PRESENT:―
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 83
9TH DECEMBER, 1920.
Minutes
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIR REGINALD EDWARD STUBBS, K.C.M.G.
HIS EXCELLENCY MAJOR-GENERAL F. VENTRIS, C.B. (General Officer Commanding Troops in China).
HON. MR. A. G. M. FLETCHER, C.B.E. (Colonial Secretary).
HON. MR. J. H. KEMP, K.C., C.B.E. (Attorney General).
HON. MR. C. MCI. MESSER, O.B.E. (Colonial Treasurer).
HON. MR. W. CHATHAM, C.M.G. (Director of Public Works).
HON. MR. E. R. HALLIFAX, O.B.E. (Secretary for Chinese Affairs).
HON. MR. E. A. IRVING (Director of Education). HON. MR. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C.
HON. MR. LAU CHU PAK.
HON. MR. P. HOBSON HOLYOAK.
HON. MR. HO FOOK.
HON. MR. JOHN JOHNSTONE.
HON. MR. E. V. D. PARR.
MR. S. B. B. MCELDERRY (Clerk of Councils).
The minutes of the last meeting were confirmed. Finance
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid on the table Financial Minutes Nos. 109 to 118 and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid upon the table the Report of the Finance Committee, No. 8 and moved that it be adopted.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
Constitutional Reform
HON. MR. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C., asked the following question:―"In view of the fact that the question of giving greater popular representation on the Legislative Council in other Crown Colonies has been recently dealt with by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, will His Excellency the Governor send a despatch to the Secretary of State to
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remind him that no answer has yet been sent to the request from Hongkong for greater popular representation."
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY―The reply is "Yes," sir.
The Bathing Beaches
HON. MR. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C., said―Sir, I beg to move: That it is the duty of the Hongkong Government to provide the Public with adequate facilities for sea-bathing." Before addressing the Council on this motion, I will ask the Senior Unofficial Chinese Member if he will second it.
HON MR. LAU CHU PAK―I beg to second the motion.
HON. MR. POLLOCK―Sir, the motion before the Council affirms that it is the duty of the Hongkong Government to provide the public with adequate facilities for sea bathing. This subject has to be considered under three headings; the first is North Point; the second. Kennedy Town and the third Kowloon. I shall consider, in the first instance, the North Point problem because it is one of somewhat imminent importance and urgency, in view of the fact that the Government, as I understand, for some time past, has been engaged in negotiations with certain people with reference to the acquisition by such people of certain land at North Point, that would include the bathing beaches there. With reference to these bathing beaches at North Point, which were only started with appliances for public bathing some nine years ago, I would say, in the first instance, that the use of these beaches has shown that they are steadily growing in the public favour. The figures for 1920, to which I will refer the members of this council, are peculiarly striking with regard to North Point. These figures show that 39,000 odd people made use of the bathing beaches at North Point in the summer of 1920; and if we call the summer season five months, or say 150 days, that shows that on an average over 250 persons per diem used the bathing beaches at North Point during the summer season. Those figures are, I think, striking, and they illustrate, what I mentioned just now, that the use of these beaches is very much appreciated by the public of Hongkong, and that, in fact, the public do use the beaches to a considerable extent. Now, analysing that 39,000 odd bathers into their component parts, we find that in 1920, 4,617 European civilians, 11,765 European soldiers, 3,607 Portuguese, 14,003 Chinese, 981 Japanese, 2,553 Indians and 1,055
Parsees used the beach. Two of the figures mentioned in that list, namely, the figures for European soldiers and for Chinese, are not only striking in themselves but they are peculiarly striking when you compare them with the figures for 1919. In the Summer of 1919, 5,253 soldiers made use of that beach, as against 11,765 in the Summer of 1920. Therefore, sir, you have the fact that more than twice the number of European soldiers used this beach in the Summer of 1920 as compared with those who used it in the Summer of 1919.
I submit that it would be a very great hardship to deprive those soldiers of this means of not only innocent but healthful recreation which is at their disposal by means of easy access thereto by the tram from the Post Office to Quarry Bay. These figures not only show that the soldiers very much appreciate the use of these bathing beaches and that it would be a very great hardship to deprive them of that use, more especially as we see that the numbers of soldiers using that beach is increasing, and if, as is thought, we may have a larger garrison in the future, then the entire argument will apply with still greater force.
