410
"has been as enterprising ав the Tan- jong Pagar Company has been backward in carrying out improvements." There is the usual nonsense we can call it nothing
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
ĮJune 24, 1907. the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, | first time at the last meeting. I think Sir, as 1903.
it is an important question, as you stated, and 'The COLONIAL TREASURER feconded.
as it is a question with regard to which your this Council when this bill was read for a first complete failure that we cannot take too early Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-At the last meeting of Excellency admitted there has been failure--- else-in which the characteristics of the
time your Excellency made some observations an opportunity of addressing ourselves to this Chinese nation are ascertained by observ-with reference to the housing question of this question with a view to putting an end to that ation of the "boys" at the Hongkong Hotel. Colony, and more especially in connection with failure-failure is by no means too strong a word "Conservative by instinct, the Chiuaman cubicles. Your Excellency stated amongst to apply to the past sanitary policy on the quen- obstinately refuses to surrender his heathen other things that you were satisfied that the tion of cubicles. It seems to me, so far as cubicles individuality, and be moulded on a Christian existing law relating to cubicles has failed, and are concerned, that your Excellency is quite cor. model. He is selfish and feelingless. your Excellency also stated that you were in rect in stating that an important point which will Reserved by nature, untruthful by habit, great hopes that the community as a whole have to be borne in view in the future is the ques- would take the subject of cubicles into their¦tion of the provision of lateral windows. But, Sir, inscrutable by character, be lives among most serious consideration, and try to arrive this I do not agree with a'l the suggestions which I Englishmen without social assimilation.
time at some method of dealing with this understand were put forward by the Government How the Colonel could discover so much if question which will really settle it once for all. in connection with this matter. With regard his subject was indeed inscrutable is a The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I don't see to the best scheme in connection with cubicles, mystery, and it does seem a little odd that what this has to do with the bill.
speaking for myself, I think there can be no after referring to his own people as the
doubt that the best sobeme laid before the community so far, is the scheme mooted some greedy authore of the wickedest war in
four years ago, namely, that in Chinatown history, he should go on to libel the Chinese
apper storeys of every third house should be 20. Cul. MURRAY's remark that the ti le-
pulled down with a view to the provision of lateral windows for the houses standing on either side. I understand, Sir, there was an objection raised against this being done in view of the fact that the walls of houses on either side of the house proposed to be pa'led down might or in some instances
f
19
11
deeds by which we hold Hongkong are bad scarcely squares, moreover, with his regret -shared by us- that Great Britain did not also seize and bold Shanghai. But we have already given enough to show that those are like to be disappointed who expect to learn from this particular book anything parti- cularly new about our Imperial Outposts. What the author might have told he is not allowed to tell, and what he does tell, well- we have heard it before, or something very like it.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on the 20th instant in the Council Chamber.
PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINI- BIERING THE GOVERNMENT, Hon. Mr. F. H. MAY, C.M.G.
MAJOR-GENERAL R. G. BROADWOOD, C.B
A.C.D.
Hon. Mr. A. M. THOMBON (Colonial Secre- tary).
Hon. Mr. H. H. J. GOMPERTZ (Attorney. General)
Hon. Mr. C. McI. MESSER, (Colonial Trea- surer).
Hon. Mr. W. CHATHAM (Director of Public Works).
Hon. Mr. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar-General). Hon. Mr. F. J. BADELEY (Captain-Superin. tendent of Police).
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, M.B., C.M., C.M.G. Hon. Mr. WEI YUK,
Hon. Mr. H. H. POLLOCK, K.C.
Hon. Mr. E. A. HEWETT.
Hon. Mr. E. OSBORNE,
Hon. Mr. H. KESWICK.
Mr. A. G. M. ELETCHER (Clerk of Councils).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read, and confirmed.
QUESTIONS.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT gave notice that he would ask the following questions at the next meeting of the Council:-
(1) Will the Government state if it is pro posed to recognise the special services rendered by certain Government officials in connection with a Commission appointed to enquire into the working of the Public Health and Buildings
Ordinance?
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-It has to do with it.
Iam perfectly in order.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-It has no value whatever.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK - It is a very great im. pertinence on the port of the Colonial Secretary to say it is of no value whatever. I think, Sir. the hou, member should be called to order. I am aldressing your Excellency in Council with reference to the remarks made by your
Excellency with reference to the proposal laid on the table at the last meeting, and I think if your Excellency bad a right to address the Council on the question of cubicles on the first reading of the bill, I have an equal right on the second.
