6 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
March 15th, 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. S. B. B. MCELDERRY (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.
NEW MEMBER.
Hon. Mr. S. B. B. MCELDERRY took the oath upon taking his seat as a member of the Council.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO CANTON.
HON. SIR HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK said―Sir,―As this is the first meeting of this Council which has taken place since your visit to Canton, I desire, as the Senior Unofficial Member, to express the deep gratitude of this Colony to your Excellency for your labours on our behalf. We are indeed fortunate to have as the Head of the Executive, at this present time, one who combines a profound insight into Chinese character with a genuine sympathy with the aspirations of the Chinese people. You have rightly interpreted the sincere desire of all sections in this Colony for the restoration and continued maintenance of friendly trading relations with the Province of Kwangtung, and in all the steps which you have taken and are taking for the purpose of
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 7
strengthening and extending those ties I can assure Your Excellency of the whole-hearted and unanimous support of every section of the community of Hong Kong.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR, in reply, said―Gentlemen,―I appreciate very much what the Senior Unofficial Member has said and I cordially endorse his hope that the friendly ties between this Colony and the Liang Kuang provinces may be strengthened with every passing day, and that trade between Hong Kong and Canton may flourish exceedingly.
The thanks of the Colony for the happy results so far achieved are due first to Mr. Brenan, who has striven whole-heartedly ever since his appointment as Consul-General at Canton for the improvement of Anglo-Chinese relations; next to Mr. Shenton, lately a member of this Council, for establishing personal contact of a very friendly kind with Marshal Li Chai-sum; but above all to Sir Shouson Chow, Dr. Kotewall and Mr. Li Yau-ts'ün for paving the way by their informal visit to Marshal Li for the recent mutual and cordial exchange of official visits. It was also a fortunate and very opportune circumstance that, shortly after the informal visit which these three gentlemen paid to Canton, H.B.M.'s Minister, Sir Miles Lampson, called officially on Marshal Li and communicated to him in person the warm invitation of this Government to visit Hong Kong. Personal and friendly intercourse so established cannot fail to be of great value to the Government as well as to the people both of Hong Kong and of Canton. It will remove misunderstandings. It will promote co-operation. It will strengthen the forces of law and order; and it will, I hope, mark the beginning of an era of peace, happiness and prosperity in South China.
HON. SIR SHOU-SON CHOW―My Chinese colleague and I are grateful to Your Excellency for the very kind reference you have made to the humble part which we took in connection with the recent exchange of visits between Your Excellency and Marshal Li Chai sum We feel, Sir, we have done no more than our duty.
PAPERS.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid upon the table the following papers:―
Order under section 2 (1) of the Prohibited Areas (Afforestation) Ordinance, 1927, on February 21st, 1928.
Regulations under section 22 (3) of the Liquors Consolidation Ordinance, 1911, on February 10th, 1928.
Regulation under section 25 (4), 33 (2) and 42 of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899, on February 29th, 1928.
Resolution under section 38 of the Liquors Consolidation Ordinance, 1911, on February 23rd, 1928.
8 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
Regulation under section 11 of the Volunteer Ordinance, 1920, on February 20th, 1928. Regulation under section 11 of the Volunteer Ordinance, 1920, on March 3rd, 1928. Jurors List for 1928 (Sessional Paper No. 3 of 1928).
QUESTIONS.
HON. SIR HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, pursuant to notice, asked the following questions:―
1. What information can the Government lay before this Council as to the steps which are being taken in connection with the construction of the new reservoir in the Aberdeen Valley?
2. What steps is the Government taking by leaflets or notices to instruct householders and others as to the imperative necessity of conserving the water supply of this Colony? Why cannot printed notices, in English and Chinese, be sent out to householders periodically? Is it not possible that some economy in consumption might be effected by reducing the amount of the free allowance of water to householders?
3. In connection with the answer given to the Honourable Mr. Bernard at the last Meeting of this Council to the effect that the Imperial Government was contributing £100,000 towards the Kai Tak Aerodrome, what is the estimated sum of money which the Hong Kong Government will have to contribute towards the cost of such aerodrome?
