LAWS (AMENDMENT).—The Colonial Secretary laid on the table an Amendment by the Sanitary Board to No. 1 of the Bye-laws relating to the Importation and Inspection of Animals, and moved that it be approved.
The Attorney General seconded.
Question—put and agreed to.
REPORT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE.—The Director of Public Works laid on the table the Report of the Public Works Committee dated the 19th July, 1904, (No. 3).
RESOLUTION.—The Attorney General, addressed the Council, and moved the following Resolution:— "Resolved that the thanks of the Council be conveyed to Sir John Worrell Carrington, C.M.G., formerly Chief Justice of Hongkong, for his services in carrying through and completing the revised edition of the Colony's Ordinances."
The Colonial Secretary addressed the Council, and seconded.
Question—put and agreed to.
RESOLUTION.—The Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved the following Resolution:— "Resolved that until further notice the Hongkong Tramway Electric Co., Limited, shall provide the following number of cars every morning and evening, at such hours not being later than 7 a.m. or earlier than 5:30 p.m. as the Company shall think most convenient, for artisans, mechanics and daily labourers, at fares not exceeding 2 cents for the single journey and 3 cents for the return journey:—
Morning.
From Kennedy Town to the Central Market, .......................................... From Quarry Bay to the No. 2 Police Station, ........................................ Evening.
From the Central Market to Kennedy Town, .......................................... From the No. 2 Police Station to Quarry Bay, ........................................ The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question—put and agreed to.
2 Cars. 4 ,,
2 Cars. 4 ,,
PAPERS.—The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following papers:—
1. Report on the Assessment for 1904 and 1905.
2. Report by the Government Bacteriologist on Epidemic and Epizootic Plague.
QUESTIONS.—Mr. STEWART, pursuant to notice, asked the following questions:—
1. Under what circumstances are Coroner's inquests dispensed with?
2. Is it the case as stated in the Public papers that a member of the community was picked up injured on Tuesday night, the 2nd August, and placed in a cell at the Police Station where he was left for the night without medical aid being called for and that he died the next day?
3. What standing instructions have the Police as to calling in medical assistance for injured people whom they may pick up?
The Colonial Secretary replied.
QUESTIONS.—Mr. SHEWAN, pursuant to notice, asked the following questions:—
1. Is the tree cutting at present going on on the Island of Hongkong authorised by Government? 2. If so, will the Government give its reasons for such tree cutting?
The Colonial Secretary replied.
PRESERVATION OF WILD BIRDS BILL.—The Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend The Wild Birds and Game Preservation Ordinance, 1885.
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question—put and agreed to.
Bill read a first time.
TUNG WAH HOSPITAL BILL.—The Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance for enabling the Tung Wah Hosptial to acquire, hold, mortgage and sell land and hereditaments in the Colony of Hongkong.
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question—put and agreed to.
Bill read a first time.
INTERNMENT OF REFUGEE COMBATANTS BILL.—The Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to regulate the Internment of Refugees belonging to the Russian and Japanese forces. The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question—put and agreed to.
Bill read a first time.
The Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved the suspension of the Standing Orders to allow the
Bill to pass through the remaining stages at that Meeting of the Council.
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question—put and agreed to.
The Attorney General moved the second reading of the Bill.
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question—put and agreed to.
Bill read a second time.
Council in Committee on the Bill.
Council resumed, and Bill reported without amendments.
The Attorney General moved the third reading of the Bill.
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question—put and agreed to.
Bill read a third time.
Question put—that this Bill do pass.
Bill passed.
PREPARED OPIUM AMENDMENT BILL.—The Attorney General addressed the Council, and moved the withdrawal of the original Amending Bill.
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question—put and agreed to.
The Attorney General moved the first reading of a new Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend The Prepared Opium Ordinance, 1891.
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question—put and agreed to.
Bill read a first time.
APPROPRIATION BILL.—The Colonial Secretary addressed the Council, and moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to apply a sum not exceeding Five million eight hundred and thirty-five thousand four hundred and seventy Dollars to the Public Service of the year 1905.
The Attorney General seconded.
In connection with this Bill, the Colonial Secretary laid on the table:—
1. The Estimates for 1905.
2. Memorandum explanatory of the Estimates of Revenue.
3. Memorandum explanatory of the Estimates of Expenditure.
4. Financial Statements in connection with the Estimates.
5. Abstract shewing the Differences between the Expenditure in 1904 and 1905.
His Excellency the Governor addressed the Council.
Mr. SHEWAN addressed the Council.
His Excellency the Governor replied.
Question—put and agreed to.
Bill read a first time.
PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS AMENDMENT BILL.—The Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend The Protection of Women and Girls Ordinance, 1897. The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question—put and agreed to.
Bill read a first time.
ADJOURNMENT.—The Council then adjourned sine die.
M.NATHAN,
Governor.
Read and confirmed, this 22nd day of September, 1904.
S.B.C.ROSS,
Clerk of Councils.