32 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
17th May, 1934.
PRESENT:―
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR (SIR WILLIAM PEEL, K.C.M.G., K.B.E.).
HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER COMMANDING THE TROOPS (BRIGADIER G. B. ROWAN-HAMILTON, D.S.O., M.C.)
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY (HON. SIR THOMAS SOUTHORN, K.B.E., C.M.G.). THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (HON. MR. R. E. LINDSELL).
THE SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS (HON. MR. N. L. SMITH).
THE COLONIAL TREASURER (HON. MR. E. TAYLOR).
HON. COMMANDER G. F. HOLE, R.N., (Retired) (Harbour Master).
HON. DR. A. R. WELLINGTON, C.M.G., (Director of Medical and Sanitary Services). HON. MR. R. M. HENDERSON, (Director of Public Works).
HON. MR. T. H. KING, (Acting Inspector General of Police).
HON. SIR WILLIAM SHENTON, KT.
HON. MR. C. G. S. MACKIE.
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. T. N. CHAU.
HON. MR. W. H. BELL.
HON. MR. J. OWEN HUGHES.
MR. R. A. C. NORTH, (Deputy Clerk of Councils).
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Council were confirmed.
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 33
NEW MEMBER.
The Hon. Mr. W. H. Bell took the oath of allegiance and assumed his seat as a member of the Council.
WEST POINT GASOMETER DISASTER.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR.―Gentlemen,―Before proceeding with the business of the day, I should like to refer briefly to the tragic disaster which occurred on Monday of this week at the West Point Gas Works. I feel sure that the members of this Council will join with me in expressing the deepest sympathy with the relatives of those who lost their lives and with those survivors who have sustained injury or loss.
All that was possible was done to save the lives of those who were not killed on the spot and I take this opportunity to pay a tribute, with which I am sure Hon. Members will concur, to the magnificent work done by the Fire Brigade, the Police Force, and the St. John Ambulance Brigade and by the doctors and nurses of the Government Civil Hospital who were, as I understand, given ready help by the Medical Faculty of the University. I wish further to express appreciation of the valuable assistance rendered by the Tung Wah Hospital and by various individuals and organisations.
As regards the material losses suffered by the occupants of the burnt houses, there has not yet been sufficient time for a full investigation to be made, but the Committee of the Tung Wah Hospital has, at the request of the Chinese Members of Councils, kindly undertaken this and I am confident that Hon. Members will be prepared to approve in due course of a vote, should it be found necessary, to augment from public funds the subscriptions now being collected. Meanwhile the Committee of the Tung Wah Hospital and the St. John Ambulance Brigade are assisting many urgent cases which require immediate relief, free meals having been provided by the former for many of those dishoused.
It would appear that various independent requests are being made for subscriptions, and I trust that overlapping in the undertaking of relief work will as far as possible be avoided.
HON. SIR WILLIAM SHENTON.―Your Excellency,―It is the wish of Unofficial Members to identify themselves with the words of sympathy which Your Excellency has expressed in reference to the tragic disaster which occurred at the Hong Kong Gas Company's premises at West Point, on Monday last. We deeply lament the loss of life, and our sympathies go out to the injured, also to their families and relatives, in their distress. We, as Unofficial Members, are prepared to support Your Excellency's proposal for an allocation from the public funds for relief, should
34 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
the circumstances be found to require it, so that the losses, both personal and material, may in some measure be met. We would also like to associate ourselves with Your Excellency's appreciation of the very excellent services rendered by public bodies and others whereby such suffering was alleviated, and valuable property saved.
HON. MR. R. H. KOTEWALL.―Sir,―My Chinese colleagues and I wish to express the sincere thanks of the whole Chinese community to Your Excellency for the deep and practical sympathy you have shown in this terrible disaster, and to the Fire Brigade, Police and others you have named for the valuable help they have rendered in alleviating suffering and minimising destruction of property. The Tung Wah Hospital is now affording relief to about 160 sufferers by giving them accommodation, food and, where necessary, clothing, and will do what may be necessary. The Chinese members of the two Councils are grateful to all those who have rendered direct relief to many in distress, or have started subscription lists for the same purpose; but they venture to express concurrence in Your Excellency's hope that overlapping in this work may be avoided. The Tung Wah Hospital, which is the leading charitable institution in the Colony, and which has the experience and organisation for this kind of work, may well, in our opinion, be entrusted with such a duty.
