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OFFICIAL REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS
Meeting of 22nd June, 1955.
PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR (PRESIDENT)
SIR ALEXANDER WILLIAM GEORGE HERDER GRANTHAM, G.C.M.G. HIS EXCELLENCY THE COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL CECIL STANWAY SUGDEN, K.C.B., C.B.E.
THE HONOURABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY
MR. EDGEWORTH BERESFORD DAVID, C.M.G.
THE HONOURABLE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
MR. ARTHUR RIDEHALGH, Q.C.
THE HONOURABLE THE SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS
MR. BRIAN CHARLES KEITH HAWKINS, C.M.G., O.B.E.
THE HONOURABLE THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY
MR. ARTHUR GRENFELL CLARKE, C.M.G.
THE HONOURABLE THEODORE LOUIS BOWRING, C.M.G., O.B.E.
(Director of Public Works).
THE HONOURABLE DOUGLAS JAMES SMYTH CROZIER
(Director of Education).
DR. THE HONOURABLEYEO KOK CHEANG
(Director of Medical and Health Services).
THE HONOURABLE HAROLD GILES RICHARDS, O.B.E.
(Director of Urban Services).
THE HONOURABLE CHARLES EDWARD MICHAEL TERRY, O.B.E. THE HONOURABLE NGAN SHING-KWAN, O.B.E.
THE HONOURABLE DHUN JEHANGIR RUTTONJEE.
THE HONOURABLE KWOK CHAN, O.B.E.
DR. THE HONOURABLE ALBERTO MARIA RODRIGUES, M.B.E., E.D. THE HONOURABLE RICHARD CHARLES LEE, O.B.E.
THE HONOURABLE JOHN ARTHUR BLACKWOOD.
MR. ROBERT WILLIAM PRIMROSE (Deputy Clerk of Councils).
ABSENT:
DR. THE HONOURABLE CHAU SIK NIN, C.B.E.
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MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 8th June, 1955, were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by Command of His Excellency the Governor, laid upon the table the following papers: —
Subject. G.N. No.
Emergency (Provisional Resettlement Areas) Regulations, 1954. Declaration under regulation 3 .............................................. A. 61 Stamp Ordinance (Chapter 117).
Stamp (Bank Authorization) (No. 3) Order, 1955 ................ A. 62 Urban Council Ordinance, 1955.
Urban Council Elections (Registration of Electors)
Regulations, 1955 .............................................. ........... A. 63 Urban Council Ordinance, 1955.
Urban Council Elections (Procedure) Regulations, 1955 ...... A. 64 Pensions Ordinance (Chapter 89).
Pensions (Amendment) Regulations, 1955 ............................ A. 65 Vehicle and Road Traffic Ordinance (Chapter 220).
Vehicle and Road Traffic (Amendment) Regulations, 1955 A. 66
SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS FOR THE QUARTER ENDED 31st MARCH, 1955.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the following resolution: —
Resolved that the Supplementary Provisions for the quarter ended 31st March, 1955, as set out in Schedule No. 4 of 1954/55, be approved.
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He said: Sir, all the items in the schedule have been considered and approved by Finance Committee and the covering approval of this Council is now required.
Of the total gross provision of approximately $5¾ millions, almost $2 millions are required for the supplementing of departmental Personal Emoluments votes, consequent on the salaries revision. A further $1½ million is required by way of subventions to grant and subsidized schools, largely by reason of the fact that the staff of these schools also benefitted by revision of salaries.
The remaining items are, I trust, sufficiently explained in the schedule. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
The question was put and agreed to.
BANK NOTES ISSUE ORDINANCE, CHAPTER 65.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the following resolution: —
Resolved pursuant to the proviso to section 5 of the Bank Notes Issue Ordinance that this Council hereby extends the powers of all the note-issuing banks to make, issue, re-issue and circulate notes until and including the 12th day of July, 1956.
He said: Sir, the Bank Notes Issue Ordinance provides that the powers of the note issuing banks must be renewed at least annually. The present authorization of these banks to make, issue, re-issue and circulate notes expires on the 12th July next and it is proposed to grant the maximum extension.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
The question was put and agreed to.
KADOORIE AGRICULTURAL AID LOAN FUND BILL, 1955.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the First reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to provide for the establishment and administration of a trust fund to be known as the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Loan Fund and for purposes connected therewith".
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He said: —Sir, honourable Members are aware of the very large measure of assistance by way of free gifts of livestock and agricultural equipment and by interest-free loans which has been given to the farmers in the New Territories by Messrs. Horace and Lawrence Kadoorie since the inception of the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Association in 1951.
The basic policy of that Association has been to assist the very poor farmers to help themselves to become established and at the same time to improve the productive capacity of the land in the rural areas. The remarkable success of this venture has been due to the continued generosity of Messrs. Horace and Lawrence Kadoorie and to the close liaison which has been maintained with the technical officers of the Agricultural Department.
The assistance given by the Association is partly in the form of free gifts and partly of interest-free loans. The work in connexion with interest-free loans has expanded to such an extent over the past four years that these two benefactors have suggested to Government that the time has come to set up a Trust Fund to deal with these loans, the Fund to be administered by a Committee with the Director of Agriculture as Trustee and Chairman. To finance this fund, Messrs. Horace and Lawrence Kadobrie have offered a contribution of $250,000 on condition that Government will contribute a like sum. This offer has been accepted and the purpose of the Bill which is now before Council is to provide for the establishment and management of the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Loan Fund, monies from which will be devoted to the encouragement and improvement of all forms of agriculture in the Colony, principally by means of interest-free loans.