Then, sir, with regard to the Chinese, there again the figures are very striking compared with the figures for 1919. In 1919 the figures for the Chinese were 7,925 and in 1920 they were nearly double, namely, 14,473. Here again we see a very great increase in the use of the beach by the Chinese of this Colony, and it is only reasonable to suppose that that increase will not only be maintained but increased in future years, and that this beach will become increasingly popular with our large Chinese population. Of course when I mention these figures for European soldiers and Chinese, it will be understood that I do not say 11,765 different soldiers used the beach; many of them no doubt used it a considerable number of times in the course of the Summer. Of course no record is kept of how many times each individual soldier used the beach during the summer, but the important thing was that it was made use of by soldiers no less than 11,765 times. That shows, that, as compared with the previous year, it was used more than twice as many times as in 1919 by the soldiers of the Colony.
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Now, that being so, what is the situation at the present time? The situation now would appear to be that the Government is calmly proposing to sell these beaches for purposes of commercial enterprise without making the smallest attempt to provide any substitute for these 39,000 people to bathe next season. So far as can be gathered, the Government entered into these negotiations, which would involve the abolition of these beaches for bathing purposes, without at all considering any alternative provision of bathing facilities to make up for the taking away of these bathing beaches. Sir, I submit that this is a most extraordinary proceeding on the part of the Government. Let us take into consideration a parallel case at Home. Can one imagine persons in office on a council at a seaside bathing place in England calmly announcing that they contemplate the selling of bathing beaches used by nearly 40,000 people the previous season, without attempting to provide any substituted facilities for these numerous bathers? Such an idea is unthinkable, and yet the Hongkong Government―which, I submit is in exactly the same position towards the public, seeing that we have here no municipal council, and the Government is bound therefore to undertake municipal functions,―proposes to do so.
Since the last meeting of this council I have been in communication with Mr. Carpenter, of the Public Works Department, who, at short notice has been good enough to inquire into the question as to
there are any alternative sites for sea bathing along this shore between North Point and Quarry Bay in lieu of the one that the Government are proposing to sell. I thought of two different sites myself, and suggested them to Mr. Carpenter. The first was a site by a group of rocks a little further along the Shaukiwan road than the steel foundry; in fact the group of rocks at the west end of Quarry Bay. But upon consideration, after hearing what Mr. Carpenter had to say, it became obvious that this was not a suitable site, on account of the strong set of the tide at that particular point. More recently I asked Mr. Carpenter to inquire into a site between the hotel and the Steel Foundry. But, as far as we have gone at present, that site, although possibly better than the first, seems not to be suitable. I saw Mr. Carpenter only a few minutes ago and he tells me that there are difficulties in connection with this site on account of a considerable quantity of mud along the foreshore. I have taken a good deal of trouble in this matter because I think we must all of us feel in this Council that it is incumbent upon us to see that those who have not got means which will enable them to take launches or motor cars to the bathing beaches to the South of the Colony are not deprived of any
bathing facilities which they have hitherto enjoyed. Whether or not it will be possible on further inqury to substitute some site for the bathing beaches, which form the subject of negotiations between the Government and the parties with whom the Government are negotiating, I am not prepared to say now. But unless the Government is able to find some adequate substitute I submit they ought to be retained for the public. I do not believe in destructive criticism, but I believe in looking round and I can only say at present with regret that I have come up against a blank wall, and my position is that until the Government can provide some adequate substitute for these bathing beaches at North Point, that things ought to be allowed to remain in statu quo. I regret that at the present moment I have not been able to find a site adequate to meet the situation, and in making this motion I, of course, mean that it is the duty of the Hongkong Government not to diminish facilities for sea bathing, and to provide the public with such facilities as it has hitherto enjoyed. I submit that it is the duty of the Government to look round and see what can be done in this matter and not to take any steps which will alienate the sites of these bathing beaches, until we can see something equally good in exchange.
With regard to Kennedy Town, fortunately, at the present moment this beach does not appear to be threatened by any negotiations between the Government and any outside party, but as regards this beach I would wish to safeguard the future and would ask the Government to consent that any question as to taking away the public bathing beach in Kennedy Town shall be brought up in this council for deliberation and discussion before any negotiations are entered into for the sale of such beach. The figures for Kennedy Town show that the beach there is also a popular place for bathing, though the figures are not so large as those of North Point. For 1920, the figures were 25,083, of which European civilians totalled 1,406, European soldiers 1,316, Chinese 16,769, Portuguese 4,100, Indians 1,469. That shows that there is in Kennedy Town, as at North Point, a considerable use of the
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bathing beaches. On the figures, North Point beach is the more popular by, roughly speaking, 50 per cent.
