282
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on the 25th instant in the Council Chamber at 2.30 p.m.
PRESENT
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MATTHEW NATHAN, K.C.M.G.
Hon. COLONEL DARLING, R.E. (Officer Commanding the_Troops).
Hon. Mr. T. BERCOMBE SMITH (Colonial
Secretary).
Hon. Mr. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treas urer).
Hon. Mr. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar- General).
Hon. Mr. W. CHATHAM (Director of Public Works).
Hon. Mr. F. J. BADELEY (Captain-Super- intendent of Police.
Hon. Mr. H. E. POLLOCK.
Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, M.B., C.M., C.M.G. Hon. Mr. WEI YUK.
Hon. Mr. E. A. HEWETT. Hon. Mr. W. J. GRESSON.
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
PAPERS.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency, laid on the table the following paper: Report by the Examiners of Queen's -College.
FINANCIAL.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved that Financial minutes Nos. 78 to 53, be referred to the Finance Committee.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded. His EXCELLENCY-Financial minute No. 78 for $1.942 is on account of four barbour department boats lost at the out statious during the typhoon of 18th September, and of 22 magazines which had been borrowed from the Ordinance Department and 702 blank cartridges which were lost at Gap Rock in the storms of 28th and 29th September. Financial minute No. 79 for $110, is for reating accommodation to take the place of a matshed that had to be temporarily used as a mortuary on Praya East. Financial minute No. 80 for $113 speaks for itself. Financial minute No 81 is for $450 on account of the hire of a launch for the Health Officer of the Port while his own launch Sybil was under repair. Financial Minute No. 82, for $14,000, is for taking down evidence given before the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance Commission and for provid- ing copies of that evidence for the consideration of the members of the Commission. The amount is a very large one but it is in accordance with the lowest tender which
10 the was submitted
Government for this work. I only trust that the cost to the Government in money and to the members of the Commission in labour will be repaid by the value of the Commission's report when it is produced Financial miuute No. 83, for $6,000. is on account of various works which have had to be undertaken for the Sanitary Board in connection with the typhoon. It includes $1,448 for repairs to matsheds, $700 repairs to dust carts, $2,300 repair to plague boats, $189 repairs to cemeteries, and 3350 incidental expenses.
Agreed to.
CHINESE CEMETERIES.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, in accordance with section 78 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, laid on the table the additional bye-law and mored that it be approved by the Council.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded. His EXCELLENCY-The bye-law with re- ference to cemeteries made by the Sanitary Board is as follows:
19 The areas of the grave spaces in the various sections shall not exceed the following dimen- sions:
Section A 7 feet long by 24 feet wide with 18 inches interspaces,
Section B 7 feet 6 inches long by 24 feet wide with 18 inches interspaces.
Section C 8 feet long by 3 feet wide with 18 inobes interspaces.
Section D 10 feet long by 8 feet wide with 18 inches interspaces.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Section E 10 feet long by 8 feet wide with 18 inches interspaces.
The bye-law was approved.
WORKMEN'S TRAMS.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY—By your Excel lency's direction the further consideration of the resolution which stands in the name of the Attorney-General will be postponed until the next meeting of the Council.
The resolution was as follows: Resolved that the Resolutions regarding the running of Workmen's Cars by the Hougkong Tramway Electric Company, Limited, passed by the Legislative Council on the 21st day of June, 1906, be rescinded as from to-day.
WIDOWS' AND ORPHANS' PENSION FUND The Colonial TREASURER moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Widows and Orphans' Pension Fund
Ordinance, 1900,
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and this was agreed to.
BILL WITHDRAWN.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY - I beg to with- draw the Bill entitled an Ordinance to consoli. date and amend the law relating to trade marks.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded. His Excellency-The Bill which was read a first time at the last meeting was approved by the merchants of the Colony represented by the Chamber of Commerce, but it has not met with the a proval of the legal profession. I have thought it well to withdraw it for further consideration.
A greed to.
MERCHANT SHIPPING ORDINANCE.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY—We are now in
the committee stage on this bill. As the e are que riwo alterations which appear to be desirable I beg to move that the Bill be recommitted to committee.
|
[October 29, 1906.
(8113) in aid of the vote, Judicial and Legal Departments, B. -Magistracy-other charges. for the following items :-
***
Advertising Meetings of Justices of the
Peace,
$ 50
Incidental Expenses,...
NEW TERRITORY,
Total,
TYPHOON KIPENSES.