I am sure that honourable Members would wish me to take this opportunity of placing on record our appreciation of the generosity of Messrs. Horace and Lawrence Kadoorie. The agricultural economy of the Colony has greatly benefitted from the assistance given by the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Association and it is hoped that the establishment of this Loan Fund of half a million dollars, together with the resources of the J.E. Joseph Trust Fund established last year, and the loans available from the Vegetable Marketing Organization will make a substantial contribution to the future progress and prosperity of the farmers of the New Territories.
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The provisions of the Bill itself are self-explanatory and call for no comment.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL seconded.
The question was put and agreed to.
The Bill was read a First time.
Objects and Reasons.
The "Objects and Reasons" for the Bill were stated as follows: —
The purpose of this Bill is to make provision for the establishment of a trust fund, to be known as the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Loan Fund for the encouragement and improvement of agriculture in the Colony principally by interest-free loans. The Fund is to be established by a donation of $250,000 made by Mr. Horace Kadoorie and Mr. Lawrence Kadoorie and a like sum provided out of the revenue of the Colony.
2. The Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry will be trustee of the Fund, which will be managed by a committee constituted as provided by clause 5. The Fund is to be applied to the purposes mentioned in clause 6.
3. The moneys of the Fund may be invested as the committee may direct and the cost of administering the Fund shall be defrayed out of the general revenue of the Colony.
GAMBLING (AMENDMENT) (No. 2) BILL, 1955.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the First reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Gambling Ordinance, Chapter 148".
He said: Sir, when in 1950 the then Attorney General introduced an amendment to allow tombola to be played in clubs and institutions, he expressed the view that the game of tombola, when played under conditions ensuring proper control, was not detrimental to the public interest. Unfortunately the conditions
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laid down have not proved effective to prevent abuse. It is reported that in some institutions outsiders have been allowed to run the games for a set fee per month, in some cases the funds have not been properly accounted for and in yet others it is suspected that the draw has been so arranged that the operators' friends win the prize money. Moreover, there have been instances where what should be a harmless pastime has been turned into a business which brings considerable profit to the promoters. It is clearly contrary to the public interest that this state of affairs should be allowed to continue, and the object of this Bill is to give the Commissioner of Police a greater measure of control. It prescribes conditions in addition to those already contained in the principal Ordinance, and it also allows the Commissioner to endorse on his written permission such further conditions as he may think fit.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
The question was put and agreed to.
The Bill was read a First time.
Objects and Reasons.
The "Objects and Reasons" for the Bill were stated as follows: —
The Gambling Ordinance, Chapter 148, was amended in 1950 to permit of the promotion and playing of tombola as a harmless form of entertainment, and, if by so doing a society derived a reasonable financial benefit, it was not considered objectionable. Numerous abuses have arisen lately in connexion with the promotion and playing of tombola and, whilst it is not desired to prohibit the playing of the game entirely, it is considered desirable and advisable to give the Commissioner of Police greater powers of control. Clause 2 has been designed to achieve the desired object.
LAND TRANSACTIONS (ENEMY OCCUPATION)
(AMENDMENT) BILL, 1955.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the First reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance further to amend the Land Transactions (Enemy Occupation) Ordinance, Chapter 256".
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He said: Sir, the purpose of this Bill is I think sufficiently explained in the statement of Objects and Reasons. There is nothing that I can usefully add thereto.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY Seconded.
The question was put and agreed to.
The Bill was read a First time.
Objects and Reasons.
The "Objects and Reasons" for the Bill were stated as follows: —
Section 4 of the Land Transactions (Enemy Occupation) Ordinance (Cap. 256), as amended from time to time, provides that all "green ink entries" in the Land Office registers, whereby particulars of transactions affecting land during the Japanese occupation are recorded, shall be deleted after the expiration of seven years from the commencement of the Ordinance, that is to say, after the 15th July next. As, however, instances still exist in which titles have not yet been regularized, it is desirable that the period aforesaid be extended by yet another year. This Bill is designed to achieve that end.
URBAN COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1955.
MR. H. G. RICHARDS moved the First reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Urban Council Ordinance, 1955".
He said: Sir, the Objects and Reasons set out fully the reasons for this Bill. THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
The question was put and agreed to.
The Bill was read a First time.
Objects and Reasons.
The "Objects and Reasons" for the Bill were stated as follows: —
It has come to light that in the preparation of the final draft of the Urban Council Ordinance, 1955, a clerical error resulted in the disfranchising of all members of the Defence Force and
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Auxiliary Services who were not able to speak English up to the standard laid down by section 4 of the Jury Ordinance, Cap. 3. This Bill seeks to remedy this clerical error.
PUBLIC WORKS (PASSENGER FERRY PIERS) BILL, 1955.
MR. T. L. BOWRING moved the Second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to authorize undertakings for the construction of passenger ferry piers at Tsim Sha Tsui, Ma Tau Kok and Stewart Road, Wanchal".
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
The question was put and agreed to.
The Bill was read a Second time.
Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause. Clauses 1 to 5 and the Schedule were agreed to.
Council then resumed.
MR. T. L. BOWRING reported that the Public Works (Passenger Ferry Piers) Bill, 1955 had passed through Committee without amendment, and moved the Third reading.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
The question was put and agreed to.
The Bill was read a Third time and passed.
ADJOURNMENT.
H. E. THE GOVERNOR: —That concludes the business, Gentlemen. When is it your pleasure that we should meet again?
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL: —May I suggest this day fortnight.
H. E. THE GOVERNOR: —Council will adjourn to this day fortnight.