86 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
18th April, 1935.
PRESENT:―
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR (SIR WILLIAM PEEL, K.C.M.G., K.B.E.).
HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER COMMANDING THE TROOPS (MAJOR-GENERAL O. C. BORRETT, C.B., C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O.).
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY (HON. SIR THOMAS SOUTHORN, K.B.E., C.M.G.). THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (HON. MR. C. G. ALABASTER, O.B.E., K.C.). 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. MR. R. M. HENDERSON, (Director of Public Works).
HON. DR. W. B. A. MOORE, (Acting Director of Medical and Sanitary Services). HON. MR. M. J. BREEN, (Postmaster General).
HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK, KT., K.C., LL.D.
HON. SIR WILLIAM SHENTON, KT.
HON. MR. W. H. BELL.
HON. MR. J. P. BRAGA.
HON. MR. S. W. TS'O, O.B.E., LL.D.
HON. MR. T. N. CHAU.
HON. MR. J. J. PATERSON.
MR. R. A. D. FORREST, (Deputy Clerk of Councils).
ABSENT.
HON. MR. R. H. KOTEWALL, C.M.G., LL.D.
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MINUTES.
The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Council were confirmed.
NEW MEMBER.
The Hon. Mr. W. H. Bell took the Oath of Allegiance and assumed his seat as a member of the Council.
PAPERS.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid upon the table the following papers:―
Order under Sections 26 (1) (f) and 42 of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899― relating to Arsenal Street Steps.
Sessional Papers, 1935.
No. 3―Economic Commission's Report.
NOTICE OF MOTION.
HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK.―Sir,―I beg to give notice that, at the next Meeting of the Council, I shall move the following resolution:
"That the postage by Air Mail between Hong Kong and Great Britain is excessively high and ought, in the interests of trade, to be reduced most materially".
JURY AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1935.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Jury Ordinance 1887". He said: The object of this Bill is to place officers and members of the Hong Kong Naval Volunteer Force on the same basis regarding jury service as Officers and members of the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a first time. Objects and Reasons.
The "Objects and Reasons" for the Bill were stated as follows:
1. Paragraph (12) of section 4 of the principal Ordinance exempts from jury service all officers and non-commissioned officers
88 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
of the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps, and such other efficient members of the Hong Kong Volunteers Defence Corps as may be allowed by the Governor in Council.
2. The paragraph substituted by this amending Ordinance exempts all officers and non-commissioned officers of the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps, all commissioned and warrant officers of the Hong Kong Naval Volunteer Force, and also such other members of the said Corps or of the said Force as shall have been exempted from jury service by the Governor in Council.
3. This amendment of the Jury Ordinance implements the amendment of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903 (which will be replaced by section 3 (4) (j) of the Urban Council Ordinance, No. 7 of 1935) effected by section 19 (2) of the Naval Volunteer Ordinance, No. 30 of 1933.
HAWKERS ORDINANCE, 1935.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to enable the Urban Council to make bye-laws with respect to the regulation and control by registration, licensing or otherwise of certain hawkers". He said: The control of hawkers has hitherto been dealt with by regulations of the Governor in Council under the Miscellaneous Ordinance, 1933; but is thought better that the power be transferred to the Urban Council.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a first time. Objects and Reasons.
The "Objects and Reasons" for the Bill were stated as follows:
1. The object of this Ordinance is to transfer to the Urban Council the licensing and general regulation of all hawkers hither-to licensed, under the Miscellaneous Licences Ordinance, No. 25 of 1933, by the Inspector General of Police.
2. Hawkers of cigars, cigarettes and tobacco will continue to be licensed by the Superintendent of Imports and Exports under that Ordinance.
MAGISTRATES AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1935.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Magistrates Ordinance, 1932".
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time.
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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.
STAMP AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1935.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the third reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Stamp Ordinance, 1921." He said: This Bill, as amended in Committee after the second reading, was published in the Government Gazette last week.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
ADJOURNMENT.
H. E. THE GOVERNOR.―Council stands adjourned until Thursday, April 25th.