PAPERS.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid upon the table the following papers:―
Regulations under section 3 of the Vehicles and Traffic Regulation Ordinance, 1912. Financial Returns for the year 1933.
Report on the New Territories for the year 1933.
Proclamation No. 1―Registration of Persons Ordinance, 1934, to come into operation on the 1st June, 1934.
QUESTIONS.
HON. MR. J. P. BRAGA asked:―
1. Will the Honourable the Inspector General of Police state whether any application has been received for the screening in Hong Kong of the film "Back to Nature", sponsored by Miss Jan Gay, and based on her book "On Going Naked"?
2. If such application has been received, will the Honourable Member define the attitude of his Department and/or of the Film Censor Board towards the proposal to screen the film in question?
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 35
3. Will the Inspector General of Police take effective steps to ban the film in Hong Kong?
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE replied:―
1. The answer is in the negative.
2. Does not arise.
3. Should any application for screening this film in Hong Kong be received the Inspector General of Police will take all possible steps to ensure that it is not released for exhibition to the public, unless it has passed the Hong Kong censorship in accordance with Regulation 57 of the Regulations under the Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance, 1919.
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. 5 of 10th May, 1934, and moved that it be adopted.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and this was agreed to.
OPIUM AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1934.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the law relating to Opium."
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time. Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause. Clause 2.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.―I wish to move certain amendments in this clause as a result of a conference yesterday between the Honourable Sir William Shenton, the Crown Solicitor and myself. The first amendment is the deletion of the words in the second and third lines of the proposed new section 15 (1) (d) "or any part thereof". It is not considered that these words there serve any useful purpose.
At the same time I desire to propose the following amendments: in sub-section 2 (c) in line 3 after the word "place", the insertion of the words "or any part thereof" which I think are necessary to clarify the position; in the last line but three of sub-section 2 (c) as the clause at present stands, the substitution of the word "any" for the words "the nearest". It is unfair, perhaps to expect a principal tenant who may possibly be living at some other part
36 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
of the Colony to have to go to the Police Station nearest to the premises concerned and the amendment will make it possible for him or her to go to the most convenient Police Station.
The final amendment I propose is the omission of the last two lines and the words "or by" at the end of the last line but three from the end of that section, inasmuch as it is felt that the only really effective means which a tenant under the circumstances can take is to report at a Police Station or to take steps to terminate tenancy and that no other means are really open to him or her which can be effective.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR.―I rule that these amendments are not material. Upon Council resuming,
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that the Bill had passed through Committee with immaterial amendments and moved the third reading.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
IMMIGRATION AND PASSPORTS ORDINANCE. 1934.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to regulate the entry and departure of persons into and out of the Colony, to prohibit the entry of undesirable immigrants, and to confer various powers in connection therewith."
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time. Council then 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.
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 37
MISCELLANEOUS LICENCES AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1934.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Miscellaneous Licences Ordinance 1933."
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time. Council then 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.
THE CHINA FLEET CLUB INCORPORATION
ORDINANCE, 1934.
HON. SIR WILLIAM SHENTON moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance for the Incorporation of the Trustees of the China Fleet Club." He said: This Bill, Your Excellency, passed through its first reading at the previous meeting of the Council and has been duly advertised in accordance with the Standing Orders.
HON. MR. C. G. S. MACKIE seconded, and the Bill was read a second time. Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause. Upon Council resuming,
HON. SIR WILLIAM SHENTON reported that the Bill had passed through Committee without amendment and moved the third reading.
HON. MR. C. G. S. MACKIE seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. ADJOURNMENT.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR.―Council stands adjourned sine die.
38 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
Following the Council a meeting of the Finance Committee was held, the Colonial Secretary presiding.
Votes totalling $61,104, contained in Message No. 6 from H.E. the Governor, were considered.
Item 37.―23, Sanitary Department:―Other Charges: Training of Probationers $104.
HON. SIR WILLIAM SHENTON.―I would like to ask, with regard to Item 37, whether these lectures are given out of office hours; whether it should not be part of the salary of these officers; or whether it is something they do outside their regular duties?
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.―It is outside their regular duties, but whether the lectures are all given outside office hours I cannot tell you. They are very definitely lectures given outside the ordinary duties for which the officers are paid.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER.―I would supplement that by saying the preparation of these lectures is always done out of office hours.
All the votes were approved.