November 13, 1909.]
Hon. Mr. STEWART-Your Excellency, in view of the statement which you have made, I beg leave to withdraw my resolution.
THE KING 8 BIRTHDAY.
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Hon. Mr. STEWART asked-(1.) Is it a fact that, in the original instance, the postponement of the King's Birthday elebrations was ordered by the Secretary of State without any previous reference of the matter to or consultation with the Government of this Colony ?
(2) If so, will the Government convey to the Secretary of State a respectful intimation that such treatment is resented in the Colony?
(3) In view of the fact that the well-known date of the birthday of His Britannic Majosty was chosen for the obsequies of the late Dowager Empress of China some weeks ago, and that up to last Friday the Secretary of State gave no sign that he considered that the claims of the latter overrode those of the former in this British Colony, has the Government any information as to the reason for this sudden change of attitude?
The COLONIAL SECRETARY replied: 1. Yes.
2. The questions put forward by the hon. member and the replies given will be transmitted to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
3. No.
A PUBLIC NUISANCE.
Hon. Mr. STEWART asked-Is it necessary to the work on the Post Office that the plot of Government Land between the Law Courts the Praya should be largely occupied as workmen's dwellings?
How many people are housed nightly in the quarters which the contractor is allowed to maintain there, and what rent, if any, does he draw from their occupation? Are all the people housed there engaged in work on the Post Office
And are we to understand that the public may be asked to put up with the nuisance created by the condition of the plot in question for the year or more during which the Post Office will be in course of construction?
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied. J. No.
2. There are at present over 30 men housed nightly in the workshop quarters. These are masons brought over, after the last typhoon which destroyed their matsheds, from the Ma Tau Kok Quarry, from which stone for the Post Office is prepared. They will in a few days return to the Ma Tau Kok sheds, which are being rebuilt. The contractor draws no rent for housing those people, who are all engaged on Post Office work,
3. This answer disposes of the 3rd question.
THE CEMETERY ORDINANCE.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the third reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to set apart certain Crown Land to be used as a burial ground for persons professing the Chris- tian religion.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY Seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
TRADE MARKS AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, Council went into Committee to resume con- sideration of the Bill entitled " An Ordinance to amend the law relating to trade marks.”
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-Your Excellency, Two days ago I received a letter from the Colonial Secretary enclosing seven or eight suggested amending clauses. It appears to me, although I am not an expert in trade marks, tha the matter is a very important one. There are a large number of merchants in the Colony who are interested in trade marks, either on their own behalf or on behalf of the firms at home which they represent, and it appears to me in view of the importance of the matter and also, as I understand, in view of the fact that there is no urgent necessity for the passing of this Bill, that it would be very advisable that an opportunity should be given to the merchants interested to Sea these clauses before the Bill passes its third reading. That being so, I would ask your Excellency to be good enough to allow the Bill to remain in committee until the merchants of the Colony have had an op portunity of seeing what the amendments are. When I received the letter I circula'ed a memorandum to the committee of the Chamber of Commerce, but it was impossible for us to discuss the question in the interval, As representing the Chamber of Commerce, I am not prepared to express any opinion on the
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. proposals now before the Committee, and cannot see that there can be any objection to allowing the matter to stand over. I would ask your Excellency to do this, and the Chamber of Commerce will deal with it as promptly as possible. I do not think the Bill ought to be put to the third reading until merchants have had an opportunity of expressing their opinion if they wish to do so. The question is a very important one.
HIS EXCELLENCY-We shall be very glad to defer the Bill. We wish to have your views. Hon. Mr. HEWETT That is my reason for asking for postponement. I propose, if you will allow me, to hand in the memorandum which I circulated to the committee, which will. justify my reason for asking that the Bill be deferred.
HIS EXCELLENCY-We will defer the Com- mittee stage on this Bill, but I would ask you to expedite the matter as much as possible, as the session is much beyond the usual date, I would like the Council to meet again on Friday, the 26th November.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-I am much obliged to your Excellency for your consideration in the matter.
THE HARBOUR OF REFUGE BILL.
Council went into Committee on the Bill entitled "An Ordinance to authorize the Con- struction and Maintenance of a Harbour of Refuge upon and over certain portions of the Sea Bed and Foreshore situated upon the Harbour frontage at Taikoktsui, Mongkoktsui, and Yaumati, Kowloon, in this Colony."