&
His EXCELLENCY-I think the hon, member is rather under a misapprehension. I stated that I had a purpose for the few remarks 1 made. I said I should not be in order and asked the indulgence of the Council to allow me to make some remarks which were out of order. I certainly think it would be much more convenient if the hon. member would นค a bill defer his remarks till such time is submitted to the Council dealing with cubicles. We are
with now dealing bill which deals with a different subject, and the onl. reason this bill is being before the general amending introduced ordinance is that there are various papers hung up owing to want of legal power to grant xemptions under section 175; hence the reason we put this forward before the general amend ment bill. I must rule the hon. member out of order in going into the general question. He must abide by the rules of the Council. The statement I made the other day was a very short I allowed another hon. member a good deal of lioence to make a personal explanation, but now the hon. member wants to go into the whole question, which, I think, is very incau- venient.
Abe.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-I propose to make observations on your Excellency's remarks at the last meeting of the Council. I claim my right to do so,
|
His EXCELLENCY-If the hon. member insists it just shows that one ought never to break any rule.
Hon. Mr. FOLLOCK-I do not see why I should not be allowed to answer your Ex. cellency's observations on the first reading. It is a monstrous thing for your Excellency, administering the Government, to claim liceuce which is denied to me.
asked the leave of the Council.
Ais EXCELLENCY-I did not claim it
I
Hen. Mr. POLLOCK-It is not likely aby member would intervene.
His EXCELLENCY-The hon. member may go 00. There is one point to which I would like to Hon. Mr. HEWETT-Will you excuse me, Sir.
refer.
to.
(2) If so, what, if any, pecial remuneration is
His FXCELLENCY-You are certainly not in it proposed to grant for the extra work under- taken by the following members of the Hong-order now. I don't know what you are speaking kong Civil Service :-Mr Bowen Rowlands, Mr. J. Dyer Ball, Mr. A. Chapman, V.D.?
(3) Will this remuneration, if granted, be dealt with by a special vote in the Legislative Council ?
(4) if not, has the proposed amount been already included in some previous vote, if so, which vole, or will the sum granted to those officials be paid out of Miscellaneous Charges!
THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND BUILDINGS ORDINANCE.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of a bill entitled an Ordinance to amend
-+
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-In my remarks to this from expressing Council I cannot refrain extreme surprise at the attitude you hare taken up upon the question of cubioles, and I have every right to express that surprise because your Excellency has made remarks which you say are not to be criticised until the proper time comer. Your Excellency stated truly that the question of cubicles is one of the most important with which this Connoil has to deal, and you laid a certain proposal before the Council and as far as I know it was submitted to the Council for the
require strengthening, rebuilding. I think, Sir, however, that this scheme is such a good one, that such diffoulties as I have mentioned ought not to stand in the way of its being adopted. No doubt means can be found for strengthening the walls, or if that is impracticable, for rebuilding_them. It is simply and solely a question of money. There is nothing impossible in the operation.
His EXCELLENCY - Have you any idea how much money would be involved ?
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-No, but I would be glad if your Excellency would inform me.
His EXCELLENCY-At the lowest computa- tion, $8,000,000,
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-For the whole thing? His EXCELLENCY-That is correct.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-Your Excellency ap- parontly thought I was going to be knocked down by these bgares. I am not, as I was quite prepared to know that
8 considerable... expenditure would be incurral. $8,000,000 does not appear to me a very large sum to carry out a soheme which, unlike many schemes in the past, will be a thorough scheme. I think this scheme, Sir, is the only one I have ever heard of for settling the question once and for all. So far there has ben a certain amount of tinker. ing. I quite agree with your Excellency that in sanitary matters there has been considerable improvement since the plague year of 1891, but your Excellency frankly admits that the settlement of the cubicle question has failed, I don't myself feel alarmed if this very necessary matter should involve a cost of $8,0.0, 00, and I am not at all surprised to hear it will involve something in the neighbourhood of that expenditure. Your Excellency and the Council have to consider what we shall get in return for such expenditure. I ubmit we shall have an enormous sanitary improvement in the Colony, it will be an enormous boon to the Colony from the point of view of public health to have every third house in Chinatown palied down, and to have a free current of air and light going through where every third house was. I think. Sir; that it is a big scheme, but it is a scheme that should commend itself to the con- sideration of the community as deserving of the epithet thorough being applied to it and as opposed to some half hearted and dilstory mes- sures which have been carried out.
Sir.
His EXCELLENCY-Who is to bear the cost? Hon Mr POLLOCK-I am coming to that With reference to the question of at whose cost this reform is to be carried out, I certainly, Bir, don't agree with what I con- that sider the stereotyped Government view, the whole of this cost of pulling down third houses should be borne by the owners of the I think Sir, that in a adjacent houses. case like this the Government should certainly give a grant in regard to which, however, it is dificult to state the precise proportion. I simply throw out the matter tartatively for discussion. We will have to threeh ant the exact the amount of compensation to be assessed:
If you ask me to give my idea I