HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 29
7th March, 1929.
PRESENT:―
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR (SIR CECIL CLEMENTI, K.C.M.G.).
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING THE TROOPS (MAJOR GENERAL J. W. SANDILANDS, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.).
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY (HON. MR. W. T. SOUTHORN, C.M.G.).
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (HON. SIR JOSEPH KEMP, KT., K.C., C.B.E.).
THE SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS (HON. MR. R. A. C. NORTH.)
THE COLONIAL TREASURER (HON. MR. C. MCI. MESSER, O.B.E.).
HON. MR. H. T. CREASY, C.B.E. (Director of Public Works).
HON. COMMANDER G. F. HOLE, R.N. (Retired) (Harbour Master).
HON. DR. A. R. WELLINGTON (Director of Medical and Sanitary Services). HON. MR. T. H. KING, (Captain Superintendent of Police).
HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK, KT., KC.
HON. SIR SHOU-SON CHOW, KT.
HON. MR. J. OWEN HUGHES.
HON. MR. W. E. L. SHENTON.
HON. MR. J. P. BRAGA.
HON. MR. S. W. TS'O, O.B.E., LL.D.
MR. E. I. WYNNE-JONES, (Deputy Clerk of Councils).
ABSENT:―
HON. MR. R. H. KOTEWALL, C.M.G., LL.D.
HON. MR. A. C. HYNES.
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting of the Council were confirmed.
NEW MEMBERS.
His Excellency the General Officer Commanding the Troops (Major General J. W. Sandilands, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.) and the Captain Superintendent of Police (Hon. Mr. T. H. King) took the oath and their seats as members of the Council.
30 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
MAJOR GENERAL LUARD'S SERVICES.
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.―Honourable Members of the Legislative Council: While welcoming with great pleasure His Excellency General Sandilands to a seat in this Council, it will, I am sure, be your wish that we should record in our proceedings an expression of appreciation of the services rendered to this Colony by General Luard, who left Hong Kong to-day. General Luard was to me an "ever present help in time of trouble" and the days of my government here were at the outset mostly days of trouble. Upon General Luard devolved also the protection of Shameen, when threatened by the disturbances in Canton, of Shanghai pending the arrival of the Shanghai Defence Force, as well as all arrangements preparatory to the arrival of the Shanghai Defence Force. These were difficult and anxious tasks: and in each case the necessary action was swiftly, quietly and efficiently taken. Not Hong Kong only, but British subjects in South China generally owe a deep debt of gratitude to General Luard. (Applause).
Mrs. Luard, apart from her indefatigable work for the comfort of the men, women and children of the garrison, identified herself with everything that made for graciousness, goodwill and unselfishness in this Colony.
We can ill afford to spare them and the Council will, I think, agree that our minutes should bear testimony to our sense of the loss we have sustained by their departure. (Applause).
HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK.―On behalf of the Unofficial members of this Council, I desire to endorse the eloquent words which have just fallen from your Excellency with regard to our departing friends, General and Mrs. Luard. The General was a very fine type of soldier and he and Mrs. Luard were a perfect type of what an English gentleman and an English lady should be (Applause). They will be both very much missed by the civilians of this community as by the Services, and the same applies to Miss Hannah Luard. We wish them all many years of happiness in the homeland. (Applause).
HON. SIR SHOU-SON CHOW.―Sir, on behalf of my Chinese colleagues, I beg to associate myself with the sentiments expressed by your Excellency in reference to the services of His Excellency, General Luard, both as a member of the Legislative and Executive Councils and as General Officer Commanding the Troops. As his colleague on both the Councils I have always found him to be most reasonable and fair; and, as his friends, my Chinese colleagues and I cherish his friendship for his kindliness, genial disposition and inborn courtesy. For my part, my wife and I have received at his hands and also at the hands of his charming lady, Mrs.
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 31
Luard, many kindnesses. By the nature of his military position he has had less opportunities than civil servants to come into contact with the Chinese; but those who have had the privilege of his friendship have learnt to regard him with the greatest respect and esteem. (Applause). The Chinese community as a whole, are grateful to him for the discipline he has maintained among the troops, whose conduct has been excellent. We wish him and his family a pleasant voyage, and the three blessings most desired by us Chinese, namely happiness, honour and longevity. (Applause.)
