106
shinery was different from the law at home, homo machinery was usually held to be ble, but here it was specially exempted from assessment under the Rating Ordinance, quite clear that the lifts and the motors, etc., connected therewith were ma- chinery and it was also clear that the assessor in making his v valuation had not deducted the yalne of the machinery, but had assessed the valde of the tenement as ei hanced by the value of the machinery contained therein. His con- tention was that as the lifts were not rate Kola they should be entirely left out of con vidaestion in making the valuation and that ho, building should be valued as though lifts were non-existent or were closed up. The question would then be what rental tenant or tenants would give for the as it stood without the lifts. Of with regard to the ground and first the question of the lift would not so much difference in the rental, with regard to the second, third, especially the fourth floor, in the absence of lifts the rental would be materially decreased. The first and portion of the ground floor were let to Messrs. Arnhold, Karberg & Cd at $465 per month; the second floor to Messrs. Carlowitz & Co. at 8440; half the third Hoor to the Wharf and Godown Co. for $150 and the other half to Dr. Jordan at $150 also; and the fourth floor to Mr. A. H. Rennie usa residence at $320 per month; and in the agreement was that the tenant should have the use of the lifts in common with the other tenants. In the absence of the lifte It was estimated that the letting value of the premises would be reduced to about $11000 per annum. A further point was that on the 30th June, the date of the assessment, the buildings were still in unfinished state. The assessment therefore was premature, as it included several portions of the building which were incapable of occupa- tion on that date. The tenants paid the rates and the company would derive no benefit from the appeal, which was undertaken on behalf of the tenants, a
case
an
Mr. Shelton Hooper, secretary for the appel- lants, said he was formerly in the Government service as an assessor. He would estimate the asabesment on the building when completed at $10,320.
Mr. A. H. Rennie, who has entered into an agreement for premises on the fourth floor of the building, said he was shown a plan of the premises last year showing the lifts. It was a portion of his agreement that he should have the use of the lifts.
||Mr. Turner, architect and surveyor, gave evidence of the machinery of the lifts, and the condition of the building.
The appellants' case was closed at tiffin time. The further hearing was adjourned till Tây sẽ Mr. Bowley had a case at the Magi.
in the afternoon.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
the consideration of this Connoil which I now lay on the table. I understand that a copy of it was forwarded to the Government some two or three weeks ago.
|
QUESTIONS,
The Hon. T: H. WHITEHEAD-I beg to give notice that at the next meeting of the Council I will ask the following question :
Will the Government lay upon the table copy of Despatch No. 107 of 28th April last to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and its enclosures, regarding the recent disturbances in connection with the taking over of the new ter- ritory leased by China to Great Britain by the June Convention of last year and any other Despatches from the Colonial Government to the Home Authorities bearing on the subject ?" The Hon. E. R. BELILIOS-I beg to give notice of the following question which I will pat at the next meeting of the Legislative Council :-
"Referring to the report by the Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart on the Kowloon Extension to the Colony, will the Government state what is the source of the information referred to in paragraph 1 under head of Revenue, page 13 of the Blue Book, stating - But from infor- mation derived from another source it is eati- mated that the annual revenue of that portion of the Sun On District contained within the leased ares amounts to $160,000, or, say, £16,000, this being an increase of more than a lakh of dollars on the estimate given by the Sun On District Magistrate for the territory in ques- tion ?"
His EXCELLENCY THE GOVEENOR-May I suggest that in giving notice of questions hon- ourable members should to save time merely hand in their notices?
:
PAPEES.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the report of the Inspector of Schools for 1898; reports on the Hongkong Volunteer Corps; report of the Principal Civil Medical Officer for 1898; the Secretary of State's, despatch respect ing the recent disturbances in connection with the taking over of the New Territory; and the report on the assessment for 1899-1900.
FINANCIAL.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table financial minutes Nos. 9 to 10 and proposed that they be referred to the Finance Committee. The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and the motion was carried.
THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANK'S NOTE ISSUE.
The Hon. C. P. Chater-Your Excelleny, I have the honour to move the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to continue the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Ordinance, 1899. I am aware, sir, that it is unusual to speak when moving the first reading of a Bill, but as it is my intention, with your Excelleny's permission, and if honourable nembers have no objection, to pass this Bill through the various stages to-day, a few explanatory words at the present moment may not be inappropriate. It will probably be in the recollection of honourable members that about this time last year a Bill was introduced into this Council authorising the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation to issue notes in excess of its paid-up capital on the condition that the Bank should deposit dol- lar for dollar for the excess issue. This condition, I may memtion to Your Excellency, was proposed by the Bank itself and received the sanction of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State and a Bill was passed. The period this privilege was to extend was fixed for twelve months from the 31st July, 1898. Hon R. MURRAY RUMSEY (Harbour Later on, sometime about the beginning of Master).
present year, the Secretary of the Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Captain Super-out instructions to introduce another Bill intendent of Police).
