HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 19
OFFICIAL REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS
Meeting of 12th February 1964
PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR (PRESIDENT)
SIR ROBERT BROWN BLACK, GCMG, OBE
HIS EXCELLENCY LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR RICHARD WALTE CRADDOCK, KBE, CB, DSO
COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES
THE HONOURABLE EDMUND BRINSLEY TEESDALE, MC
COLONIAL SECRETARY
THE HONOURABLE MAURICE HEENAN, QC
ATTORNEY GENERAL
THE HONOURABLE JOHN JAMES COWPERTHWAITE, CMG, OBE FINANCIAL SECRETARY
THE HONOURABLE KENNETH STRATHMORE KINGHORN
DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES
THE HONOURABLE PETER DONOEUE
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
THE HONOURABLE ALEC MICHAEL JOHN WRIGHT
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
THE HONOURABLE FUNG PING-FAN, OBE
THE HONOURABLE RICHARD CHARLES LEE, CBE
THE HONOURABLE KWAN CHO-YIU, OBE
THE HONOURABLE KAN YUET-KEUNG, OBE
THE HONOURABLE WILLIAM CHARLES GODDARD KNOWLES
THE HONOURABLE SIDNEY SAMUEL GORDON
THE HONOURABLE LI FOOK-SHU, OBE
MR GORDON ERIC MATHER (Deputy Clerk of Councils)
ABSENT:
THE HONOURABLE JOHN CRICHTON MCDOUALL
SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS
DR THE HONOURABLE TENG PIN-HUI, OBE
DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
THE HONOURABLE DHUN JEHANGIR RUTTONJEE, OBE
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 20
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 22nd January 1964, were confirmed.
PAPERS
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by Command of His Excellency the Governor, laid upon the table the following papers: —
Subject LN No
Sessional Papers, 1964: —
No 8—Annual Report by the Commissioner of Labour for the year 1962-63
No 9—Annual Report by the Commissioner of Police for the
year 1962-63
No 10—Annual Report by the Commissioner of Registration
of Persons for the year 1962-63.
No 11—Annual Reports by the Director of Immigration for
the years 1961-62 and 1962-63.
No 12—Annual Report by the Director of Public Works for
the year 1962-63.
No 13—Annual Report by the Manager and Chief Engineer,
Railway for the year 1962-63.
Development of Medical Services in Hong Kong.
Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance.
Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment of First
Schedule) Regulations, 1964 ................................................ 10
Registration of Persons Ordinance, 1960.
Registration of Persons (Re-registration) (No 4) Order, 1964 12
Registration of Persons Ordinance, 1960.
Registration of Persons (Cancellation of Registration and
Identity Cards) (No 4) Order, 1964 ...................................... 13
Dangerous Goods Ordinance, 1956.
Dangerous Goods (General) Regulations, 1964 .......................... 14
Dangerous Goods Ordinance, 1956.
Dangerous Goods (Classification) Regulations, 1964 ................. 15
Dangerous Goods Ordinance, 1956.
Dangerous Goods (Shipping) Regulations, 1964 ......................... 16
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 21
Subject LN No
Road Traffic Ordinance, 1957.
Road Traffic (Parking and-Waiting) (Amendment) Regulations, 1964 ....................................................................................... 17
Registration of Persons Ordinance, 1960.
Registration of Persons (Re-registration) (No 5) Order, 1964 18
Registration of Persons Ordinance, 1960.
Registration of Persons (Cancellation of Registration and
Identity Cards) (No 5) Order, 1964 ....................................... 19
Dogs and Cats Ordinance, 1950.
Approved Observation Kennels and Quarantine Stations ............. 21
Hoseinee Society of Hong Kong Incorporation Ordinance, 1954. Amendment of First Schedule ....................................................... 22
Registration of Persons Ordinance, 1960.
