368
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held at the Council Chamber on the 10th May, Present
His EXCELLENOY the Governor, Sir WIL- LIAM ROBINSON, K.C.M.G.
His EXCELLENCY Major-General BLACK, C.B. (Officer Commanding the Forces.)
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. W. M. Goodman (Attorney-General). Hon. T. SERCOMBE SMITH (Colonial Treasurer).
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
May 12, 18971⁄2
colony are giving attention to the subject with and I am quite sure you will all admit that the which clause 5 deals. I therefore propose to Registrar-General, Mr. Lockhart, has rendered refer this clause to the Commission, so that the very excellent service in this direction among members of it may consider it in connection | the Chinese. I consider it most desirable to with their report, which I trust they will enlist the sympathies of the public with the furnish at no distant date. The Commission sanitary laws of the colony and not to estrange was appointed in July last and I think there their support by refusing to give consideration' has been plenty of time to report on the sub-to any reasonable representations that may be made, (Applause.) I know my views are those ject. The next clauses regarding which re presentations have been made to me are Nos. of every member of the Government and I feel These clauses deal with sure they will receive the support of the un- 9, 10, and 11. domiciliary visits. I have already on a previous official members of this Council. Now it occasion informed the Council that this is a remains for me to call upon the Colonial Se delicate matter in which great care and taotcretary to formally move these by-laws one by Before they are finally approved they must be exercised. I am still of that opinion, one. and for the information of this Council, and must be approved by the Sanitary Board, and especially the Chinese members of it-Dr. Ho after they are passed in this Council they will Kai and Mr. Wei A Yuk-I desire to state that be referred to the Sanitary Board and re-sub- it is my intention to request the Sanitary mitted for consideration and approval by the * Board to appoint no officers for the purpose of Council later on. making domiciliary visits until the names of such officers have been submitted to me and their appointment has received my approval, (Applause.) It is evident that for such work as visiting the houses of the Chinese at night officers of experience, having an Mr. J. G. T. BUCKLE (Acting Clerk of acquaintance with Chinese customs and Councils).
Hon. W. CHATHAM (Acting Director of Public Works).
Hon. F. H. MAY (Captain Superintendent of Police.)
J
Hon, R. MURRAY RUMSEY, (Harbour Master).
:
Hon. C. P. CHÅTER. ·
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD,
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, C.M.G.
Hon. Ho KAI.
Hon. WEI A YUK.
NEW MEMBER.
Hon. W. Chatham was sworn in on taking his seat as Acting Director of Public Works.
MINUTES.
"The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
|
manners, and possessing the confidence of the Chinese community, are requisite. (Ap. plause.) Only officers of that description will be appointed, and if during the progress of their work they should act in such a manner as may cause reasonable ground for complaint, I trust the Chinese will not fail to report the matter to the Registrar-General, so that the matter may The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid the follow. be thoroughly investigated. (Applause.) With ing papers on the table-Reports on the regard to clause 15, sub-section 5, it has been suggested that in certain cases that sub-section Hongkong Volunteer Corps; calendar of pro-would bear hardly on the owners of property bates, &c., and return of Supreme Court cases for 1896; and the Secretary of State's despatch respecting defence works at Hongkong.
PAPERS.
FINANCIAL MINUTE.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the tion of Financial Minute No. 1.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded. Carried.
THE REVENUE FROM SHIPPING,
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Sir, in pursuance of notice I rise to ask the following question:- Will the Government lay upon the table a de tailed statement framed in terms of and in ac- cordance with the instructions contained in the Secretary of State's despatch, dated 17th March. 1897, showing (1) the estimated total revenue which will be receivable from all shipping, s8- parately under each head, during the year 1898, and (2) the estimated total expenditure which will be chargeable to all shipping, separately un- der each head, during the same period
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-In reply I beg to state that instructions have been issued for the preparation of the returns desired in ac- cordance with the terms of the Secretary of State's instructions and the returns, when ready, will be laid upon the Council table.
THE OPIUM FARM,”
*
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-In view of the remarks of your Excellency I think it will be more convenient if the by-laws are considered one by one.
This course was approved of. By-law 5 was omitted and referred to the Insanitary Properties Commission.
EL
Hon.
In regard to by-law 9, which empowers the Board's officers to enter any domestic dwelling. at any hour between 6 p.m. and 12 p.m., E. R. BELILIOS said—I think the by-law would domestic be improved if after the words dwelling" the words "where more than one were added. That will exempt. family resides our buildings-I mean foreign buildings-from inspection.
31
+
The CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE -If the houses are entirely occupied by Euro peans the objection would hold good, but seeing that the houses are more or less occupied by Chinese I do not think it would be good.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY—The by-law affects all classes equally, regardless of race.
There was no seconder to the amendment and the by-law as it stood was approved.