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY replied―
1. A Sessional Paper No. 10 of 1927 on this subject has been issued and was laid on the table on December 22nd last.
The Secretary of State has been asked by despatch dated January 30th, 1928, to give early sanction for this scheme, which, it is proposed, to charge to Loan Account. The approval of the Secretary of State is now being awaited.
2. The Government has hitherto taken no such steps except on occasions of great urgency. Notices in English and Chinese could be printed and distributed to house-holders periodically, but it is not considered that the result of such action would justify the cost of printing and distribution.
Arrangements will however be made for the publication from time to time in the newspapers of the Colony of notices drawing attention to the importance of avoiding waste of water.
Some economy in consumption would result from the reduction or abolition of the free allowance of water, though it is doubtful whether the saving would be sufficient to justify the extra burden on the community. The question will be further considered.
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 9
3. The estimated cost of forming the Aerodrome site adjoining Kowloon Bay is as follows:―
(a) Resumption of area from the Kai Tak Development Co....... $1,001,250.00 (b) Resumption of Lands and Properties...................................... 185,000.00 (c) Completion of Reclamation including surfacing, etc............. 738,000.00 (d) Covering Nullahs, Road Construction and forming
Camber ...................................................................................... 605,000.00 $2,529,250.00
The above total estimated cost, $2,529,250.00 represents the cost of acquiring, forming and completing the Aerodrome site and does not include the cost of Buildings, Offices, Air craft sheds, workshops and contingent works.
HON. SIR HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK―Arising out of the answer to the last question, can the Hon. Director of Public Works informs us what is the estimated cost of the buildings, offices, aircraft sheds, workshops and contingent works?
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR―I am afraid it will hardly be possible for the Hon. Director of Public Works to reply, as the scheme for such buildings has not yet been made. It is under consideration and we shall have to obtain the advice of the Air Ministry.
FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid upon the table the report of the Finance Committee No. 1 of February 23rd, 1928, and moved that it be adopted.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and this was agreed to.
REGISTRATION AND REGULATION OF WATCHMEN.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Ordinance to provide for the registration and regulation of watchmen. He said―This Bill was read a first time on the 27th of October last year. Certain interested parties had put forward certain views on the Bill and the Unofficial Members of this Council granted an interview to the representative of those interested parties. They also granted an interview to the Captain Superintendent of Police, and they discussed and considered the proposals contained in the Bill. The Bill was also reconsidered by the Government, and as a result of these interviews and discussions and consideration certain proposed alterations were agreed between the Government and the Unofficial Members and they have been embodied in the print which honourable members now have in their hands. It is proposed to make these alterations by amendments at a later stage.
10 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
There are two main alterations in the Bill since the first reading. That is to say the print which is now before members has been altered on two substantial points. In the first place the new print provides for two classes of watchmen―police watchmen and private watchmen. Private watchmen will not be subject to police discipline and their pay will not be regulated under the Ordinance. All watchmen, when the Bill become law, will have to register as such, but it will be for each individual watchman to choose whether he will register as a private watchman or as a public watchman.
The second main point on which the print differs from the original form of the Bill is in connection with clauses dealing with money-lending. Clause 13 originally read "No watchman shall act as a money-lender." It was felt that might be hardship in that form and it is now proposed that that clause shall not apply to any private watchman who was on the 1st of January this year registered as a money-lender and who satisfies the Captain Superintendent of Police that he was actually employed as a watchman at the commencement of the Ordinance.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time.
Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause. Amendments embodying the changes outlined by the Attorney-General were approved.
Upon Council resuming H.E. THE GOVERNOR announced that it was not proposed to proceed further with the Bill at that meeting.
NATURALISATION ORDINANCE.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Ordinance to amend the Naturalization Ordinance, 1902, and to provide for the revocation of naturalization rights in certain cases.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time.
Council went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause. No amendments were introduced into the Bill 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.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR―Council adjourns until this day fortnight (March 29th).
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 11
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
Council was followed by a meeting of the Finance Committee, the COLONIAL SECRETARY presiding.
Votes of supplementary expenditure, totalling $34,935 were approved.
Item No. 9. Public Works Extraordinary―Path from Ta Ku Ling to Lin Ma Hang to complete work in progress―$9,255.
HON. SIR HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK―What is the length of this path? THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS―I have not the exact length.
HON. SIR HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK―How wide is it?
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS―It is six feet wide.