30-
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-That question can come under the regulations of the railway.
Hon. Mr. OSBORNE Grass fires in winter are liable to be caused by sparks. The engines at home are fitted with appliances to pretent this.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-The matter will come under clause 32 management and work of railways." It is a matter of management.
Hon. Mr. OSBORNE-Thero is a law to compel people to do what the railway want, but nothing to compel the railway.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-It-will appear in Hansard.
On Council resuming, the bill was read a third time, and became law.
COMPANIES (LOCAL REGISTERS) AMEND- MENT ORDINANCE.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Hill entitled an Ordinance to amend the Companies (ocal Registers) Or- dinance, 1907. In doing so he said-The object of this ordinance is to facilitate the working of the Companies (Local Registers) Ordinance by enabling the Registrar of Com- panies to entertain an application without the necessity of referring it to the Governor-iu- Council. The bill provides, while giving the Registrar discretion, that he shall be subject to any instructions he may receive from the Government. The amendment, it is believed, move that a clauso will be found to be in the interests of the
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-We can add that to the regulations.
Hon. Mr. OSBONE-But the railway is not compelled to. A private railway would be com- pelled to take all precautions.
The ATTORNEY-GSNERAL-There is no need to put it in the bill.
Hon. Mr. OSBORNE
be inserted.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-Submit a clause. You needn't do it to-day, though.
The bill was left in committee, and Council resumed.
STONECUTTERS ISLAND AMENDMENT
ORDINANCE.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled an ordinance to amend The Stonecutters' Island Ordinance 1889. In doing so he said-The object of this bill is to prescribe a limited distance within which junks and other craft may make fast or anchor. The island has now been handed over to the military authorities.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
public.
The COL NIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
Council then resolved itself into a committee of the Council to consider the bill clause by clause.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved that the following words be added: "A fee of 10 shall be paid to the Registrar for an authorisation under this section.
Hou. Mr. GRESSON-Does this affect the Shanghai ompanies chiefly?
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-All companies outside the Colony that want to keep registers, It will be a convenience to them, but entails a good deal of extra work.
Hon. Mr. OSBORNE—IS $10 enough, Sir? The
ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I should have
Council then went into committee to consider said $100. the Bill.
On clause 3,
Hon. Mr. STEWART-The object of the bill is I suppose to prevent anyone landing on the island who is not entitled to and who might be an undesirable. I take it there will be fo objection to bathing parties going nearer shore than 100 yards in full day light, the military being there to see what they are doing. I understand that, owing to the sweep of the tide, if a launch lies out more than 100 yards from the shore it is uconvenient to people who are not strong swimmers, and a hard- ship would be entailed on a considerable number of people who cannot get away early enough to bathe elsewhere, but who have just time to get as far as Stonecutters. I should have thought that if some words were inserted such as “after dark" or "from eight in the evening till six in the morning the case would be met.
The GENERAL OFFICER-COMMANDING ---It is not intended to apply to hathing parties. The power is desired by the Officer Commanding to enable him to deal with the sampan people who come round there, and foul the fort and land and steal wood after dark. We had great difficulty in keeping them off the island, and the power desired is to enable the military to deal with the large number of people who swarm round there. It will be used with dis- cretion. We don't want to prevent anyone bathing. As a matter of fact this will be rather to the advantage of bathers, as the sampan people come there just where parties want to bathe and throw rubbish overboard.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-It is a wise power for the military to have.
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Hon. Mr. OSBORNE-Is it payable once a year?
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[July 10, 19 ́9.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Council will adjourn until Thursday next.
FINANCE COMMITTEE..
A meeting of the Finance Committee was then held, the COLONIAL SECRETARY presiding. The following roto was passed :--
CHARITABLE SERVICES.
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of Five hundred Dollars ($500) in aid of the vote, Charitable Services, Other Charitable Allowances.
The CHAIRMAN. -I am sorry to say we have had so many calls upon us for the first six months of the year, that we have practically spent the amount voted, and we ask you to vote another $500 for the next six months.
SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on July 6 ht the Board Room. Mr. E. D. C. Wolfe presided, and there were present Hon. Mr. A. W. brewin (Registrar-General), Mr. A. Shelton Hooper, Hon. Mr. E. A. Hewett, Mr. Lauhu ak, Mr. Ho Kom Tong, Dr. F. Clark (Medical Officer of Health), Dr. Pearse (Assistant Medical Officer of Health), and Mr. W. Bowen Rowlands (Secretary).
