HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 169
30th December, 1927.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was held in the Council Chamber, the Colonial Secretary (Hon. Mr. E. R. HALLIFAX) presiding.
Items, totalling $11,897, contained in H.E. The Governor's message, No. 18, were considered.
All the votes were approved.
30th December, 1927.
PRESENT:―
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR (SIR CECIL CLEMENTI, K.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. E. D. C. WOLFE (Captain Superintendent of Police).
HON. MR. R. A. C. NORTH (Secretary for Chinese Affairs).
HON. SIR SHOU-SON CHOW, KT.
HON. MR. R. H. KOTEWALL, C.M.G., LL.D.
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. MR. H. T. JACKMAN (Director of Public Works).
HON. MR. D. G. M. BERNARD.
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Council were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. The Governor, laid upon the table the following papers:―
Rescission of the Order declaring Batavia to be an infected place, on 23rd December, 1927. Regulations under section 11 of the Volunteer Ordinance, 1920, on 22nd December, 1927.
170 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
QUESTIONS.
HON. MR. W. E. L. SHENTON asked:―
Have the Government, on behalf of the Colony of Hong Kong, recently received a gift of a valuable collection of pictures and prints of Hong Kong and the Far East, in accordance with the wishes of the late Sir Catchick Paul Chater, and by the generosity of the Armenian Holy Church of Nazareth at Calcutta?
If yes, what steps are the Government taking to preserve the collection for the Colony of Hong Kong, where will the same be housed, and on what conditions, pending the provision of a permanent repository for the same?
Have the Government a scheme for a permanent repository?
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY―The answer to the first question is in the affirmative. The collection comprises paintings and prints to the total of 437, all of great interest to the Colony and many of historical value.
In the absence of any suitable repository for the whole collection, such of the pictures as could not be given wall-space at Government House have been distributed to the University and various Government Offices where they will be hung and cared for. Arrangements are in hand for marking each picture with a brass plate engraved with the reference number in the catalogue: and the whole collection will be checked annually.
The answer to the third question is in the negative.
FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORTS.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY moved that the reports of the Finance Committee No. 17 dated 22nd December, 1927, and No. 18 dated 30th December, 1927, be adopted.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and this was agreed to.
MOTION.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY moved that the By-law made by the Sanitary Board under sections 6 (43) (b) and 16 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903, on the 29th day of November, 1927, be adopted.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL seconded, and this was agreed to.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR―This completes our work for 1927. I thank honourable members of this Council for much valuable and unfailing help they have given to me throughout the past year and I take this opportunity of wishing all members of Council and, through them, the Colony as a whole, every happiness and prosperity for the new year.
Council then adjourned sine die.