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OFFICIAL REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS.
Meeting of 23rd January, 1957.
PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR (PRESIDENT)
SIR ALEXANDER WILLIAM GEORGE HERDER GRANTHAM, G.C.M.G. HIS EXCELLENCY THE COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL WILLIAM HENRY STRATTON, K.C.B., C.V.O., C.B.E., D.S.O. 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.
DR. THE HONOURABLE YEO KOK CHEANG, C.M.G.
(Director of Medical and Health Services).
THE HONOURABLE DAVID RONALD HOLMES, M.B.E., M.C., E.D.
(Director of Urban Services).
THE HONOURABLE PATRICK CARDINALL MASON SEDGWICK (Commissioner of Labour).
THE HONOURABLE JOHN FORBES, O.B.E.
(Acting Director of Public Works).
DR. THE HONOURABLE CHAU SIK NIN, C.B.E.
THE HONOURABLE CHARLES EDWARD MICHAEL TERRY, O.B.E. THE HONOURABLE LO MAN WAI, C.B.E.
THE HONOURABLE NGAN SHING-KWAN, O.B.E.
THE HONOURABLE DHUN JEHANGIR RUTTONJEE.
THE HONOURABLE CEDRIC BLAKER, M.C., E.D.
THE HONOURABLE KWOK CHAN, O.B.E.
DR. THE HONOURABLE ALBERTO MARIA RODRIGUES, M.B.E., E.D. MR. RONALD THOMPSON (Deputy Clerk of Councils).
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MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 9th January, 1957, were confirmed.
OATH.
MR. JOHN FORBES, O.B.E., took the Oath of Allegiance and assumed his seat as a Member of the Council.
PAPERS.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by Command of His Excellency the Governor, laid upon the table the following papers: —
Subject. G.N. No.
Sessional Papers, 1957: —
No. 4 — Annual Report by the Accountant General for the
year 1955/56.
No. 5 — Annual Report by the Director of Audit for the year 1955/56.
Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1953.
Merchant Shipping (Small Craft) Regulations, 1957 ............. A. 1.
Business Regulation Ordinance, 1952.
Business Regulation (Amendment) Rules, 1957 .................... A. 2.
Telecommunication Ordinance.
Radiocommunication (Amendment) Regulations, 1957 ........ A. 4.
Urban Council Ordinance, 1955.
Urban Council Elections (Registration of Electors)
(Amendment) Regulations, 1957 .................................... A. 5.
SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS FOR THE
QUARTER ENDED 30TH SEPTEMBER, 1956.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the following resolution: —
Resolved that the Supplementary Provisions for the quarter ended 30th September, 1956, as set out in Schedule No. 2 of 1956/57, be approved.
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He said: Sir, of the total supplementary provision of $18½ millions in the Schedule, $10 millions represent a transfer from General Revenue to the new Local Loans Fund which will in future take care of interest-free loans to private schools.
The other large item of expenditure was incurred in consequence of an explosion in one of the steam locomotives on the railway. As a result of the investigation which followed it was decided that all such locomotives should be scrapped as soon as possible. To enable this to be done, three new diesel electric engines have been ordered at a cost of $3¼ millions.
The other items, which have all been approved by Finance Committee are, I trust, self-explanatory.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
The question was put and agreed to.
BUSINESS REGULATION (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1957.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the First reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Business Regulation Ordinance, 1952".
He said: Sir, the primary purpose of this Bill, as set forth in the statement of Objects and Reasons, is to enable the administration of the Business Regulation Ordinance to be taken over by the Inland Revenue Department from the Commerce and Industry Department.
It is provided that the Ordinance shall come into operation on a day to be appointed by Your Excellency. The reason for this is that the exact date of the transfer is still uncertain, being governed by the availability of accommodation.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
The question was put and agreed to.
The Bill was read a First time.
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Objects and Reasons.
The "Objects and Reasons" for the Bill were stated as follows: —
The purpose of this Bill is to amend the Business Regulation Ordinance, 1952, consequential upon—
(a) the taking over of the duties of business regulation under the Ordinance by the Commissioner of Inland Revenue from the Director of Commerce and Industry, and
(b) the introduction of the use of mechanical accounting in the Department of Inland Revenue.
2. Clause 2 of the Bill amends the definition of "Director" in the Ordinance to accord with the transfer of functions as stated above.
3. Clauses 3 and 4 are consequential amendments to the Ordinance required upon the introduction of mechanical accounting which makes it necessary to enable a fee in respect of which an application for remission is pending to be held over and not taken into the account until determination of the application.
SUPREME COURT (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1957.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the Second Reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance further to amend the Supreme Court Ordinance, Chapter 4."
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 3 were agreed to.
Council then resumed.
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THE ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that the Supreme Court (Amendment) Bill, 1957 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.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNITED COLLEGE OF HONG KONG INCORPORATION BILL, 1957.
DR. CHAU SIK NIN moved the First reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to provide for the incorporation of the Board of Trustees of The United College of Hong Kong."
He said: Your Excellency, this Bill is modelled along the lines of legislation of a similar character and contains the provisions usual in bills of incorporation of Boards of Trustees of educational institutions already enacted in the Colony. The Objects and Reasons clearly set forth the reasons for the Bill and I do not think there is anything I can usefully add.
MR. KWOK CHAN 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: —
1. The object of this Bill is to incorporate the Board of Trustees of the United College of Hong Kong which has been jointly sponsored by the Canton Overseas College, the Kwang Hsia College, the Wah Kiu College, the Wen Hua College and the Ping Jing College of Accountancy.
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2. The Board of Trustees of The United College of Hong Kong has been in existence since the 7th July, 1956. The objects of the Board of Trustees of The United College of Hong Kong are to operate and to administer The United College of Hong Kong with a view to:
(a) concentrating all material resources and educational efforts of the participating colleges for the improvement, development and further growth of Chinese higher education,
(b) fostering free and democratic education best suited to meet the need of Chinese college students both local and overseas,
(c) establishing and maintaining higher academic standards,
(d) adjusting and improving departmental studies,
(e) improving accommodation and facilities of The United College of Hong Kong,
(f) encouraging inter-cultural exchanges, and
(g) developing academic research.
3. The present Board of Trustees of The United College of Hong Kong is not a corporate body and cannot, therefore, hold any property in its own name. Not being a corporate body it is also handicapped in other ways in the carrying out of its functions.
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 two weeks? H. E. THE GOVERNOR: —Council will adjourn to this day fortnight.