As regards Kowloon. I understand the Kowloon Residents Association has sent in an application to the Government for bathing beaches at the western end of Cheung Sha Wan with all the usual appliances, sheds, etc., and I desire to support this request for the reservation of that beach for the people of Kowloon.
Sir, I have endeavoured in this matter not to use too strong language, beacuse my object has been to see whether the Government will not help us, although I must say frankly that a bad start has been made in the matter of the North Point Beach. I trust that the Government will not deprive the public of this beach until the Government has itself evolved―for it is the duty of the Government in its municipal capacity to evolve―adequate substituted facilities for bathing at North Point, which, as I have pointed out, is appreciated by numbers of bathers, and I have shown to Your Excellency the increasingly high figures which indicate the use made of the bathing beaches at North Point. I trust, therefore, that the Government will have no difficulty in accepting the terms of the motion that it is the duty of the Hongkong Government to provide the public with adequate facilities for sea bathing― certainly as good facilities as the public have enjoyed in the past; in fact, I will put it higher than that, for I think that the Government ought to look ahead and provide for future needs. It is the wrong policy for a Government which exercises the functions of a Municipal Council in this Colony, to do what no Municipal Council at Home would venture to do, and that is to take away from the public facilities for sea bathing hitherto enjoyed by them.
HON. MR. LAU CHU PAK, in seconding the motion, said: My hon. friend has so fully and ably explained the necessity and importance of reserving the beaches for bathing purposes, that I need not go over the ground again. The few remarks I am going to make are particularly on behalf of the Chinese of the younger generation. In recent years they have taken to sea bathing not only as a means of sport but also for health reasons. Their number is bound to increase in the years to come, and, therefore, I join in respectfully urging the Government to take the matter into favourable consideration.
HON. MR. HOLYOAK―I rise, sir, to support the resolution which has been put forward by the hon. member representing the Justices of the Peace. I do not know whether the Government is aware of the
intensely strong public feeling which exists on this question; if it is, I cannot believe that it will run counter to it. I do not know what stage the negotiations in connection with the North Point site, which is under consideration for development purposes, has reached, but I do submit that the argument put before the Council by my hon. friend (Mr. Pollock) is from the wrong end. It seems to me that the problem is not one of finding a fresh site for the bathing beach, but of finding a fresh site for development. Far be it from me to oppose anything in the nature of natural commercial development of the Colony with which we are all so intimately bound up we are all bound to do all we can to provide for it. But when such development runs counter to public rights, and what are almost public needs, I submit the question needs the gravest consideration before an irrevocable step is taken. There is no question that in a climate such as we have in this Colony in the Summer months, it is desirable for hygienic reasons that the greatest possible facilities should be given for open sea bathing. Since these bathing beaches were provided increasingly large numbers of people have used and enjoyed them. I have passed and re-passed both of these bathing beaches on the Hongkong side continually this Summer, and I have noticed how largely they are used. You will be bringing hardships to bear on all these people who do not enjoy facilities for getting out on launches or have not free and easy access to Stonecutters Island or the more distant bathing places. There ought to be public bathing beaches available within easy reach of everyone living on this crowded island. No one can fail to have been struck by the enormously increased interest among the Chinese in the art of swimming in the last three or four years, and this must be partly due to the facilities which have been given by these public beaches, which should not be taken away. I support this resolution because I am certain that it has behind it a very large weight of public opinion in this Colony.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY―I think it will bring this matter into somewhat clearer
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perspective if I give a brief history of these two bathing beaches, at North Point and West Point. A question was first asked in 1912 in this Council, by the Hon. Mr. Osborne, that the Government should reserve areas at the eastern and western extremities of the island for the purpose of bathing beaches, and should clear those areas. The Government refused to reserve any definite places, but said that any application for the use of bathing beaches would be considered. Nothing further was done at the time but in April or May, 1912 Mr. Osborne moved a resolution in this Council, that bathing beaches should be established at each end of the town, and it was agreed to consider the matter with the Estimates for 1913, the resolution being unanimously adoption. As the outcome of that, a small sum of money was provided and the Government cleared these two beaches of rocks. The West Point beach was in partial use before that date; the North Point beach had not been used at all. The Government cleared them and put down a quantity of sand at North Point, and made it into the bathing beach it is at present, quite a fair bathing beach. At first, of course, very few people bathed there, but, as the hon. member who moved the motion pointed out, the numbers have grown very largely indeed. I must, however, call attention to the danger of accepting certain underlying fallacies in these figures. It has been put to us on the one hand that a large number of people used these beaches during last season, from the point of view of health-giving recreation, and at the same time the hon. member did mention, in connection with the number of soldiers, that