On Monday afternoon a meeting of the Hong- Kong Legislative Council was held in the Coun- cil Chamber at the Government Offices, there being present:-
||| HIS EXCELLENOY the GOVERNOR (Sir Henry Blake, G.CM.G.).
|| The Hon J. H. STEWART LOCKHART Colonial Secretary).
Hon. H. E. POLLOCK (Acting Attorney. Sneral).
Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer).
1. R. D. Ormsby (Director of Public
. U. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
Dr. Ho Kar.
fon: 40. H. WHITEHEAD,
[August 5, 1899
from this date. Honourable members will doubt have observed that there is absolutely no benefit to the Bank by the passing Bill, on the contrary it entails expense trouble to the Bank and a good deal of ponsibility, but it is done for the benefit of this colony and to help trade ind merce. Therefore I have no doubt honour able members will consent to the Bill going, through the rat second and third reading to. day. With these remarks I beg to move the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance continue the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Ordinance, 1899.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was carried.
The Standing Orders having been suspended to allow of the Bill passing through allits stages, the second reading was carried, after which the Council went into committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.
On the Council resuming the Bill was read third time and passed.
THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS.
The ACTING ATtorney-General—I beg to move the first reading of a Bill entitled an Or- dinance to amend the Protection of Women and Girls Ordinance, 1897.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-If I may make a suggestion in connection with this Bill, I observe that the Singapore Logislative Council have appointed a committes to enquire into the matter. If we could be supplied with copies of the committee's report we should be assisted in arriving at a conclusion.
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR-If ▼ had the report there would of course be no ob jection to members being supplied with copies, but we, have had their Bill and we know the whole question pretty well now. I do not think I would advise that this Bill should be delayed for the purpose of getting the report of the Singapore Committee. I will write to Sin gapore, and if we obtain copies before the next meeting of the Council honourable members will be supplied with them.
The motion was carried.
NATURALIZATION.
A Bill entitled an Ordinance for the Natur alization of Yeung Cheuk Hia alias Yeung Shun Kong was read a first time.
A Bill entitled an Ordinance for the Natur- alization of Wong Ping Lam alias Wong U. K'ai was read a second and third time and passed
THE CONCEALMENT OF OPIUM. On the motion of the ACTING ÅTTORNEY-
GENERAL, seconded by the COLONIAL SECBA- TARY, & Bill entitled an Ordinance for the Pre- vention of the Concealment of Opium on board Steamships was read a first time.
THE CATTLE DISEASES ETO,, ORDINANCE, The Council went into Committee on the Bill
entilled an Ordinance to further amend the Cattle Diseases, Slaughter houses, and Markets Ordinances.
Clause 3 of the Bill read as follows “Soo- tion 12 of the Cattle Diseases, Slaughter-hotises and Markets Ordinance, 1887, is hereby amend. ed by the deletion of the words for sale.” ~
The ACTING ATTORNEY-General-In Con- sequence of having seen the Hon. E. R. Bəlilios and having been interviewed by certain Indian gentlemen, I have an amendment to move clause 3. In the first place it seems to me that it would not be wise to delete the words for sale" from section 12, because the word "animal," in section 12 of Ordinazos 17 of 1887 includes sheep and goats and other ruminating animals, and swine, and I do not to slaughter and dress the carosse of think it would be wise to make its penal offence except in the slaughter house appointed in the ordinance, as it might prevent people from killing pigs in their own backyards. I take it that Europeans sometimes kill pigs on own premises, and 1 should imagine it is not advisable to make this a penal offence,
into the Council repealing this Bill. namely No. 6 of 1898, and, bringing forward the Bill No. 1 of 1899 anthorising the Bank to issue notes in excess of its paid up capital on the same terms and conditions as before, with one or two additional conditions, and the peri- od for which this privilege was granted was fixed for a year from the 31st July, 1898. The period was not altered. Consequently Mr. J. G. T. Buckle (Clerk of Councils). it expires to-day. The object of the pro- sent Bill is to allow the Bank to continue Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD--Your Excel-issuing these notes in excess of its paid up
have been asked by the solicitors of capital on the same terms and conditions as inter-house
alers in arms to present a petition for No. 1 of 1899 for a further period of 12 months
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, C.M.G. Hon. WEI A YUK.
____ PETITION.
their
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR—I do not know what the customs are here, but it seems to me that seeing that we have a slanghter house pro- vided for the purpose of preventing anim those fit for human food from it would be inadvisable to, slaughtered in any other
Otherwise
swine which had been refuse