On by-law 11 being read, Hon. T. H. WHITE- HEAD asked-This by-law says that on reason- able notice being given buildings can be entered" by Inspectors of Nuisances. Would it not be well to fix now what "reasonable notice " means? Would it not be well to specify the- number of hours? Different Inspectors might put different constructions on the words.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-When these by-laws are referred to the Sanitary Board the Board will be requested to state what they, regard as reasonable notice:
The by-law was then approved.
By-law 15 was, on the motion of the ATTOR- NEY-GENERAL, so amended as to make it legal for areas to be covered on permission from the Sanitary Board being obtained.
In respect to by-law 26 the COLONIAL SECRETARY said-You will observe that "if the premises so visited or any part thereof 雋 dirty or insanitary shall be found in
unless modified by the addition of the following words" without the permission of the Sanitary Board" or something equivalent after the words any kind whatsoever." That addition will, I adoptrast, be made by the Sanitary Board. The last clause to which my attention has been drawn is No. 26, and it has been urged that 24 hours' notice should always be given before this olause is put into operation. It must be remem- bered that clause No. 26 is one of the clauses which is to be enforced only during the pre- valence of an epidemic in the colony. At such a time prompt action is of first importance, While therefore not being in favour of the 24 hours' notice as has been suggested, I think the clause might be modified in another respect. As it stands at present any officer of the Board is empowered not only to make a house-to-house visitation, but he may forthwith take steps to have all furniture and goods removed, etc. I am of opinion that this is placing too great power in the hands of a subordinate officer of the Board. (Applause.) I therefore am of opinion that it would be advisable for the Sani- tary Board to modify this by-law by continuing to the subordinate officers of the Board the power to make house-to-house visits during the prevalence of an epidemic, but not allowing them to take any steps in the direction of re- moving furniture or destroying cocklofts, etc., without having made a report to the Medical Officer of Health, who should himself inspect the premises reported, upon by the subordinate officers before furniture is re- moved or cocklofts destroyed. (Applause.) In carrying out by-law No. 26 it may hap- pen that some of the very poor among the
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL—I may say that Chinese may require assistance from the Government, as was found necessary during the Colonial Treasurer, the Medical Officer of the plague epidemic of 1894. Such cases will Health, and I had a conversation about this receive the consideration of the Government by-law this morning and I have drafted an and, in addition to finding those who may be amendment which amounts to the same thing. turned out of their houses a temporary shelter, although it is not in the exact words, and if
· THE SANITARY BY-LAWS,
the Sanitary Board will be requested to bring the Colonial Secretary has no objection I should His EXCELLENCY-Before any motion is all deserving cases to the notice of the Re-like to move my amendment. brought forward with regard to the Sanitary gistrar General, who will be instructed to make by-laws which are to be considered by the arrangements for their comfort. (Applause.) Council to-day, I wish to make a few remarks Having now dealt with the suggestions made with reference to them. Having reason to be-with regard to these by-laws. I have only to lieve that objections existed in certain quarters add in conclusion that the desire of the to some of the clauses in the by-laws I have Government is to have the strongest possible taken steps to ascertain what those objections measures for the protection of the health of the
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL -The wording of are.. I find that the first clause objected to is public without unnecessary interference with the No. 5, and after having carefully considered liberty of the subject.. I am certain that that my amendment is as follows-"If the premises the matter I am prepared to allow this clause desire is shared by every member of this Council, so visited or any part thereof shall be found in to stand over. I understand that the Commis- In sanitary matters I regard it as all important a dirty or insanitary condition in the opinion of sion appointed by me in July last to consider that everything possible should be done in order any such officer he shall report the same [I omit and report on the insanitary properties in this to prevent friction in this matter (applause)— | the word forthwith] to the Medical Officer of
His EXCELLENCY-The hon. member for the Chamber of Commerce asked a question on the 7th December last in regard to the Opium Farm. He desired to know if the Government would appoint a Commission to investigate and report on the opinm revenue generally, and upon the advisability or otherwise of substitut ing for the present Opium Farm bonded ware- houses and a fixed duty on all opium not bona fide exported in a raw state. I may mention that I have given this matter my careful con- sideration and I do not intend to appoint a Commission to inquire into the advisability of substituting bonded warehouses and a fixed duty for the system at present in force,
condition in the opinion of any such officers [of the Board] he may forthwith take steps to have all furniture and goods removed there- I propose that after the word from, &c."
forthwith" the by-law shall read "make a report to the Medical Officer of Health, who shall at once inspect the premises reported upon and may, if he thinks such premises to be in s dirty or insanitary condition, take such steps," &c.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I have no ob jection to the wording so long as the meaning is the same.
The CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLION If there is anything of an epidemic it will be absolutely impossible for one officer to receive these reports and inspect all the buildings.