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved an amend-. ment to section 2 (b) by adding the following, words: "And do not when completed interfere with direct access to the sea along the whole of the western frontages of Kowloon Marine Lots 32 and 49, provided that the sea wall pro tecting any reclamation of the foreshore or seabed adjoining and lying to the south of Kowloon Marine Lot 32 shall not be altered 80 as to extend to the westward of the position shown ou the said plan.” He said the amendment was merely to make clear an alteration in the plan (submitted) and also to make clear that the access to the marine lots would not be interfered with. The. amendment had been accepted by the owner of Kowloon Marine Lot 32.
Hon. Mr. OSBORNE-Does that mean that you can do anything else you like in front of a man's lot?
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The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS No. Hon. Mr. STEWART-The line of the shore, is marked "Harbour of Refuge boundaries.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-That is for the convenience of workmen.
Hon. Mr. STEWART-Does it mean that you can bring any number of junks you please opposite the houses there and leave them there during the time this breakwater is building?
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-That would be very unreasonable.
Hon. Mr. OSBORNE-Is there any danger of the rights of these marine lot holders being affected?
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-Lots that are likely to be affected are provided for in the Bill.
Hon. Mr. STEWART- You say it is not likely you will put junks in such a way as will prove inconvenient. But you will do it if you like? The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I think the hon. member may rest assured that there will be no unreasonable interference. During the con- struction of the work junks will no doubt have to come and go, but there will be no inter- erence with the access to the sea.
Hon Mr. STEWART That would work in the ordinary way if there were no special powers taken for the breakwater. I only ask what are the special powers for. You make a line all round the plan and say that within this you are going to take special powers.
The reply of the DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS was inaudible.
Hon. Mr. STEWART-You are not going to make any works along the foreshore?
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-No. Hon. Mr. STEWART Then why provide for deviation all the way from the breakwater to the shore? I don't see what the building of the breakwater has got to do with the sea wall at all.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-You want to show the area of your harbour of refuge.
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Hon. Mr. STEWART-If that is the object of the line then it is understandable.
Hrs EXCELLENCY-Supposing dredging operations were required in front of those lots," they would take place within the red line, not outside.
Hon. Mr. OSBORNE-Yes, but this apparently gives the Government the right, say, to put a stone pier opposite a man's lot..
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-I take it, your Excellency that if the Government are spending a large sum of money in making a valuable harbour of refuge they must have power to do any reasonable amount of work in that area. It appears to me that the Government proposal is a perfectly reasonable one, and I don't see anything to object to. We can trust to the Government officials and the assurance given by your Excellency.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-As for the rights of marine holders they are amply provided for in the Bill. And as a matter of fact no marine lot holder has objected to the Bill.
Hon. Mr. OSBORNE The whole point is whether there is anything in this Bill which will affect the rights of marine lot owners.
HIS EXCELLENCY-They have all seen the Bill and discussed it, and do not object, or what objections they have made have been met.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-The marine lat holders affected are mentioned.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Have you any amend- ment you wish to make to the clause?
Hon. Mr. OSBORNE - No.
The section was then approved. Sub-section 4 of the same clause was altered to read "The Governor may instead of mak ing an award under this section enter into an agreement with any claimant for the com- promise or settlement of any claim on such terms as the Governor may think fit.”
Council them resumed.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the third reading of the Bill.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was rea a third time and passed.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Council will adjourn until Friday, 26th inst.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of Finance Committee was then held, the COLONIAL SECRETARY presiding. The following vote was passed,
The Governor recommended the Council to... vote a sum of Thirty-three thousand five hun dred and ten Dollars ($33,510) in aid of the vote, Public Works, Recurrent, Miscellaneous, Typhoon and Rainstorm Damages.
The CHAIRMAN-The total damage by the last typhoon amounted to $50,370. This supplemen tary vote is required to supplement the vote on the Estimates.
INDUSTRY AND LITIGATION.
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During the hearing of a case at the Supreme Court on Monday Mr. Bowley, when addressing his Lordship, experienced some difficulty in making himself heard. Finding that the noise continued, he asked his Lordship if the Hongkong Hotel Company were to be allowed to cut iron girders while the Court was sitting. submitted that the noise from that and from the Post Office made it impossible to conduct the business of the Court. His Lordship made some remark which could not be heard at the Press. table, and the clerk went out apparently to find a policeman to instruct him to ask the offending parties to cease making a noise. Whether he found the policeman or whether the workmen refused to obey the expressed wishes of the Court is not known, but the noise did not cease and the solicitors had to struggle along as well as they could under adverse conditions.
It is reported that the Korean Househol will present a sum of Y 1 0,00 to the family of the late Prince Ito besides making a grant of Y. 30,000 as a contribution toward the funeral expenses. At the Korean Court during his lifetime the late Prince was given the treat- ment of a Prince of the Blood, and the proposed allowances are said to be in consideration of this honour.