HONGKONG DAILY PRESS
"POSTMASTER-GENERAL
GIVEN
GENERAL
DUAL
POSITION OF JUDGE AND PROSECUTOR"
ATTENDANCE
Telecommunications Amendment AT COUNCIL Bill Strongly Criticised By The
Hon. Mr. M. K. Lo
:
STRONG CRITICISM OF CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE BILL TO AMEND THE 'TELECOMMUNICATIONS ORDINANCE, 1939, was voiced by the Hon. Mr. M. E. Lo, "Chinese Unofficial Member, at yesterday's meeting of the Legislative Council, at which a heavy agenda was dealt with. Amongst the points attacked by Mr. Lo were that the Bill put the Postmaster-General in the dual position of judge and prosecu- tor" and gave a public officer, including a police constable " more powers police constable in England enjoyed."-
“COMMERCIAL AND CONTRACTUEL, POLITICAL & MILITARY” REASONS.
Following a reply by the Attorney-General, Hon. Mr. C. G. Alabaster, who gave "commercial and çon- tractuel, political and military reasons why the Bill must at once become law, the Hon. Mr. Lo asked for a division, when the Bill was passed by 16 votes to 1, all other Members, Officlal and Unofficial, returning
Aye's,"
contamination. squads.
"than a
ASSESSMENT
SIR H. POLLOCK'S QUESTION Pursuant to notice, Sir Henry Pollock asked: Has the assessment for the year 1939/1940 been com- pleted? If so, will the Govern- ment give the figures of the new rateable values as compared with those for 1938/19392
The Colonial Secretary replied: of the new valua-
Valuation Valuation 1933-1939 1939-1940
A
Other Bills passed at the serve medical stores and the ac-The totals meeting, following second and quisition of respirators for issue to tions for the several divisions of third readings, were:-"A Bill essential services and of protective the rating area are shown in the de following table, together with to amend the Merchant Ship- clothing and equipment for
comparative figures for the assess- ping Ordinance, 1899"; "A Bill
In addition, it is proposed to ment year 1938/39: to continue and amend the
make grants,
District. a basis to be on Sterling Salaries Conversion
agreed, to assist public utility Ordinance, 1937"; "A Bill to companies for safeguarding essen- City of amend the Naval Volunteer tal
services. Plans have Blo Victoria $21,346,821 $24.657,053 Ordinance, 1933, and provide been prepared for other measures. HK. Villages 3,828,927 4.279,463 for Naval Defence"; "A Bill including the digging of trenches. Kowloon 8.118.336 10,085,784 to amend the Rating Ordi- which will not be actually put tr New Kloon 2,208.738 2,892,772 nance, 1901"; "A Bill to amend the Dangerous Goods Ordi- nance, 1873"; and "A Bill to amend the Pensions Ordi- nance, 1932."
BANKNOTE ISSUE BILL..
In connection with the Banknote Issue Bill, which was introduced in Council for the first time, the Attorney-General said: "I think It! is essential that this Bill is passed into law before July 12 and, as it is not anticipated that there will
hand until an emergency arises.
After careful consideration the conclusion has been reach-" ed that apart from the enor- › Mous expense entailed it is not practicable to attempt any large scale schemes of protec÷ tion for the general public such as tannels, steel shelters and the ke
Underground Shelters
$35,502.622 $41.915,072
Present at the meeting. were:-- Els Excellency the Governor, Sir Geoffry North- cole; Brigadier T. McLeod.. representing His Excellency the General Officer Command- tax Troops; The Colonial Secretary, Hon. Mr. N. L. Smith; the Attorney-General, Hon. Mr. C...G.. Alabaster; the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, Hon. Mr. W. 1. Carrie, the Financial Secretary, Hon. Mr. S. Calne; the Harbour Master, Hon. Comdr. G. F. Hole, R.N. (retd); the Direc- †tor of Public Works, Hon. Mr. (A. G. W. Tickle: the' Commis- sioner of Police, Hon. Mr. C. G. Perdue; the Director of Medical Services, Hon. Dr. P. S. Selwyn-Clarke; and "the following honourable unofficial members:-Sir Henry Pollock, Mr. T. N. Chan, Mr. M. K. Lo, Mr. S. H. Dodwell, Mr. Leo D'Almada e Castro, Jnr., Mr. T. E. Pearce, Mr. W. N., T. Tam. Mr. J. E. Bousfield: 'and Mr. C. C. Burgess (Depaty Clerk of Councils).