it was not 11,000 different soldiers who used the beach, but probably the same people used it over and over again. If we take it as 64,000 different bathers the fact that each man bathed once in the season is not an argument in favour of showing that any great benefit was derived by the community from the point of view of health and recreation. I prefer to think that 6,000 people each used the beaches ten times in the season and derived a certain amount of benefit, or that a thousand habitues each used them sixty times and were entirely revigorated. But I do not wish to press the argument of numbers too far. In any event, the Government admits that the increased popularity of these beaches shows that they do meet a real public want, but, on the other hand, with great regret it feels bound to come to the decision that the advantage to the community at large of the retention of these beaches is entirely outweighed by other considerations. The importance of the harbour is being pressed upon us from all sides. The Economic Resources Committee have recently reported to us that it is our only asset, and that too great importance could not be attached to the question. Only recently Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice, in conversation with me, told me that he was most
profoundly impressed with the vast potentialities of this port and its prospects for the future. The Government regards it as its duty not only not to discourage development, but to do all in its power to push it on when it sees the opportunity. We have been told that we do nothing to advertise, that we stand in the way of people, and choke them off when they wish to come forward. The applicant for a site for any purpose is a shy person. He is not easily tempted with the lands we offer, and in this particular case of the North Point there happened to be a chance of developing that area and no other area, or practically no other areas, so far as we know, could be given instead. The applicant seeks to develop that area with large wharves and godowns for the berthing of ocean going ships and the housing of the merchandise carried by them. The Government is entirely satisfied that it is its duty to promote that scheme by all means in its power, and that it is not in the interests of the community that this applicant should go elsewhere, away from the Colony, simply because we want to reserve that stretch of sand for bathers.
With regard to the West Point beach, the opinion of the public, as voiced by its representatives, suffers from the somewhat disconcerting habits of the weathercock. Quite recently the Economic Resorces Committee, on which are several members of the Council, including one who has spoken on the motion, forwarded a scheme to this Government drafted by one of its leading members, in which it was urged that the Government should forthwith proceed to reclaim the bathing beach at West Point for commercial purposes. It pointed out the very great advantages of adding land to that neighbourhood, from the point of view both of the question of overcrowding and of the development of the back area by the land taken away; and the Government replied sympathetically that it had had the matter under consideration for some time, for many years in fact, but that it was not proceeding with the work
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at present because it had other large reclamation schemes at Praya East and Shamsuipo and preferred to carry these farther towards completion before tackling a large problem of this kind.
With regard to the figures gone into in detail, it has been pointed out that the Chinese are the largest users of these two beaches and from enquiries I have made I find that much the greater number of people are schoolboys, as Mr. Lau Chu Pak has pointed out. I have learned with great pleasure that the Confucian Society does a considerable amount of good work by taking the boys at cheap rates to beaches elsewhere, including Stonecutters. No doubt something further could be done on these lines in transporting school boys by Government or private enterprise. Launch hire is not an expensive item and might not exceed the present cost of transport by tram. With regard to the soldiers, it must be remembered that the European Garrison, or the far greater part of it, is going across to Kowloon and it does not seem likely that they would come in any great numbers as far as North Point. The military, of course, have launches and Stonecutters', again, is no great distance from Kowloon. The cost of transport in that case also would probably be no more than in the present case of transport by tram. I may mention that the military used to bathe, when I first came out, in the military camber along the Praya. I have no doubt that arrangements can be made for that to be re-opened for the purpose. I have not consulted the military authorities on the question. With regard to the question of facilities (it is stated that we ought to provide facilities) we do provide facilities. Roads, of course, are the prime facility. I recognise that Repulse Bay does not actually come within the purview of this motion, but I may say that not only are we driving a new short road across to Repulse Bay, but we are negotiating with the Hotel Company for the provision of first-class free facilities for public bathing on the Repulse Bay beach. When that new road is in working order I have no doubt it will be possible to arrange for quite cheap transport across to Repulse Bay for a large number of people who now go to North Point. Then, again, we are driving a 100-foot road direct from the City Hall to Shaukiwan. The present tramway is tortuous and slow, and no doubt with a fast service of trams people would be able to get to Shaukiwan in the time it now takes to reach North Point. The Sai Wan beach―an excellent bathing beach―is only a short distance away. I admit that in the Summer the walk across the ridge would be rather out of the realm of reason and possibility, but no doubt cheap motor transport across that neck can be provided. That is another possible facility. Again, there is Sandy Bay, not very far round the corner from West Point. It is
possible that arrangements might be made for the Hongkong Tramway to extend along the Jubilee Road in that direction.
