292 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
2nd December, 1936.
PRESENT:—
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR (SIR ANDREW CALDECOTT, Kt., C.M.G., C.B.E.).
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING THE TROOPS (MAJOR GENERAL A. W. BARTHOLOMEW, C.B., C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O.).
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, (HON. MR. N. L. SMITH).
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (HON. MR. C. G. ALABASTER, O.B.E., K.C.). THE SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS (HON. MR. R. A. C. NORTH, Acting). THE COLONIAL TREASURER (HON. MR. E. TAYLOR, C.M.G.).
HON. COMMANDER G. F. HOLE, R.N., (Retired) (Harbour Master).
HON. DR. A. R. WELLINGTON, C.M.G., (Director of Medical Services). HON. MR. R. M. HENDERSON, (Director of Public Works).
HON. MR. T. H. KING, (Inspector General of Police).
HON. MR. J. J. PATERSON.
HON. MR. S. H. DODWELL.
HON. MR. J. P. BRAGA, O.B.E.
HON. MR. T. N. CHAU.
HON. MR. M. K. LO.
HON. MR. M. T. JOHNSON.
HON. MR. A. W. HUGHES.
MR. D. M. MACDOUGALL (Deputy Clerk of Councils).
ABSENT:—
HON. MR. S. W. TS'O, C.B.E., LL.D.
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MINUTES.
The Minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
NEW MEMBERS.
The Hon. Mr. N. L. Smith and the Hon. Mr. R. A. C. North took the Oath of Allegiance and assumed their seats as members of the Council.
DAYLIGHT SAVING.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR.—I wish to announce that I have been impressed by arguments put forward in the Press, and in the course of conversations that I have recently enjoyed with some prominent members of the community, in favour of daylight saving in this Colony.
I have read through past official correspondence on this subject, and all that emerges therefrom is that on December 1, 1932, the Secretary of the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce wrote, by direction of the Committee of the Chamber, to say that that Committee was unanimously of opinion that any alteration in the present Hong Kong Standard time would be very undesirable indeed, and that it would be strongly opposed to any such legislation as was suggested. It was represented in this letter that the standard time of the 120th Meridian is the standard time for Canton, Shanghai and the greater part of China, and that from the commercial point of view that was very desirable and a distinct advantage to trade.
There followed, however, no explanation as to how and why. I remember the same sort of generalities being bandied about in Malaya before the Straits Settlements and the Protected States decided to set their clocks on by 20 minutes. That arrangement has since been made permanent there by Statute, and is generally accepted as conducive to the health and social welfare of the community at large. Nor, as far as I am aware, is there now any antagonism to it on the part of Malayan trade interests.
This afternoon the position here in Hong Kong is that few of us or our employees will leave office before 5 p.m.; while the sun will set before 5.40 p.m. That does not leave much time for daylight recreation. I incline myself to the view that the sun should never be permitted to go off duty before 6 p.m. at the earliest; but I do not propose to trouble the Honourable the Attorney General with the drafting of a measure to that effect before the public has had the fullest opportunity of putting forward, sifting and criticising the pros and cons.
The daily time schedule of our two cities and our port is affected by this question, and I propose therefore to ask the Chairmen of the Urban Council and the Harbour Advisory Committee to put before their colleagues the following two resolutions:—
(a) That a measure for daylight saving is advisable in Hong Kong.
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(b) That the best basis for such a measure would be the advancement of the present Hong Kong standard time by 30 minutes throughout the year.
The second resolution invites amendment, and may possibly elicit a better suggestion.
I should be grateful if the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and any other public body would put similar resolutions before their members, and let Government know of the results. These will then be considered by my Executive Council and, if a Bill eventuates, the final decision will be debated in, and rest with, this Council.
PAPERS.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid upon the table the following papers:—
Amendments made by the Governor in Council under section 36 of the Tramway Ordinance, 1902, Ordinance No. 10 of 1902, to Appendix A and Appendix B to the rules, regarding stopping places for trams, dated 20th November, 1936.
Amendment of regulation 2 made by the Governor in Council under section 2 of the Plants Ordinance, 1920, Ordinance No. 11 of 1920, dated 20th November, 1936.
Amendments of Pension Regulations A and B made by the Governor in Council under section 3 (1) of the Pensions Ordinance, 1932, Ordinance No. 21 of 1932, as enacted by the Pensions Amendment Ordinance, 1934, and with the sanction of the Secretary of State, dated 21st November, 1936.
Amendment made by the Governor in Council under section 25 (4) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899, Ordinance No. 10 of 1899, to Table M in the Schedule to that Ordinance, dated 24th November, 1936.
Rules made by the Chief Justice under section 32 of the Supreme Court Ordinance, 1873, Ordinance No. 3 of 1873, dated 4th November, 1936.
QUESTIONS.