63
$113
'The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of four hundred and fifty Dollars (8450) in aid of the vote, Medical Departments, Typhoon Expenses.-Hire of Launch for Health Officer of Port.
COMMISSION EXPENSES.
The Governor rec›mmended the Conncil to vote a sum of fourteen thousand dollars ($14,000) in aid of the vote, Miscellaneous Services, Public Health and Buildings Ordinance Commission.
TYPHOON EXPENSES.
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of six thousand dollars (6,000) in sid of the vote. Sanitary Department, Typhoon Expenses.
VOLUNTEER CAMP.
(Daily Press, October 20th.) Maxim gun drill and practice proved very interesting yesterday morning, and the Volun- teers felt repaid for their exertions of the week by uoting the advance in their work. Perhaps the feature of the dy was the infantry drill and skirmishing practice, which was almost a necessary prelude to the field day of this after- Boon when all nails set in conjunction with the Royal West Kent Regiment.
The official guest night has been arranged for to-night instead of Monday and there is little The COLONIAL TREASURER secondel, and | doubt that the members of the corps will provide this was agreed to.
a capital entertainment for their visitors.
The Council went into commitles aud con- sidered the Bill anew.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK ---I would like to ask, Sir, what steps have been taken to inform junk owners of the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance Amendment of 1945 with reference to carrying lights?
His EXCELLENCY. The amendment was communicated to the Harbour Master. I am not aware what action bas been taken but. will enquire.
On the Council resuming,
His EXCELLENCY reported that the Bill entitled an Ordinauce further to amend the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899, and for other purposes bad passed through Committee with minor amendments.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-If there is no objection I move the third reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance further to amend the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and became law.
His EXCELLENCY-The Council stands adjourned till 2.30 on Thursday next.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was then held the COLONIAL SECRETARY presiding. The following votes were passed :-
HARBOUR DEPARTMENT CHARGES, The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of one thousand nine hundred and forty-two dollars (81,942) in aid of the vote. Harbour Master's Department, for the following items :-
4. Harbour Officə,
OTHER CHARGES.
Now Boats G.-Lighthouses.
OTHER CHARGES.
Gap Rock Lighthouse,
Gunpowder Charges and Tubes for
Fog Signalling Guns
Total,
414
TYPHOON DAMAGES.
$720
1,22
$1,942
The Governor recommended the Council to rote a sum of one hundred and ten dollars (8110) in aid of the vote, Sanitary Department -other charges, Typhoon Expenses.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of one hundred and thirteen dollars
(Daily Press, October 22nd.) The week-end witnessed
considerable accession of strength in the Volunteer Camp and also saw the men engaged in a useful series of exercises. Firing fifteen pounders occupied the morning hours and other necessary work followed during the forenoon. The afternoon was devoted to a field day in which all the Volunteer puits oporated with a number of men from the Royal West Kent Regiment. The scheme was outlined as follows: "Stonecutters 1stand is supposed to have been seized by a band of pirates, repre- sented by 80 men of the Royal West Kent Regiment, and it will be the Volunteer's duty to regain possession of it. All the forts on the Island and the Volunteer Camp are to be cou- sidered out of bounds. The attacking force consisting of 40 meu of the Royal West Kents and the Volunteer Artillery and Engineers will embark at Queen's Statue Pier at 230 and proceed to Stonecutters to attack, and if possible, capture the pirates. Colonel Darling, Officer Commanding the Troops, has consented to act as chief empire, and Colonel Fitton, D.S.O., and Major Pritchard R.G.A., will be the umpires for the attacking and defending forces respectively."
Here about
The defenders arrived early in the afternoon, and the men who were in camp left by launch to join their comrades at the Volunteer Headquarters.
140 Volunteers assembled
under Captain Armstrong and were joined by a number of mea from the Royal West Kent Regiment, Boarding the service
Was launch which
supposed
an represent
armoured
craft they huddled on the docks 80
to
8.5
the
2.5 not
st
to betray their approach. On nesring the island
defenders opened fire, but this was considered a mistake on their part it disclosed their position which could easily have been rendered untenable
the by
fifteen pounder imaginary the bow. The attacking party WES met by a withering fire ou landing, bat quickly gained the cover of the tower. To un. derstand the manœuvres it has to be remembered that the defender, had taken up their main position near the central battery, where 50 men were posted. Near the west battery other 20 men were posted and nine occupied a position on the spur west of the camp. The regulars and a party of Volunteers, under cover of the
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