With regard to Kowloon, I might say that my remarks about North Point apply to that locality also. At Cheung Sha Wan, we have arranged, and practically completed negotiations, to sell that foreshore to an important Corporation who are introducing a large new industry into the Colony, and I think it is the duty of the Government to give the land for that purpose rather than to leave it for bathing, more especially as I have never seen anyone bathing on that beach yet.
I am relieved that we have not been confronted with the example of other places which have provided free transport or anything of that kind, or who have done any special thing for providing free bathing facilities. The hon. member spoke about seaside bathing places in England and put the Government in an exactly parallel situation to the Corporations of those places. Hongkong is not a seaside bathing place; it is a commercial centre, and the sooner that is recognised the better. I think it would be regarded as ludicrous if in ports, such as Liverpool and London, which had a stretch of sandy foreshore in the middle of the commercial area, the Corporation should be called upon to preserve it for all time for bathing purposes when docks and wharves are clamouring for room.
I may say on behalf of the Government that while it accepts the axiom that sea bathing is a health-giving recreation and that all reasonable facilities should be given for it, it cannot accept this motion―that it is the duty of the Government to provide facilities in the sense that it is its duty to keep these areas at North Point and at West Point. The Government is ready and willing to offer all reasonable facilities, to prepare beaches and to put up accommodation and to consider any proposal that may be put forward for reasonably cheap transportation. As I have suggested, transportation to Stonecutters'
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or, possibly, latter on, to Sai Wan, and, possibly, even to Repulse Bay, should be no more costly than the present transport is to North Point and Kennedy Town. The Government, in that sense, accepts the resolution that it is its duty to provide such reasonable facilities as it can to assist the public in the matter of free bathing, and it will welcome any scheme for transport or otherwise that the hon. member who made the motion may wish to put before it. But as the hon. member has defined his motion as meaning that it is the duty of the Government to preserve the two beaches now in question, the Government regrets that it cannot accept the motion.
HON. MR. POLLOCK―As mover, I have the right of reply under Rule 20. The hon. member who represents the Chamber of Commerce mentioned a point which I omitted―that there is a considerable force of public opinion behind this motion. As regards the North Point site, if we cannot get adequate facilities in lieu of this, it seems to follow logically that the Government ought to retain the present site until such other facilities are in view. In connection with those substituted facilities, it seems to me that, although the hon. Colonial Secretary was in general agreement with the principle that there should be facilities, he puts too much on me when he suggests that I should put up, or get other people to suggest, schemes of cheap transport. That is not the business of an unofficial member of the Council. The Government ought simultaneously to begin to tackle the problem of what is to be done for the people displaced from the bathing beaches at North Point. The Colonial Secretary remarked that it is not desirable that bathing places should be kept in perpetuity. I quite agree. but my point is that the Government ought not to take away facilities that exist at present, unless and until it is prepared to supply others. The Colonial Secretary has mentioned one or two alternatives, but, except as to the Repulse Bay project, they are too vague and shadowy. With regard to Sai Wan in the Summer, it is such an undertaking walking from Shaukiwan to Sai Wan and it would take so much time that it is not really a practical proposition. Of course, if there was a tramway, the scheme would be in a different category, but there is no such thing. Another suggestion was to go round to Sandy Bay, but all that is so much in the air that it does not at all meet the present necessity. Similarly, with regard to Repulse Bay, the hon. member has not told us how soon that road is likely to be carried through. Of course, if it were, and if the Government were prepared to give cheap transport to Repulse Bay, that might relieve the situation to a certain extent, but at present it is all too vague. If the Government would make a definite promise, one would have something to which one
could attach importance. I agree with my friend who represents the Chamber of Commerce that at present the proposition practically forces itself upon us that, until the Government can give substituted facilities, the only thing to do is to hold on to the bathing beaches at North Point. It is the only way in which to prevent the public being deprived of the bathing beaches, which are so very important from a health point of view. With regret, sir, I must ask for a division on this motion, because I want to drive home the point that it is the duty of the Hongkong Government to provide the public with adequate facilities for sea bathing.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR―I am afraid I cannot accept the motion in view of the interpretation the hon. member has put upon it. I will put the motion to the Council.
