May 30, 1908,]
England should only be taken after due con- sideration of the results which they will entail. I trust therefore that we may hope that both the great parties in England will recognise the necessity of dealing with this question also in a gradual manner and not by hasty and arbitrary legislation,
The mover of the resolution asked why the Government did not enquire what the precise terms of the statement in Parliament were. The telegram was in itself, I think, sufficiently explicit. We know practically the words used in the House of Commons and in the long telegram which I sent in reply I gave every opportunity to the Secretary of State if he wished to add anything to the information which he gave in the first telegram. I suppose that his view was that it would be rufficient to await the receipt of the despatch which he had promised and the receipt of the despatch which he had agreed to await from myself. I have already replied to the only other question put to me by the mover of this resolution which was practically whether there was any secret sting in the telegram which prompted me to refrain from quoting it in full. I may assure the Council that there was nothing of the sort, in fact the purport of the telegram was practically as I gave it. The resolution which has been moved in very eloquent terms and which has been seconded and spoken to by hon. members on my right and left in scarcely less eloquent terms is one which practically conveys a censure on the aotion of the Secretary of State and the Hone Government. I am unable to accept it but I will promise the Council that not only shall the resolution be forwarded to His Majesty's Government, but that I will forward also the Hansard copy of the debate which has taken place upon that resolution this afternoon. (applause).
|
Hon. Sir Henry Berkely-It seemsito me after the explanation given by Your Excellency to this Council that it is unnecessary for this Council to proceed to a division on the rosolution so eloquently put by the hon. member opposite. No one can but sympathise with the object of the hon member-that object being to enunciate and make clear the undoubted right of this Council to be consulted before any measure is taken or adopted which in any way affects the revenues of this colony. With that principle, I am entirely in accord and every member of the Council whether official or unofficial must, if he holds a proper view of his duties and wishes to uphold the dignity of the Council of which he is a member, also agree with it. But it is not necessary to affirm a principle until that principle has been attacked. I understand from the remarks made by Your Excellency with respect to, and in explanation of, the telegram which you have received that you have not re- ceived, as we hitherto understood, orders to take immediately measures which will affect the re- venues of this Colony. As I understand, a tele- gram has been received in which it is intimated to you that steps should be taken and that steps are to be taken and that your Excellency has communicated with the Secretary of State asking him to withhold his decision until the communication has arrived from this side and that you have put before the Secretary of State the reasons against the immediate closing of the opium dens as expressed by the l on. member who represents the Chamber of Commerce. If Your Excellency takes steps to communicate this resolution, with the Hansard report of the debate thereon, to the Secretary of State, it seems to me that all that is desired will be achieved. I yield to none in my insistence upon the independence of this Council but I reiterate that it is not right from any point of view to insist upon rights until those rights have been infringed. I would suggest that the hon. member who represents the Chamber of Commerce should be content
with the promise of His Excellency and the debate that has taken place and not press the resolution to a division (applause).
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-I suggest to the hon. mover of the resolution that the House divide on it.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-You are out of order.
withdraw the resolution. I wish it to be pat o the Council.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL-On the point of order, I would point out that before the reso- lution can be withdrawn, the permission of the Council to withdraw should be asked.
Hon Mr. POLLOCK --- No.
Hon Dr. Ho Kar-He is not asking to withdraw.
Hon Mr. STEWART-I dɔ not ask for its withdrawal.
beg your
|
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-I am not. I am speak. ing upon the question of a division. I would suggest that a divison be faken.
Heb. Mr. STEWART-I do not propose to
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I pardon: I misunderstood you,
349
The ATTORNEY GENERAL Moved the suspen- sion of the Standing Orders.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY þeconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The Bill was then read a third time,
THE EVIDENCE ORDINANCE. The ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of the bill entitled An Ordinancə to amend The Evidence Ordinance 1889. He said the alterations were purely olerical.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The Council then sat in committee to discuss the Bill, and on resuming, the Bill was read a third time.
OPIUM EXPORTATION,
The resolution was then put when there veted :-For the resolution: The Hon Mr. | Murray Stewart, Hon Dr. Ho Kai, Hoo Mr. Pollock, Hon Mr. Slade, Hon Mr. Wei Yak. The ATTORNEY General moved the second Against:-The Harbour Master, the Direc-reading of the bill entitled An Ördinanes tor of Public Works, the Colonial Secretary, to prohibit the Exportation of Prepared Opium the Registrar General, H.E Major General
to China. He sald-It is unnecessary for me Broadwood, the Attorney General, the Colonial to add anything to what Your Excellency Treasurer and Sir Henry Berkeley.
asid at the last meeting of the Council.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seoonded, and the motion was agreed to.
