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OFFICIAL REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS,
Meeting of 6th February, 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 23rd January, 1957, 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, 1957: —
No. 6— Annual Report by the Registrar, Supreme Court
for the year 1955/56.
No. 7—Annual Report by the General Manager, Railway
for the year 1955/56.
No. 8—Annual Report of the Public Services Commission
for the years 1954/56.
No. 9—Annual Report by the Registrar of Cooperative
Societies and Director of Marketing for the
year 1955/56.
Mental Hospitals Ordinance.
The Castle Peak Hospital Declaration, 1957 ........................... A. 6.
Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1953.
Merchant Shipping (Control of Ports) (Amendment)
Regulations, 1957 ............................................................. A. 7.
Motor Vehicles Insurance (Third Party Risks) Ordinance, 1951. Motor Vehicles Insurance (Third Party Risks) (Amendment)
Regulations, 1957 ............................................................ A. 8.
CRIMINAL APPEAL (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1957.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the following resolution: —
Resolved that the Criminal Appeal (Amendment) Rules, 1957, made by the Chief Justice on the 15th day of January, 1957, under section 9 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance, Chapter 221, be approved.
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He said: Sir, these rules mentioned in this resolution make provision in relation to the use of shorthand writers in criminal trials in the Supreme Court. The rules have been made by the Chief Justice and now require the approval of this Council.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
The question was put and agreed to.
DEFENCES (FIRING AREAS) (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1957.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the First reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Defences (Firing Areas) Ordinance, Chapter 196."
He said: Sir, this is a very simple amending Bill and there is nothing that I can usefully add to the Objects and Reasons.
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 purpose of this Bill is to amend the Defences (Firing Areas) Ordinance (Chapter 196) so as to permit of the establishment of a range for the practice firing of live torpedoes by Her Majesty's ships. The reason for the introduction of this measure is that at present there is no provision for such a range in the waters of the Colony and Her Majesty's ships are in need of the facility.
DUTIABLE COMMODITIES (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1957.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the First reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, Chapter 109."
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He said: Sir, this Bill was foreshadowed in this Council quite recently. The purpose is set forth in the statement of "Objects and Reasons," to which I think there is nothing that I can usefully add.
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 purpose of this Bill is to amend the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance—
(a) to prevent the use of methyl alcohol in the preparation of liquor intended for human consumption; and
(b) to enable the board of licensing justices to transact business by circulation of papers in suitable cases.
2. Ethyl alcohol is the basis of all proof spirit used in the making of intoxicating liquors, but methyl alcohol, although in appearance and taste indistinguishable from ethyl alcohol, is a very dangerous poison. Unless the two substances are carefully marked and kept separate from each other there is an ever present risk that methyl alcohol may find its way into liquor and be sold on the market to the danger of the public.
3. Section 48B provides that the board of liquor licensing justices shall meet during the months of March, June, September and December of each year and at such other times as may be necessary for the transaction of business. The proposed amendment is introduced to enable the board to transact suitable business without necessarily calling a meeting.
BUSINESS REGULATION (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1957.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the Second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Business Regulation Ordinance, 1952."
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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 4 were agreed to.
Council then resumed.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY reported that the Business Regulation (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 Second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to provide for the incorporation of the Board of Trustees of The United College of Hong Kong."
MR. KWOK CHAN 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 11 were agreed to.
Council then resumed.
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DR. CHAU SIK NIN reported that The Board of Trustees of The United College of Hong Kong Incorporation Bill, 1957 had passed through Committee without amendment and moved the Third reading.
MR. KWOK CHAN 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. Council will adjourn to this day three weeks, which will be the opening of the Budget debate.