Registration of Persons (Re-registration) (No 6) Order, 1964 23
He said: Sir, among these the Report on the. Development of Medical Services deserves particular attention. This Report was prepared last year by a Working Party under the chairmanship of the Director of Medical and Health Services. It has since been endorsed by the Medical Advisory Board and has received the Executive Council's approval in principle, subject of course to the provision of the necessary funds from year to year. The Report represents a comprehensive review of problems in the medical field during the coming decade. It contains proposals not only for a substantial increase in the total number of hospital beds, but also for an appreciable improvement in the bed ratio per head of population, as well as for a steady expansion of clinic and outpatient facilities. In framing their proposals the authors of the Report have taken special care to relate them to the Colony's likely financial resources, the rate of building construction and the availability of qualified staff. Even so, the financial implications of the Report are very considerable, and Honourable Members will doubtless agree that finance, as well as the other limiting factors to which I have just referred, must largely determine the speed at which we can implement the programme. It would be wise, therefore, to regard the Report as a general guide for future development rather than as a detailed and inflexible blue-print.
It follows, then, that the plan may require amendment from time to time or that its aims may possibly have to be achieved over a longer period of time. We propose, therefore, to keep the programme under continuous review, and for this purpose the Working Party which was
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 22
responsible for its preparation will become a Standing Committee whose conclusions will be reported to Government through the Medical Advisory Board.
QUESTIONS
MR Y. K. KAN, pursuant to notice, asked the following question: —
Sir, in view of the present water shortage and the need to reduce consumption, has Government reconsidered the question of installation of separate water meters in multi-storey buildings since I raised the question in this Council in December 1961?
MR A.M. J. WRIGHT replied as follows: —
Further consideration has been given to the installation of separate water meters in multi-storey buildings.
There are several problems to be overcome, but in my opinion, the advantages to be gained are such that our aim should be to make the installation of individual meters standard practice in the future.
There is no difficulty in providing separate meters to new buildings where the flats have cold water supply only. Complications arise if the flats have a hot water system with associated storage tanks; in such cases the cost of the plumbing installation will be considerably increased.
The provision of individual meters in existing buildings is possible, but in nearly all cases it would be expensive, because new pipe runs would be necessary to enable the meters to be fixed outside the flats.
The problem of responsibility for common internal supply pipes was referred to in some detail in the reply to the honourable Member’s question on the same subject in December 1961. One solution is for Government to assume responsibility for the common supply pipes in buildings under multi-ownership, but other possible solutions are being considered.
The cost of separate meters cannot be ignored. A meter costs about $60, and they require regular servicing; this involves workshop space and workshop staff. A large increase in the Meter Reader establishment would also be necessary.
The sum up, I favour the provision of separate meters in multi-storey buildings. The associated problems, including capital and recurrent costs, are being investigated. I hope to submit my recommendations to Government in the near future.
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 23
SUMMARY OFFENCES (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1964
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the Second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Summary Offences Ordinance and to revoke the Fireworks (Special Permits) Regulations."
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.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that the Summary Offences (Amendment) Bill, 1964, 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 into law.
DANGEROUS GOODS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1964
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the Second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Dangerous Goods Ordinance, 1956."
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 9 were agreed to.
Council then resumed.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that the Dangerous Goods (Amendment) Bill, 1964, had passed through Committee without amendment and moved the Third reading.
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 24
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
The question was put and agreed to.
The Bill was read a Third time and passed into law.
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR: —Gentlemen, this is the last occasion on which Mr DONOHUE will be attending Legislative Council. Before our next meeting he will have proceeded on leave prior to retirement after serving as Director of Education in Hong Kong for a period of close on three years. Mr DONOHUE's record of loyal and able service to the Crown in the Department of Education in Hong Kong is well-known. For an important period before he became Director, he was the officer in charge of development planning in the Department and it is in his period as Head of Department that we have seen the fruits of his planning. Mr DONOHUE has rendered notable service to the cause of education in Hong Kong, and I am sure you will all wish to join with me in placing on record in this Council our appreciation of his service to the Colony and, at the same time, to extend to him and to his wife our very best wishes for a happy retirement. (Applause).
MR DONOHUE: —Thank you, Sir.
ADJOURNMENT
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR: —That concludes the business for today, Gentlemen. When is it your pleasure that we should meet again?
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL: —May I suggest, Sir, this day two weeks.
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR: —Council stands adjourned until this day two weeks.
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