128 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
3rd November, 1927.
PRESENT:―
HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT (HON. MR. W. T. SOUTHORN, C.M.G.).
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING THE TROOPS (MAJOR-GENERAL C. C. LUARD, C.B., C.M.G.).
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY (HON. MR. E. R. HALLIFAX, C.M.G., C.B.E.).
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL (HON. SIR JOSEPH HORSFORD KEMP, KT., K.C., C.B.E.). THE COLONIAL TREASURER (HON. MR. C. MCI. MESSER, O.B.E.).
HON. MR. H. T. JACKMAN (Director of Public Works).
HON. MR. E. D. C. WOLFE (Captain Superintendent of Police).
HON. MR. R. H. KOTEWALL, C.M.G., LL.D.
HON. MR. D. G. M. BERNARD.
HON. MR. A. C. HYNES.
HON. MR. J. OWEN HUGHES.
HON. MR. W. E. L. SHENTON.
MR. E. W. HAMILTON (Deputy Clerk of Councils).
ABSENT.
HON. SIR SHOU-SON CHOW, KT.
HON. MR. R. A. C. NORTH (Secretary for Chinese Affairs).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting of the Council were confirmed.
PAPERS
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. The Officer Administering the Government, laid upon the table the following papers:―
Regulation under section 3 of the Post Office Ordinance, 1926, on October 24th, 1927. Order under section 92 (8) of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903, on October 22nd, 1927.
FINANCE.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. The Officer Administering the Government, laid upon the table the report of the Finance Committee No. 13, dated October 24th, 1927, and moved that it be adopted.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and this was agreed to.
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DOGS ORDINANCE.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled, "An Ordinance to make provision for regulating the keeping of dogs and for the prevention of the importation and spread of rabies." He said―The object of the Bill is to strengthen the hands of the authorities in their campaign against the very dangerous disease of rabies, a disease dangerous to dogs and dangerous also to man. The Bill makes only one substantial change in the law, and that is effected by the alteration of the definition of the term "Dog." The present Dogs Ordinance, No. 5 of 1893, defines "dog" in such a way as to exclude puppies under the age of three months. That is all right for licensing purposes and purposes of general control, but it is not enough for the purposes of the campaign against rabies, and in the present Bill the term "dog" will include the animal of any age. For the rest, the Bill merely gives the power to make regulations, it incorporates from the Summary Offences Ordinance, 1845, a section relating to dogs which is more properly placed in a Dogs Ordinance, and it increases the penalty for contravention of the Ordinance from $100 to the present normal maximum of $250. The draft of the regulations proposed to be made under this Bill after it becomes law has been published. The regulations while tightening up the present regulations do not, I think, materially differ from them. I should like to draw attention to one regulation which is new, that is regulation 8, which provides that owners of dogs suspected of having rabies, or of having been in contact with cases of rabies, will have to report that fact without delay to the nearest Police Station.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a first time. OBJECTS AND REASONS.
The "Objects and Reasons" of the Bill state:―
1. The present Dogs Ordinance, Ordinance No. 5 of 1893, defines the term "dog" as excluding puppies under the age of three months. This definition was probably adopted because for licensing, and other purposes of general control, puppies may be excluded. For the purpose, however, of suppression of rabies it is important to have control over dogs of all ages. The chief object of this Bill is to amend the definition of the term "dog" so as to include dogs of all ages.
2. The Ordinance in question is open to minor objections on the ground of form and content. For example, it contains provisions which ground of form and content. For example, it contains provisions which now-a-days generally appear in regulations. Further, the regulations section is somewhat diffuse. Again, section 8 of the Ordinance does not create any offence but merely gives a power of arrest and for that purpose it is unnecessary in view of section 26 of Ordinance No. 11 of 1900.
130 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
3. It was decided to take the opportunity of remedying these defects. The bill, therefore, repeals the old Ordinance and re-enacts the necessary provisions. The maximum penalty is raised from $100 to $250 in accordance with the modern practice with regard to minor summary offences.
4. Section 16 (3) of the Summary Offences Ordinance, 1845, is repealed because the question of stray dogs will be dealt with in the regulations to be made under this Ordinance. Sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 16 of the Summary Offences Ordinance, 1845, are being allowed to stand because they deal with animals generally and do not refer to dogs only. Section 17 of that Ordinance is repealed because the section has been transferred to this Ordinance, where it appears as section 4.
5. A draft of the proposed regulations is published at the same time as this bill. JESUIT ORDER INCORPORATION ORDINANCE, 1927.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill intituled, "An Ordinance to provide for the incorporation of the Procurator in Hong Kong of the English Assistancy of the Jesuit Order."
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time.
Council went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause. No amendment was made in Committee, and upon Council resuming,
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the third reading of the Bill.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
GENERAL LOAN AND INSCRIBED STOCK AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1927.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill intituled, "An Ordinance to amend the General Loan and Inscribed Stock Ordinance, 1913."
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time.
Council went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause. No amendment was made in Committee, and upon Council resuming,
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the third reading of the Bill.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
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MEDICAL REGISTRATION AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1927.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Medical Registration Ordinance, 1884."
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time.
Council went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause. No amendment was made in Committee and upon Council resuming,
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the third reading of the Bill.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
THE WATCHMEN ORDINANCE, 1927.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved that the further consideration of the Bill intituled, "An Ordinance to provide for the registration and regulation of watchmen" be postponed sine die.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and this was agreed to.
Council then adjourned sine die.