SUPPLEMENTARY EXPENDITURE
OF $1,959,140
WIDOWS, ORPHANS Hon. Mr. M. K. Lo
PENSION FUND
to
Moving the resolution relating
Queries A.R.P.
Provisions
Following the meeting of the Legislative Council yesterday, a meeting of the Finance Committee was held, presided over by the Co- lonial Secretary, Hon. Mr. N. I Smith, at which supplementary
The suns were made up of two
the Widows and Orphans' Pension Fund, the Colonial Secre- tary said:-On the June 1, last year, this Council adopted a res olution modifying a former resolu- Tunnels or other underground tion of August 2. 1902, laying down shelters could, of course, be con- the rate
of exchange at which votes totalling $1.959,140 were ap- be another meeting of this Council structed, but the configuration of pensions under the Widows' and proved. before July 12, I now move that the land renders it impossible to Orphans' Pension Scheme express- the Standing Orders be suspended place them so that access could be ed in dollars should be paid in lots, one, totaling $181,360 for In so much as prevents this Bill gained to them from the centres England. It was then the inten-general needs; the other, $1,777,780 passing through all its stages to- or dense population
within the tion to pay all such pensions for Air Raid Precaution provisions day."
few minutes period of warming awarded in future at the current being for the carrying out of With regard to this Bill, official which, is all that can be expected. rate of exchange.
the policy as regards A.RP. an- description of which reads: "A B
The existence of such shelters It has since, however, been renounced in the statement made to extend for a further period the would, therefore, be merely a presented by certain officers that by the Colonial Secretary at the powers of the Chartered Bank of temptation to people to leave the they have an equitable claim to Council meeting. which had lust India, Australia and China, the relatively greater safety of their payment at the conventional rate concluded. Hongkong and Shanghai Banking homes. It appears to be certain of 3/- a dollar, on the grounds. Corporation and the Mercantile that in most cases: such fugitives that the salaries or pensions upon Bank of India Limited to make, would fall to reach their objectives which their contributions to the total, the Hon. Mr. M. K. Lo said: In connection with the ARP. issue, re-issue and circulate notes." in time. the Financial Secretary had pre- viously issued the following state- ment:-
Householders are, therefore, recommended to lake what- ever steps they can to streng- then the ground floor of their houses, as advised by the Air Bald Precautions Officer.
The legal powers of the banks in Hongkong to issue notes expire on July 12, 1939. It will be néces- sary as a future date to revise the conditions« on which notes arc Issued, but meanwhile it is desired gas an
of issue.
As regards protection against organisation is to be set
Nothing Done
scheme have, been calculated, al-I hope the public will appreciate, though nominally expressed in from the announcement in Coun- dollars, were actually equivalent cil, that nothing can be done and to sterling salaries at the fixed nothing will be done so far as rate referred to, owing to the affording shelters to the general operation of exchange compen- public is concerned. I have heard sation allowances or other special that Government has exchange arrangements.
