HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 221
2oth August, 1952.
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PRESENT
HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING
THE GOVERNMENT
MR. ROBERT BROWN BLACK, O.B.E.
HIS EXCELLENCY THE COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR TERENCE AIREY, K.C.M.G., C.B., C.B.E. THE HONOURABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY
MR. BRIAN CHARLES KEITH HAWKINS, C.M.G., O.B.E., Acting.
THE HONOURABLE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
MR. GEORGE EDWARD STRICKLAND, Q.C., Acting.
THE HONOURABLE THE SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS MR. JOHN CRICHTON MCDOUALL, Acting.
THE HONOURABLE THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY
MR. ARTHUR GRENFELL CLARKE.
THE HONOURABLE THEODORE LOUIS BOWRING, O.B.E.
(Director of Public Works).
DR. THE HONOURABLE YEO KOK CHEANG
(Director of Medical and Health Services)
THE HONOURABLE DOUGLAS JAMES SMYTH CROZIER.
(Director of Education).
THE HONOURABLE KENNETH MYER ARTHUR BARNETT, E.D. (Chairman, Urban Council).
THE HONOURABLE CHAU TSUN-NIN, C.B.E.
THE HONOURABLE LEO D’ALMADA E CASTRO, Q.C.
THE HONOURABLE MAURICE MURRAY WATSON.
THE HONOURABLE CHARLES EDWARD MICHAEL TERRY.
THE HONOURABLE NGAN SHING-KWAN
THE HONOURABLE HUBERT JOHN COLLAR, C.B.E.
THE HONOURABLE KWOK CHAN.
MR. RONALD THOMPSON (Deputy Clerk of Councils)
ABSENT:
DR. THE HONOURABLE CHAU SIK-NIN, C.B.E.
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 222
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 23rd July, 1952, were confirmed. PAPERS.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by Command of His Excellency the Governor, laid upon the table the following papers:—
Subject G.N. No.
Sessional Papers, 1952 :—
No. 8—Annual Report by the Commissioner of
Labour for the year 1950-51.
The Defence Regulations, 1940.
The Price Control Order, 1946—Additions to the
Schedule .................................................................................. A. 127 The Supreme Court of Hong Kong (Jurisdiction) Order in Council, 1950. Declaration of Satisfaction by the Officer
Administering the Government ................................................ A. 128 The Supreme Court of Hong Kong (Jurisdiction) Order
in Council, 1950.
The Central Air Transport Corporation Aircraft
(Delivery) Directions, 1952 ......................................................... A. 129 The Defence Regulations, 1940.
The Price Control Order, 1946—Amendments to the Schedule ......... A. 130 The Business Regulation Ordinance, 1952.
The Business Regulation (Exemption) Rules, 1952 ................................ A. 131 The Royal Hong Kong Defence Force Ordinance, 1951.
The Royal Hong Kong Defence Force (Pay and
Allowances) Regulations, 1952 ..................................................... A. 132 The Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, Chapter 138.
The Fees (Pharmacy and Poisons) (Amendment)
Regulations, 1952 ............................................................................. A. 133
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 223
ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS, 1951/52.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the following resolution;—
Resolved that the Additional Supplementary Provisions for the quarter ended 31st March, 1952, as set out in Schedule No. 5 of 1951/52, be approved.
He said: Sir, all the items in this schedule have been approved by Finance Committee and now require the covering approval of this Council. It is the fifth schedule for 1951/52 and it is probable that when the financial accounts for the full year have been closed, a sixth and final schedule will be necessary to regularize any adjustments that may be found necessary.
There are a few items in the schedule which perhaps deserve a somewhat fuller explanation than has been given. One of them is to be found on page 5, under the heading “Compensation for surrender of the Raven Estate”. There was in progress a considerable building scheme in the area which has now been designated by the Broadbent Mission as part of the flight funnel for Kai Tak if the proposals for improvement of the airport prove to be practicable. The existence of blocks of flats on this site would interfere seriously with the safety of aircraft on the new runway alignment, and accordingly it was decided to take steps at once to stop building and to resume the land. It has therefore been-necessary to compensate the owners for the land and for the work they have put in on it.
It will be observed on the same page that the provision of further ten and fifty cent coins has cost just over one million dollars. I am glad to say that so far as can be seen at the moment coin shortages look like being things of the past.
On page 6 will be found a bill of $1,300,000 for Causeway Bay Reclamation. Progress on this reclamation has proceeded much more quickly than originally expected, and accordingly it has been necessary to provide these additional funds.
The item of just over $450,000 for operation of the Electrical and Mechanical Workshop is necessitated by the accounting changes which I announced in the course of the Budget Debate a few months ago. The suspense account has been cleared and this sum represents mainly the value of stores on hand which were valued by a Board of Survey and taken on charge as allocated Stores.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Motion was carried.
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 224
SUPPLEMENTARY LOAN PROVISIONS, 1951/52.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the following resolution:—
Resolved that the Supplementary Loan Provisions for the year 1951/52, as set out in Schedule No. 1 of 1951/52, be approved.
He said: Sir, the schedule now before Council comprises transfers made between sub items of loan expenditure during the financial year 1951/52 and also provides for the carrying forward into that year of funds which lapsed on 3ist March, 1951- All the transfers and carry overs have been approved by Finance Committee and now require covering approval of this Council before submission to the Secretary of State.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Motion was carried.
SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS, 1952/53.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the following resolution:—
Resolved that the Supplementary Provisions for the quarter ended 30th June, 1952, as set out in Schedule No. 1 of 1952/53, be approved.
He said: Sir, all the items in this Schedule have received the approval of Finance Committee and now require the covering approval of this Council. Most of the items are comparatively small and are explained in the final column.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Motion was carried.
RESOLUTION REGARDING ABANDONMENT OF CLAIMS
AND WRITE-OFFS OF LOSSES AND DEFICIENCIES
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1952-53.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the following resolution :—
Resolved that the abandonment of claims and write-offs of losses and deficiencies as specified and explained in Schedule No. 1 of 1952-53, be approved.
He said: Sir, the schedule of write-offs and abandonments of claims is, as usual, in four parts. The items set out in Parts A and C have already been authorized by Finance Committee and those under Parts B and D have been authorized by the Financial Secretary in exercise of his delegated authority. The covering approval of this Council is now required.
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 225
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Motion was carried.
PENTECOSTAL HOLINESS CHURCH INCORPORATION
BILL, 1952.
HON. M.M. WATSON moved the Second reading of a Bill intituled “An Ordinance to provide for the incorporation of the local representative in Hong Kong of the Pentecostal Holiness Church.”
HON. C.E.M. TERRY seconded, and the Bill was read a Second time.
Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause. Council then resumed.
HON. M.M. WATSON reported that the Pentecostal Holiness Church Incorporation Bill, 1952 had passed through Committee without amendment, and moved the Third reading.
HON. C.E.M. TERRY seconded, and the Bill was read a Third time and passed into law.
ADJOURNMENT.
H.E. THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT:— That concludes the business for today, Gentlemen. When is it your pleasure that we meet again?
HON. ATTORNEY GENERAL:— Two weeks’ time, Sir.
H.E. THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT:— Council will adjorn to this day two weeks’ time.
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