46 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
2nd April, 1931.
PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR (SIR WILLIAM PEEL, K.C.M.G., K.B.E.).
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. E. R. HALLIFAX, C.M.G., C.B.E.).
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (HON. MR. C. G. ALABASTER, K.C., O.B.E.).
THE SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS (HON. MR. A. E. WOOD).
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. (Inspector General of Police).
HON. COMMANDER G. F. HOLE, R.N. (Retired) (Harbour Master).
HON. DR. A. R. WELLINGTON (Director of Medical and Sanitary Services). HON. SIR SHOU-SON CHOW, KT.
HON. MR. W. E. L. SHENTON.
HON. MR. J. OWEN HUGHES.
HON. MR. R. H. KOTEWALL, C.M.G., LL.D.
HON. MR. J. P. BRAGA.
HON. MR. S. W. TS'O, O.B.E., LL.D.
HON. MR. C. G. S. MACKIE.
HON. MR. J. J. PATERSON.
MR. N. L. SMITH (Deputy Clerk of Councils).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting of the Council were confirmed.
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 47
PAPERS.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid upon the table the following papers.
Regulation under section 4 of the Pilots Ordinance, 1930, on 16th March, 1931.
Regulation under section 5 of the Dangerous Goods Ordinance, 1873, on 17th March, 1931.
Regulations under section 3 (1) (b) of the Tobacco Ordinance, 1916, on 19th March, 1931.
Rules under section 4 (8) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899, on 18th March, 1931.
Regulations under section 3 of the Post Office Ordinance, 1926, on 25th March, 1931. Report of the Land Officer for the year 1930.
Report of the Director of the Royal Observatory, Hong Kong, for the year 1930. QUESTIONS.
THE HON. MR. J. P. BRAGA asked:―
Will the Honourable the Colonial Secretary state whether any reduction is contemplated this summer in the facilities usually afforded to residents in Hong Kong and at Kowloon in the matter of public bathing beaches?
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY replied:―
The use made of the public bathing beaches in Kowloon has decreased so much in the last year or two that no provision was made for this purpose in the Estimates for 1931. The principal reasons for the decrease appear to be the growth of bathing clubs and the provision by caterers of dressing accommodation with facilities for teas and refreshments. As concerns Tai Wan beach, this section of foreshore is now the subject of sale negotiations and is not, therefore, in any case, available. No public matsheds will be erected there or at Laichikok.
On the island it is proposed, for the same reason, to give up the public bathing sheds at Repulse Bay and at North Point, and to erect only smaller accommodation at Kennedy Town, where there is still some demand. The beach at Repulse Bay will continue to be kept clean and precautions, as before, will be taken for the protection of bathers.
48 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE HON. MR. J. P. BRAGA asked:―
1.―Has the attention of Government been drawn to the newspaper report of a serious motor-car accident happening at Kowloon on the night of 23rd March, at a point in Waterloo Road close to its junction with Nathan Road, where the road is described as "extremely narrow and not particularly well lighted at night?"
2.―With a view to minimising the risk of similar accidents in future, will the Government consider the advisability of improving the public lighting of roadways within the residential areas in Kowloon?
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY replied:―
The answer to the first question is in the affirmative.
With regard to the second, the Government considers that the residential areas of Kowloon are adequately lighted. The portion of Waterloo Road in which the accident occurred is not yet completed and, as an uncompleted road, motorists should use it with caution. The covering of the nullah is being extended eastwards as rapidly as funds permit, and in due course the roadway will be opened to the full width now possessed by the section going to the east of the railway.
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. 4 of March 19th, 1931, and moved that it be adopted.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and this was agreed to.
DEPORTATION AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1931.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the law relating to Deportation." He said:―Since the Deportation Ordinance, 1917, was passed, the Aliens Order, 1920, of the United Kingdom, has been enacted. As explained in the Memorandum of Objects and Reasons, use has been made of that Order in framing the provisions of this Bill, particularly in the new section 4C introduced by clause 2 of the Bill. Under this section any court or magistrate convicting an alien of any offence may recommend that a deportation order be made, either in addition to or in lieu of sentence. Another feature of the Bill is the special safeguard of an examination in the presence of a judge in cases where the deportation of a British subject is under consideration. I beg to move that the Bill be read a second time.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and the Bill was read a second time.
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 49
Council went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.
Upon Council resuming,
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that the Bill had passed through Committee without amendment and moved the third reading.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
LARCENY AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1931.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend further the law relating to Larceny." He said: This Bill transfers from the Bankruptcy Ordinance to the Larceny Ordinance, where they properly belong, three offences which were originally derived from a section of the English Debtors' Act of 1869. It also transfers an offence which is to be found in the Bankruptcy Amending Act of 1926. I move the second reading.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and the Bill was read a second time. Council went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.
Upon Council resuming,
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that the Bill had passed through Committee without amendment and moved the third reading.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
SALESIAN SOCIETY INCORPORATION ORDINANCE, 1931.
THE HON. MR. W. E. L. SHENTON moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to provide for the incorporation of the Procurator in Hong Kong of the Salesian Society." He said: Your Excellency, this is for the purpose of incorporating the Procurator in Hong Kong of the Salesian Society and it is in the usual form.
THE HON. MR. J. OWEN HUGHES seconded and the Bill was read a second time. Council went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.
Upon Council resuming,
THE HON. MR. SHENTON reported that the Bill had passed through Committee without amendment and he moved the third reading.
50 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
HON. MR. OWEN HUGHES seconded and the Bill was read a third time and passed. ADJOURNMENT.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR.―The Council stands adjourned sine die.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
Following the Council, a meeting of the Finance Committee was held, the Colonial Secretary presiding.
Votes totalling $11,983, contained in Message No. 5 from H.E. the Governor, were considered.
All the votes were approved.