SUPPLEMENTARY E TIMATE.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-Sir, I rise to move the first reading of a Bill entitled An
REGISTRATION OF CHEMISTS, Ordinance to authorize the Appropriation of a The ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second Supplementary sum of one hundred and sixty-reading of the bill entitled An Ordinance to six thousand seven hundred and thirty-five provide for the registration of Chemists and dollars and eighty-five cents to defray the Druggists and to regulate the Sale of Poisons charges of the year 1907. In connection with He said-It has been found advisable to this Bill, Sir, I lay on the table the app.cpria- provide for the registration of chemists and tion account for the year 1907 in which full druggists having regard to the sale of explanations will be found of the various items poisons. The object of the Bill is to protect of excess. There is only one item which I the public by placing the dispensing of think calls for any explanation. That is the medicines in the hands of properly qualified item $10,251.85 for land exchanged at Tsim persons. The Bill is based upon the English Sha Tsui with the Hongkong and Kowloon precedent, with some modifications to meet Wharf and Godown Company on page 28 of local requirements. I may say that it has the Draft Account, It will be noted been considered acceptable by the medical that that is the only item which is not covered faculty who have had an opportunity of by a supplementary vote of this Council, the considering its details. reason being that when the money became due at the end of the year there was no time to ask the Council to vote a sum, Therefore Your Excellency desiring to pay the account before the sccounts for the year were closed issued a cheque in expectation that this Council will legalise the payment in this Supplementary Bill. If any other information is required by hon. members, I shall be happy to give it when the Bill is referred to the Finance Committee,
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
|
THE MAN MO TEMPLE.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a bill entitled An Ordinance for the transfer of the properties of the Man Mo Temple to the Tung Wa Hospital.
The Hon. Dr. Ho KAI seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
LIQUOR LICENCES,
|
The COLONIAL SECRETARY 50conded, and the motion was agreed to.
PUBLIC HEALTH AND BUILDINGS ORDINANCE, The ATTORNEY GENERAL moved that the Council go into Committee on the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend to Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903, and The Public Health and Buildings Amendment Ordinance, 1903.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
On Section 2.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI moved to omit the word sunshade from the definition of building. He said it would be a great hardship if Chinese had to send up plans, signed by an architect, of every sunshade proposed to be erected.
Hoa, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied that there were powers to waive that.
Hon. Dr. Ho Kat said successive authorities might not waive it.
It was agreed to amend the clause so as to apply only to sunshades over any street.
On clause 8,
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS said the Sanitary Board had recommended
80
amendment which Would permit of iron flues to the top of brick chimneys,
The Clause was allowed to stand over. Clauses up to, and including 43, were passed. Clause 44, which refers the demolition of the upper floors of every third insanitary house, was not considered.
His Excellency adjourned the Council for a week.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to extend the provisions of The Liquor Ordin ances 1898 and to provide for the grant of brewery licences. In doing so he said :-The objects and reasons are stated at the end of the Bill and I don't think I have much to add. It creates a new form of lience known as a brewery licence. In the principal ordinance there are two forms of licence-wholesale and retail. The wholesale licence requires a fee of $1000, and the Government having regard to the brewery which was a new institution thought it would be rather had to sadille it with such a large sum in its early stages, and this Bill was framed. It introduces a new form of licence, a brewery licence, to be granted and makes it free. It also extends the power of the The police have just discovered an extensive Governor in Council and enables him to revise robbery at the shop of an Indian merchant from time to time the fees payable in respect of named Moosa situated at the corner of liquor licences and also gives general power to D'Aguilar Street and Stanley Street. areate a new form of liquor licence. For appears that one of the employees had arranged instance where a brewery under this Ordinance with a confederate outside, and late at night the would be empowered to sell beer, and where it other man arrived at the premises and had a was afterwards found that it was desirable to large quantity of silk and drapery goods passed retail beer for consumption on the premises, out to him. Early yesterday morning one man power would be vested in the Governor was found outside the premises by a lukong who in Council to grant the required licence. regarded him with suspicion and took him to Clause 7 of the Bill gives general powers, the Police Station, but being unable to sub- The whole object is to lay down a certain basisstantiate his suspicions the man was let go. and make the law more comprehensive so that ít will not require to be amended hereafter.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The Council then sat in committes to discuss the Bill,
On the Council resuming,
|
|
It
Two hours latter the lukong discovered the same man coming from the shop with a load of silk and this time arrested him with the evidence of his theft. The prisoner, we understand, has | implicated others and the polios hop; to arrest several natives who were concerned in the robbery,