LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, No. 12.
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Thursday, 3rd July, 1941, at 2.30 p.m.
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PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR
(Sir GEOFFRY ALEXANDER STAFFORD NORTHCOTE, K.C.M.G.).
His Excellency the General Officer Commanding the Troops, (Major-General ARTHUR EDWARD GRASETT, C.B., D.S.O., M.C.).
The Honourable the Attorney General, (Mr.CHALONER GRENVILLE ALABASTER, O.B.E., K.C.). ,, the Financial Secretary, (Mr.RONALD RUSKIN TODD, Acting).
,, Dr. PERCY SELWYN SELWYN-CLARKE, M.C., (Director of Medical Services).
,, Mr. ALEXANDER BRUCE PURVES, (Director of Public Works).
,, Mr. WILLIAM JAMES CARRIE, (Chairman of the Urban Council).
,, Mr. JOHN JOHNSTONE PATERSON.
,, Mr.LO MAN-KAM, C.B.E.
,, Mr.LEO D'ALMADA ECASTRO, Junior.
,, Mr.ANDREW LUSK SHIELDS.
,, Mr.WILLIAM NGARTSE THOMAS TAM.
,, Mr. THOMAS ERNEST PEARCE.
,, Mr.LI TSE-FONG.
Mr. CLAUDE BRAMALL BURGESS, (Deputy Clerk of Councils).
ABSENT:
The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (Mr.NORMAN LOCKHART SMITH, C.M.G.).
,, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, (Mr.ROLAND ARTHUR CHARLES NORTH).
,, Mr. JOHN PENNEFATHER PENNEFATHER-EVANS, (Commissioner of Police).
,, Mr. STANLEY HUDSON DODWELL.
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1. The Council met pursuant to adjournment. His Excellency the Governor occupied the Chair. MINUTES.
2. The Minutes of the Meeting held on the 26th June, 1941, were confirmed.
PAPERS.
3. The following papers were laid on the table:—
The Wholesale Dealings in Rice Regulations, 1941, made by the Governor under the Emergency Powers (Defence) Acts, 1939 and 1940, as applied to this Colony by the Emergency Powers (Colonial Defence) Orders in Council, 1939 and 1940, dated 24th June, 1941.
Order made by the Governor under regulation 55 of the Defence Regulations, 1940, dated 24th June, 1941.
Fees fixed by the Urban Council under by-law 2(4) of the Conservancy By-laws in Schedule A to the Public Health (Sanitation) Ordinance, 1935, Ordinance No. 15 of 1935, for the removal of night soil and other excretal matter, dated 24th June, 1941.
QUESTIONS.
4. The Honourable Mr. LO MAN-KAM, C.B.E., pursuant to notice, asked the following questions:— Will Government make a statement on the appointment of a Lady Assessor from England for the War Revenue Department, with particular reference to the following points:—
(1) In view of the evacuation why it was considered necessary to send a lady officer out
from England to Hong Kong?
(2) Whether any efforts were made to secure a suitable candidate locally or from among
the evacuees?
The Financial Secretary replied as follows:—
The staff requirements of the War Taxation Department originally included six assessors' posts, for the holders of which chartered accountants or persons with equivalent qualifications were needed: this number was subsequently increased to seven.
Endeavours were made throughout last year by the Crown Agents for the Colonies to recruit such for these posts but they were unable to fill them all. Eventually the name of a woman who possessed the required qualifications was put forward and her appointment was approved by the Governor.
It is unnecessary to expatiate in this Council upon the supreme importance at the present time of the
fullest possible collection of revenue, and especially of that earmarked for war-purposes: and the desirability that the administration of the War Taxation Ordinance, which is a complex and technical measure, should be in expert hands is equally apparent.
It was well-known in the Colony that Government intended to engage a number of chartered accountants for work in the War Taxation Department. No inquiries from such persons were received locally, however, and it was not considered worth while to advertise within the Colony.
There was no reason to suppose that any of the evacuates to Australia had the required qualifications. MOTIONS.
5. The Attorney General addressed the Council and moved:—
That the amendment made by the Urban Council under section 5 of the Public Health (Food) Ordinance, 1935, on the 3rd day of June, 1941, to the by-laws under the heading "Food Shops" contained in the Schedule to that Ordinance be approved.
That the amendment made by the Urban Council under section 5 of the Public Health (Food) Ordinance, 1935, on the 3rd day of June, 1941, to the by-laws under the heading "Markets" and sub-heading "Market Stalls" contained in the Scheduled to that Ordinance be approved. The Financial Secretary seconded.
Question—put and agreed to.
6. Crown Rents (Apportionment) Amendment Bill.—The Attorney General moved the Second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Crown Rents (Apportionment) Ordinance, 1936." The Financial Secretary seconded.
Question—put and agreed to.
Bill read a second time.
Council in Committee on the Bill.
On Council resuming, the Attorney General reported that the Bill had passed through Committee without amendment, and moved that it be read a third time.
The Financial Secretary seconded.
Question—put and agreed to.
Bill read a third time and passed.
ADJOURNMENT.
7. The Council then adjourned sine die.
G.A.S.NORTHCOTE,
Governor.
Confirmed this 7th day of August, 1941.
R.EDWARDS,
Deputy Clerk of Councils.