The question having been put, His Excellency said "I think the Noes have it."
HON. MR. POLLOCK asked for a division.
HON. MR. PARR―May I say a few words before the motion is put? I have been in favour of the continuation of these sea bathing facilities, but, as I take the view that the Government has put forward― which is the view that I, as Chairman of the Shipping Sub-Committee of the Economic Resources Commission, have been recommending to the Government from the very first, namely, that they shall do their utmost to develop the harbour which is the Colony's life-blood―I, therefore, am voting with the Government, although I sat in Committee with Mr. Pollock on this motion and approved that the public should not be deprived of sea-bathing facilities if it can possibly be avoided. But the beaches should not be maintained at the expense of the development of the harbour.
In the division all the Official Members, the Hon. Mr. John Johnstone and the Hon. Mr. Parr voted against the motion, which was declared rejected by 9 votes to 4.
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Supplementary Appropriation
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the third reading of the Bill intituled, An Ordinance to authorize the Appropriation of a supplementary sum of four million and twenty-six thousand three hundred and thirty-six dollars and eleven cents to defray the charges of the year 1919.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY said―I beg to report that the Bill has passed through the Finance Committee without amendments; I therefore beg to move its third reading.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the third reading was agreed to.
The Treaty of Peace Orders
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled, An Ordinance to modify certain provisions of the Treaty of Peace Order, 1919, as amended by the Treaty of Peace (Amendment) Order, 1920, for the purpose of adapting the provisions of the Order to the circumstances of the Colony of Hongkong.
The "Objects and Reasons" state:― The object of this Bill is to adapt to the circumstances of the Colony the amendments made in the Treaty of Peace Order, 1919, by the Treaty of Peace (Amendment) Order, 1920. The latter Order was published in the Hongkong Gazette of 29th October, 1920. The method followed in the Bill is similar to that of Ordinance 3 of 1920, tht references in the second column of the schedule being to the articles of the original Order, as amended by the amendment Order.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL said―The Treaty of Peace Order, 1919, did three things. It made certain sections of the Treaty of Peace with Germany the law of the land. It provided for a Clearing Office for the collection and payment of certain debts due between German and English nationals. It created, in favour of British claims, a charge on all German property which was within His Majesty's dominions on the 10th January, 1919. The Amendment Order which was made this year makes certain alterations in detail and in the working of the principal Order. Both Orders apply to His Majesty's Dominions, except India and the Self Governing Dominions. They are, however, drawn up primarily for the United Kingdom and, therefore, refer to United Kingdom legislation, currency, and officials, and it is necessary for the application of the Order to
the Crown Colonies and Protectorates that modifications should be made for the purpose of making the Orders applicable to particular Colonies. Power is given to do that in the principal Order, and Ordinance No. 3 of this year made the necessary modifications in the principal Order. This present Bill is to make the necessary modifications in the Amendment Order. The amendments are of very slight interest. They consist of references to Hongkong currency instead of English currency and things of that kind. I beg to move that the Bill be read a first time.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled, An Ordinance to modify certain provisions of the Treaty of Peace (Austria) Order, 1920, for the purpose of adapting the provisions of the Order to the circumstances of the Colony of Hongkong.
The "Objects and Reasons" state:― The object of this Bill is to adapt the Treaty of Peace (Austria) Order, 1920, to to the circumstances of this Colony. The Order was published in the Hongkong Gazette of the 12th November, 1920.
The method followed is the same as that adopted in Ordinance No. 3 of 1920.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL―This Bill is to adapt to Hongkong the Imperial Treaty of Peace Order which deals with the Austrian Treaty. It is similar to the the Ordinance which was passed earlier in the year for the purpose of adapting the Order which deals with the German Treaty.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the first reading was agreed to.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled, An Ordinance to modify certain provisions of the Treaty of Peace (Bulgaria) Order, 1920, for the purpose of adapting the provisions of the Order to the circumstances of the Colony of Hongkong
The "Objects and Reasons" state:― The object of this Bill is to adapt the Treaty of Peace (Bulgaria) Order, 1920, to the circumstances of this Colony. The Order was published in the Hongkong Gazette of the 5th November, 1920.