THE HON. MR. S. H. DODWELL asked:—
With reference to the answers given to questions put by Dr. R. A. de Castro Basto at the meeting of the Urban Council held on 10th November, and particularly to the answer to question 4, whereas:—
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(a) On 23rd November there were approximately 4,274 millions of gallons of water in storage in the Colony, and the present rate of consumption is approximately 158 million gallons per week,
(b) The state of the roads in certain sections of the city might be a menace to public health and liable to detract seriously from the popularity of the Colony as a tourist centre,
will the Government:—
(1) Reconsider the question of nightly flushing the streets, side-walks and surface channels, etc., with main water throughout the dry season or until such time as the supply of water is considered no longer adequate for the purpose.
If the answer to question 1 is in the negative, will the Government consider:—
(2) As a temporary expedient flushing the streets, side-walks and surface channels, etc., in certain of the worst areas in rotation so that the latter are clean twice or even once a week.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY replied:—
Government has reconsidered this question in view of a report by the Water Authority that a certain quantity of main water can be spared during the next few months for street cleansing. As the water available for this purpose is insufficient to meet the requirements of nightly street flushing, and in order to avoid as far as possible increases of staff, it has been decided to flush the principal streets in the urban areas on both sides of the harbour in rotation once a week.
The question will be further considered in the light of the results obtained from the foregoing decision.
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. 10 dated 24th November, 1936, and moved that it be adopted.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and this was agreed to.
MOTION.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER.—Your Excellency, This resolution prolongs to the end of the year the concession to married officers with one or two dependants in a sterling or gold standard country.
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The Secretary of State and members of the Finance Committee have already agreed, and I now move:—
Resolved pursuant to section 6 of the Hong Kong Government Service (Levy on Salaries) Ordinance, 1936, that with effect from the 1st day of October, 1936, until the 31st day of December, 1936, both days included, that one sixth of the salary, if expressed in terms of sterling, of every officer of the Hong Kong Government Service, who shall have a wife or a child under the age of twenty-one years dependent on him and resident in a sterling or gold standard country, shall be exempt (after deduction of the levy, if any, and of the Widows' and Orphans' Pension Contribution, if any, or of either) from the operation of the special conversion rate provided for in section 2 (4) of the said Ordinance during the period in which such wife or child is so resident.
And Resolved further that in the case of such an officer, who has two or more such dependents so resident as aforesaid, the exemption (after the said deductions, if any) shall extend to one third of the salary.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and this was agreed to.
CREMATION AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1936.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Cremation Ordinance, 1934." He said: This Bill makes certain amendments to the principal Ordinance of 1934 which are explained in the memorandum of objects and reasons attached to the Bill.
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. Section 4 of the principal Ordinance, No. 40 of 1934, provided that no place or building shall be used as a crematorium other than and except (1) Government crematoria, (2) the Crematoria named in the Schedule, (3) crematoria hereafter established with the consent of the Governor notified in the Gazette and (4) buildings or places in respect of which special permission for the use of the same for burning human remains had been granted by the Director of Medical Services.
2. Clause 2 of this Bill amends the fourth exception and adds a new paragraph the joint effect of which is to provide for the permission of the Urban Council in parts of the Colony other than the New Territories.
3. Clause 3 of the Bill makes a consequential amendment in section 5 of the principal Ordinance.
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4. Section 6 of the principal Ordinance provided that no crematorium should be constructed within 200 yards of a dwelling house without the consent in writing of the owner, lessee and occupier of such house, or within 50 yards of a public highway without the consent of the Governor in Council, or in the consecrated part of any burial ground.
5. Clause 4 of the Bill repeals this provision but substitutes other provisions for hearing objections by the Urban Council, with an appeal to the Governor in Council, where a proposed crematorium is to be situate within 200 yards of dwelling house or 50 yards of a public highway.
6. Clause 5 of the Bill adds to the Schedule of exempted crematoria the ground set apart in Sookunpoo for the Hindu Association for the erection of a crematorium.
DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND SANITARY SERVICES
(CHANGE OF NAME) ORDINANCE, 1936.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to give effect to the change in name and style of the officers heretofore known as those of Director of Medical and Sanitary Services and Deputy Director of Medical and Sanitary Services."
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.
MERCHANT SHIPPING AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1936.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899."
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time. Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.
298 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
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.
NURSING AND MATERNITY HOMES REGISTRATION
ORDINANCE, 1936.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to provide for the Registration and Inspection of Nursing Homes and Maternity Homes and for purposes connected 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.
MIDWIVES (NO. 2) AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1936.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend further the Midwives Ordinance, 1910."
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.
DEFENCES (FIRING AREAS) AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1936.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Defences (Firing Areas) Ordinance, 1936."
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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.
ORDINANCES AND REGULATIONS OF HONGKONG
(1937 EDITION) ORDINANCE, 1936.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to provide for a revised edition of the Ordinances and for a revised edition of the Regulations of the Colony."
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.
ADJOURNMENT.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR.—Council stands adjourned to December 16.