Government has recognized that in certain of these cases an equitable claim exists and it is, therefore, desired ...« to have authority to make pay- ment at the special rate in such cases after consideration by the. Executive Council. The general position will, how-
to enable the" banks concerned to up which will enable civilians to carry on as at present, and the purchase respirators at cost "price. proposed ordinance accordingly The respirators will be kept for provides for the extension from the purchaser by Govemment in time to time to the banks' powers an air-conditioned store and Issued on demand. A further an- The proposed new ordinance Isnouncement as to the details of concerned only with the machinery this scheme and as to how appll- for the issue of notes and will incations under it should be made lever, remain that ordinary dollar no way affect the present arrange-will be published later by the Air pensions under the Widows' and ments for maintaining the ex-Raid Precautions Omcer. change value of the Hongkong` dollar by means of the operations of the Exchange Fund. ·
Heavy Expenditure
Orphans Pension Scheme will not
be entitled to any rate of ex-
obtained
advice from, various committees in regard to the whole of ARP. matters affecting Hongkong. As 1 have no knowledge at all, I really cannot say how far the décision reached by Government is really correct.
the
For instance, I cannot be satisfied that some kind of air protection to the very poor in very densely-populated districts is not feasible, bat nothing has been put for- ward.
Statement Desired The honourable member went on
The carrying out of this pro- change other than the current gramme has involved and will rate, wherever paid. Involve expenditure very sub- I how move that the resolution to say that if the public, after BUDGET "AND A.R.P. stantially in excess of the provi- relating to Widows and Orphans hearing the announcement, felt The Colonial Secretary said:sion approved in the 1939 Es Pension Fund passed on the 1st dissatisfied, and made some move When the Budget for 1939 was timates. Apart from the Incl-day of June, 1938, be rescinded and in the matter, it was possible that introduced last year, it was in- dental expenses of the Air Raid that the following resolution be further might be heard on the dicated that the exact measures Precautions Department that pro-substituted therefor:—
now
to be taken in the sphere of air vision consisted of the gums of i raid precautions were still under $250,000 for all kinds of mobiliza- consideration. A full survey of tion stores and $200,000 for public the requirements was then being works, including a new store, made and on its completion a The further expenditure this programme covering the essential year for which covering authority minimum was submitted to the w
be required exceeds Secretary of State and his expert $1,500,000 and
the
necessary advisers.
formal votes will be submitted for or Finance The necessary measures include the consideration
afternoon's the provision of sandbags for the Committee at this protection of public buildings and meeting. Estimates for further structural alterations such expenditure next year will be in- buildings, the addition of supple-cluded. in the ordinary Estimates mentary fire appliances and re- for 1940-41.
}
to
POP-PICKING UP
I HAVEN'T SEEN A SIGN
OF MY HUSBAND SINCE WE STARTED SPRING CLEANING!
It is hereby resolved that the resolution of this Council adopt
subject in Coanel
"I would like to ask whether it is not possible, to make some kind
FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 1939. PAGE
DRESSING
D
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DRESSING CASES WITH STERLING
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WRITING ATTACHE CASES
.
LANE • CRAWFORD LTD.
The House of Quality & Service
No two ways about it
"unless
you com sider the two way stretch of the "Laster" in
SKIPPIES
ELITE STYLES
SBELL HOUSE.
HK STATISTICAL DEPARTMENT
A memorandum on studies con- ed on August 2, 1902, requiring of a statement in connection with ducted with a view to establishing that pensions paid in England ARP. matters, food-supply, etc. a Statletical Department in Hong- from the Widows and Orphans' What I mean is, although most of kong, made by Mr. D. Kelvin-Stark Pension Fund be paid at the us have heard of the workings of white on leave, was tabled to Legis rate of 3/- to the dollar shall this. Committee and that Commit-lative Council yesterday. not apply to any pension grant-]tee, nothing has been put before The report, which covers all "as- ed on or after June 1, 1938, ex-this Council to show how well or pects of the subject, is far too cept in special cases where the how ill the Colony is prepared to voluminous to publish. Governor in Council has deem-meet an attack if it came." edit equitable to sanction pay- ment at that rate.
The resolution was carried unan-
imously.
Not Relevant
relevant to the votes just „taken; The President: I think your at being more in connection with titude is perfectly correct and not the announcement made in Coup- unexpected, but it is not strictly lefl.,
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