WELCOMING THE NEW PRESIDENT. Hon. Mr. HEWETT-Mr. President, before we proceed to the regular' business this after- noon I hope you will allow me to congratulate you upou your appointment, and also welcome you most sincerely on behalf of the unofficials as our new president. You will understand that in the past unofficial members have been constrained on occasion to criticise the Govern-
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-Yes. Hon. Mr. OSBORNE-I move that we make it ment, and the action of the Department, in $100.
Hon. Mr. GRESSON-I think $100 is too much. If Shanghai people think we are dis- criminating against them, it will have bad results. A lot of the companies are very small, and some are private. I should think that $25 was quite sufficient, aud move as an amendment that that amount be substituted.
On the amendment being put to the meeting it was lost by ten votes to two,
The motion was then put and carried by the same number of votes, the Hon. Mr. W. J. Gresson and the Hon. Mr. Murray téwart dissenting.
Council then resumed, and it was reported that the bill had passed through the committee stages with slight amendments.
As it is an
The ATTO · NEY-GENE-AL advantage to the public and a general conveni- ence that the bill should become law as soou us possible. I move that it be read a third time.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. Hon. Mr. MURRAY STEWART-I object. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-Then I do not press it.
The third reading of the bill was deferiod. INTERPRETATION (FURTHER AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE.
The ATTORNEY-GENFRAL moved the second reading of the bill entitled an ordinance to amend the Interpretation Amendment Ordin- ance, 1908. In doing so he said -This bill has become necessary because of a mistake in the Hon. Mr. STEWART-Yes, so long as it is Ordinance we desire to amend. But for the understood by the public that there is no objec-preamble it would be difficult to give any particu tion to their bathing within 100 yards from the shore.
The ATTO NEY-GENERAL-Your object will be attained by having called attention to the matter.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Do I understand there will be objection to anybody bathing there in the day time?
The GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING
It is only to prevent sampan Absolutely none. people coming there. Nobody would be so narrow-minded as all that.
Hon. Mr. STEWART- -It is perfectly clear is it not, if you use the words" native craft?"
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-Yes. Will the words "junks or sampans suit you?
++
Hon. Mr. STEWART-There might be an undesirable steam launch. If the assurance of the General Officer Commanding is minuted, I think the object I had in view will be fulfilled:
lar meaning to the Ordinance as it was passed.
Council then resolved itself into committee to deal with the bill clause by clause.
On resuming, the ATTORNEY-GENERAL re- ported that the bill had passed through com- mittee without amendment, and moved that it be read a third time.
certain matters relating to Sanitary affairs. As the millenium is not yet, we will have to du the same again. Should occasions for criticism arise, you will of course understand that any criticisms are entirely without the purple element, and that all officials are, no more than unofficials, working for one end- the general good of the Colony. Of that I feel sure, although I am only authorised to speak for the unofficial members. (Hear, hear.)
The PRESIDENT-Gentlemen, I must thank you very much for the way you have received the remarks made by Mr. Hewett. I noticed that on the paper with the letter stating I had been appointed, there were no dissentient min. utes. I may say with regard to the remarks which have just been made, that I know I can reckon apen the co-operation of members of this Board in carrying out the task which I know to be an enormous one. I am quite satisfied that any action on my part you will understand is done with the very best intentions. It may be that I will make mistakes, and I am sure that my acts in the Department will be criticised. I know I will have your co-operation, and I hope your criticism will be accompanied by advice, on which advice I shall to a great extent rely in order to make the performance of my duty successful, knowing as I do that members are not only prominent citizens of the Colony, but many of them have distinguished themselves elsewhere. I thank you very much for the kind reception to this, my inaugural meeting. (Applause.)
PROPOSED CEMETERY FOR BUDDHISTS.
The following letter from Government rela- tive to the question of opening a cemetery for Buddhists was read:
Colonial ecretary's Office,
29th June, 1909. SIR-In reply to your letter of the 15th of last April I am directed to state for the in- The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the formation of the Board that H.E. the Governor bill was read a third time and passed.
STAMP ORDINANCE AMENDMENT.
1
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL mored the third reading of the Bill entitled an rdinance to amend the Stamp Ordinance, 1907, as amended by The Stamp (Amendment) Ordinance, 1902.
The COLONIAL SECRET BY seconded, and the bill was read a third time and passed.
PATENTS ORDINANCE AMENDMENT.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I more that this bill be deferred for consideration at the next meeting of Council.
has under consideration the question of open. ing a cemetery for Buddhists. The Director of Public Works has estimated that to prepare for this purpose an
area in the Sookunpo valley capable of containing 1,000 graves would cost approximately $12,000 and that some additional expenditure would be required for a path or road to the site. His Excellency hopes to provide for this expenditure in next year's budget, but in the meantime it is proposed to set apart and dedicate a portion of the Colonial Cemetery for Christians and in