PAPERS.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid on the table sessional paper No. 1 of 1929, containing the approved Jurors List for 1929.
QUESTIONS.
HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK asked:―
1.―In view of the remarks made by the President of the Kowloon Residents' Association, at their recent Annual Meeting, with reference to the Kowloon-Canton Railway blocking the development of the Southern part of the Kowloon Peninsula, will the Government appoint a Committee for the purpose of inquiring and reporting to this Council as to
(i) The feasibility of,
(ii) The desirability of, and
(iii) The cost of
transferring the terminus of the Kowloon-Canton Railway to the East side of the Kowloon Peninsula?
2.―Will the Government obtain a report, for the information of this Council, from the Honourable the Harbour Master with reference to
(i) the feasibility of, and
(ii) the cost (after giving credit for the estimated sale value of her present engines) of
substituting motor-engines for the present engines of the "Kau Sing?"
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY replied:―
1.―Even if it were desirable to transfer the Kowloon terminus of the Kowloon Canton Railway to another site, which in the opinion of Government is not the case, funds for such a work could not be made available. The reply to this question is, therefore, in the negative.
32 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
2.―The reply is in the affirmative.
FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid upon the table the report of the Finance Committee No. 2, dated 28th February, 1929, and moved that it be adopted.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and this was agreed to.
SUPREME COURT ORDINANCE.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Supreme Court Ordinance, 1873."
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and the Bill was read a second time. Council went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.
HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK.―There is one point I should like to raise in connection with clause 2. Would it not be better to say, "The practice from time to time in force in England for the time being," instead of "the practice from time to time for the time being in force in England."
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.―I have no objection, Sir.
The clause was amended accordingly.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
BANKRUPTCY ORDINANCE.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Bankruptcy Ordinance, 1891."
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 to the Bill was proposed in Committee, and upon Council resuming.
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 33
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the third reading of the Bill.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
TOBACCO ORDINANCE.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the law relating to the taxation of tobacco."
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 to the Bill was proposed 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.
WATCHMEN ORDINANCE.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Watchmen Ordinance, 1928."
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 to the Bill was proposed 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.
UNCLAIMED BALANCES ORDINANCE.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill intituled "An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the law with respect to certain unclaimed balances and certain other unclaimed sums."
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and the Bill was read a second time. Council went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause
34 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK.―With reference to clause 3 and various other clauses, I notice that there are references to "general revenue" whereas in other parts of the Bill there are references to the "general revenue of the Colony." Perhaps it would be advisable to have uniformity, unless, of course, it is thought that clause 3 sufficiently indicates what is meant. In clause 4 (1), I notice that the "general revenue of the Colony" is referred to, and the same reference appears in clause 4 (2), in clause 5, clause 6 and clause 8. In clause 9, however, the reference is to "the general revenue" and the same remark applies to the second line of clause 10 and also to clause 11 and clause 12.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR.―There is yet another place in clause 10.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.―If I may, I will propose amendments to these clauses.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved that the words "of the Colony" be added after "general revenue," in the fifth line of clause 3.
SIR HENRY POLLOCK seconded.
The amendment was approved.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the addition of the words "of the Colony," after the words "general revenue," in the last line of clause 7.
SIR HENRY POLLOCK seconded.
The amendment was approved.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved that the words "of the Colony" be inserted after the words "general revenue," in the first line of clause 9.
SIR HENRY POLLOCK seconded.
The amendment was approved.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the insertion of the words "of the Colony" after the words "general revenue," in the second line and in the eleventh line of clause 10.
SIR HENRY POLLOCK seconded.
The amendment was approved.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved that the words "of the Colony" be added after the words "general revenue," in the fifth line of clause 11.
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 35
SIR HENRY POLLOCK seconded.
The amendment was approved.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the addition of the words "of the Colony" after the words "general revenue," in the first line of clause 12.
SIR HENRY POLLOCK seconded.
The amendment was approved.
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.―The Council will adjourn sine die.