HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
February 23rd, 1928.
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. H. T. CREASY, C.B.E. (Director of Public Works).
HON. MR. E. D. C. WOLFE, C.M.G. (Captain Superintendent of Police). HON. MR. R. A. C. NORTH (Secretary for Chinese Affairs).
HON. SIR HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, KT., K.C.
HON. SIR SHOU-SON CHOW, KT.
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.
MR. E. W. HAMILTON (Deputy Clerk of Councils).
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Council were confirmed.
STANDING LAW COMMITTEE.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR―As this is the first meeting of the LegislativeCouncil this year, it becomes necessary to appoint a Standing Law Committee. I have ascertained that the following gentlemen arewilling to serve and I now appoint them:―
Hon. ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Chairman).
Hon. COLONIAL TREASURER.
Hon. Sir H. E. POLLOCK, KT., K.C.
Hon. Dr. R. H. KOTEWALL, C.M.G.
Hon. Mr. D. G. M. BERNARD.
2 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
PAPERS.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor,laid upon the table the following papers:―
Regulations under section 3 of the Hong Kong Police Reserve Ordinance, 1927, on December 28th, 1927.
By-law under sections 6 (43) (b) and 16 of the Public Health andBuildings Ordinance, 1903, on December 30th, 1927.
Order under section 2 of the Prisons Ordinance, 1899, on January5th, 1928. Regulation under section 3 (1) of the Opium Ordinance, 1923, onJanuary 26th, 1928. Order under section 5 of the Forest Officers Ordinance, 1923, onJanuary 30th, 1928.
Regulation under sections 10 (6), 14 (7), 37 (2) and 42 (1) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899, on February 2nd, 1928.
Regulation under section 13 of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899, on February 2nd, 1928.
Rescission of the Order declaring Sourabaya to be an infected place, on February 2nd, 1928.
Proclamation under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899, Table L, Quarantine Regulations, on February 8th, 1928.
Order under section 4 of the Societies Ordinance, 1920, on February9th, 1928. British Empire Exhibition, Wembley, 1924 and 1925 (SessionalPaper No. 1 of 1928). Move of the Shing Mun Villages (Sessional Paper No. 2 of 1928).
HONG KONG AERODROME.
HON. MR. D. G. M. BERNARD―I should like permission to ask a question of which I have not given notice.
Permission was granted.
HON. MR. D. G. M. BERNARD―Will the Government state if the Imperial Government is going to contribute financially towards the cost of the Aerodrome in Hong Kong and, if so, to what extent?
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY―His Majesty's Government have allocated £100,000 from Imperial Funds towards the cost of the Hong Kong Aerodrome, £70,000 payable, if possible, this year, and£30,000 on the satisfactory completion of the work.
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 3
PUBLICAN'S LICENCES.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the following resolution:―
That the scale of fees payable for Publican's licences shall be altered and increased, in respect of each and every extension of the hours of business granted by the Captain Superintendent of Police in respect of any occasion deemed by him to be a "special occasion," in accordance with the following scale:―
For the first hour of the extension stated in a Class A
permit............................................................................. $ 50.
For each and every subsequent hour of the extension
stated in a Class A permit............................................. 100 (additional). For the first hour of the extension stated in a Class B
permit............................................................................. 25.
For each and every subsequent hour stated in a Class B
permit............................................................................. 50 (additional).
And further that the following consequential amendments be made to the Schedule of fees set forth in the Second Schedule to theLiquors Consolidation Ordinance, 1911, that is to say,―
(1) The following paragraph is inserted in the first column, next after paragraph (b) under "Publican's licence,"
And in addition to the above fees and in respect of each and every extension of hours of business granted bythe Captain Superintendent of Police in respect of anyoccasion deemed by him to be a "special occasion," the following further fees:―
For the first hour of the extension stated in
a Class A permit .................................. $ 50.
For each and every subsequent hour of the
extension in a Class A permit............. 100 (additional).
For the first hour of the extension stated in
a Class B permit................................... 25.
For each and every subsequent hour stated
in a Class B permit .............................. 50 (additional).
(2) The words "Further fees―In advance," are inserted in the second column opposite the foregoing paragraph.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL seconded, and the resolution waspassed
4 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
JURORS LIST.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY moved that the Jurors List be considered by the Council, in accordance with usual practice, in camera at the conclusion of the business on the agenda.
This was agreed to.
NATURALIZATION.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Billintituled, "An Ordinance to amend the Naturalization Ordinance, 1902, and to provide for the revocation of naturalization rights in certain cases." He said―The object of the Bill is to apply to local naturalization the powers of revocation which exist with regard to Imperial naturalization. It also provides that any person naturalized locally, who leaves the Colony and becomes naturalized in some foreign State, will automatically lose his local British Status. This is also taken from Imperial legislation with regard to Imperial naturalization.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read afirst time. OBJECTS AND REASONS.
The "Objects and Reasons" of the Bill state:―
1. One object of this bill is to apply to local naturalization the powers of revocation which exist with regard to imperial naturalization. Put shortly, the chief cases in which revocation will be possibleare the following:―
(a) where naturalization was obtained by fraud, or false representation,or concealment of material circumstances;
(b) where the person in question has shown himself disloyal to HisMajesty;
(c) where the person in question trades with the enemy, or adheresto the enemy, in any war in which His Majesty is engaged;
(d) where he has ceased to reside permanently in the Colony;
(e) where he is sentenced by any Court in His Majesty's dominionsto imprisonment for twelve months or to penal servitude or to a fine of one thousand dollars or hundred pounds.
In cases (a) and (b) above the Governor must revoke the naturalization rights of the persons in question: in the other cases he has a discretion. Provision is made that before making any order theGovernor may refer the case for inquiry to a committee to be appointed by him and to be presided over by a judge of the Supreme Court. In certain cases, including those referred to in (a) and (b) above, theperson to be affected will have the right to an inquiry.
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 5
2. The other object is to provide that a person naturalized locally shall automatically lose his local British status if he leaves the Colony and becomes naturalized in some foreign state. This provision isalso based on the law relating to imperial naturalization.
Council then considered in camera the Jurors' List.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee followed, the COLONIAL SECRETARY presiding.
H.E. The Governor's Message No. 1, comprising Items No. 165 of1927 and Nos. 1 to 8 of 1928 of supplementary expenditure, wasconsidered.
Item No. 7: Harbour Department―Rent of Government MarineSurveyor's office in P. & O. Building, additional accommodation foradditional staff of G.M.S.'s office, $3,420.
HON. MR. J. OWEN HUGHES―Is the rent of this office likely to be permanent, or is it possible that accommodation may not be foundin one of the Government buildings?
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY―We are hoping to find accommodation.The question where to get it is under consideration at themoment. This charge is essentially temporary, but whether the rentwill be for one year only or for two years is another matter.
The votes totalling $25,053 were approved.