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The method followed is the same as that adopted in Ordinance No. 3 of 1920.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL―This Bill is to deal with the Bulgarian Treaty of Peace Order in the same way as the last Bill dealt with the Austrian Treaty of Peace Order.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the first reading was agreed to.
The Adjournment
H.E. THE GOVERNOR―The Council will adjourn till this day fortnight. I would like the Council to settle what time it would like to meet.
HON. MR. HOLYOAK―2.30.
This being agreeable to the members generally the time of meeting was fixed for 2.30.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was held, the Colonial Secretary presiding.
Miscellaneous Services
H.E. the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $107,444 in aid of the following votes: ―
Miscellaneous Services:―
Language Study Allowances................ $ 1,670 Government Buildings:―
Electric Fans and Light.......................... 2,940 Lifts Maintenance .................................. 780 Printing and Binding:―
Civil Service List............................... 54 Miscellaneous Papers........................ 30,000 Ordinances, Regulations and
Reports .......................................... 4,500 Stationery ........................................... 11,000 Transport of Government Servants ...... 54,000 Charitable Services, Other Charitable
Allowances ........................................ 2,500
Total............................... $107,444
THE CHAIRMAN―The Printing item is largely
due to a very heavy increase in the cost of materials, and partly that $30,000 is due to a breakdown of machinery in the Government gaol. The item Transport, $54,000, is explained by the new scheme for passages for Government servants.
The vote was approved.
Repairs to Railway Embankment
H.E. the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $3,625 in aid of the vote Kowloon Canton Railway, Special Expenditure, Repairs to Railway Embankment.
Approved.
A Vote for Drawing Materials
H.E. the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $1,200 in aid of the vote Public Works, Establishment, Other Charges, Drawing Materials and Mounting Plans.
Approved.
Railway Wagons
H.E. the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $12,000 in aid of the vote Kowloon Canton Railway, Special Expenditure, Wagons.
THE CHAIRMAN―This is for providing bodies for 30 new wagons, not included in the original estimate.
Approved.
Moorings in the Harbour
H.E. the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $900 in aid of the vote Harbour Department, A.―Harbour Office, Other Charges, Raising and Renewing Moorings of Ocean Steamships.
Approved.
Harbour Department Examinations
H.E. the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $600 in aid of the vote Harbour Department, A.―Harbour Office, Other Charges, Examination Fees.
Approved.
92 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
New Refuse Barge
H.E. the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $14,000 in aid of the vote Sanitary Department, Special Expenditure, New Refuse Barge.
THE CHAIRMAN―This barge was to have been ordered next year, but a barge was sunk and it was decided to order one at once.
Approved.
Compensation and Resumptions
H.E. the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $115,470 in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary, New Territories, Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903, (79) Compensation and Resumptions.
THE CHAIRMAN―This was the purchase of the gaol site from the Kai Tack Reclamation Co.
Approved.
Public Works Votes
H.E. the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of ten thousand seven hundred dollars ($10,700) in aid of the following votes:―
Public Works, Extraordinary, Hongkong:
Communications, (16) Roads:
(u) General Works................................. $7,000 Miscellaneous, (28) Renewing Cable to Green Island........................................... 400
Public Works, Recurrent, Hongkong:―
Lighting, (10) Gas Lighting, City and Suburbs and Hill District....................... 1,300 Miscellaneous, (15) Maintenance of Public Recreation Grounds................... 500 Public Works, Recurrent, Kowloon:―
Lighting, (29) Gas Lighting....................... 1,500
Total.............................. $10,700
THE CHAIRMAN ―These are various small additions to Public Works. The vote of $7,000 is due to the growth of the town― new pavements in front of shops. The cable was double the estimated cost. The lighting vote is due to the provision of more lamps.
Approved.
Fans and Light in the C.S.O.
H.E. the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum $60 in aid of the vote:―
Colonial Secretary's Office, Other Charges:―
Electric Fans and Light ................................... $35 Incidental Expenses......................................... 25
Total............................... $60
Approved.