12509
Red 9 FEB 90
་
The
Daily Press.
HONGKONG, DECEMBER 25TH, 1894.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Logislative Council was held yesterday. There were present:---
His Excellency the Governor, Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON, KC.M.O.
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Acting Colonial Secretary,
Hon. W. M. GOODMAN, Attorney-General. Hon. N. G. MITCHELL INNES, Colonial Treasurer.
Hou. F. A. COOPER, Director of Public Works. Hou. R. M. RUMSEY, Harbour Master.
Hen. C. P. CHATER.
Hon. Ho KAI.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, C.M.G.
Hơn. A. heCON CHIE.
Mr. J. G. T. BUCKLE, Acting Clerk of ! Councils.
INSANITARY DWELLINGS BILL.
The Council resumed committee on seotion 12 of the Insanitary Dwellings Bill.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-Your Excellency, since last meeting, at which the senior unofficial member called the attoution of this Connoil to the serious effect this clause might have on certain properties lying between Queen's Road and the Praya, I have carefully considered the amendments which might be. rightly made to meet his objections. There is no doubt the circumstances in this colony are | somewhat different from what they are in other places, and the strict enforcement of this clause might cause a considerable sacritics of property. On referring to the last by-laws passed by the Birmingham Corporation, I find that where the Corporation is satisfied that great loss to pro. perty would accrue from the width of the new streets, they have power to impose less rigid restrictions with regard to the width of the street and the height of the buildings. The Birmingham by-law provides that not less than 24 feet shall be left, which is considerably in excess of what is proposed in this section. I would therefore move the following a usud:cent ---the clause to read as follows:-
"No building shall boreafter be erected of a greater height than in accordance with the fol- lowing rules:-(a) —In the case of any existing street where the length of such street does not exceed 420 fast, provided always that such street is clear of any obstruction including | verandalia and balconies either vertical or lateral throughout its entire length as measured from the main thoroughfares on to which it leads, the height of any building hereafter erected shall not exceed 35 foot where the width of such street on which the principal front of such building abuts does not exceed 15 feat; where the width of such street exceeds 15 foot but does not exceed 20 feet, the height of such building shall not exceed 45 feet. (5.)-In all other cases, the height of a building shall not exczeú 25 feet where the width of the street on which the prin- } sipal front of ach building abuts does not exceed 15 foot. Where the width of such street exceeds 15 feet but does not exceed 20 feet, the height of such building shall not exceed 40 feet. Where the width of such street exceeds 20 feat but does not exceed 25 foot, the height of anch building shall not exceed 45 feet Where the width of such street exceeds 25 fest bat does not exceed 30 feet, the height of such building aball unt exceed 52 feet. Where the width of | anch street exceeds 30 funt but does not exceed
35 foot the bright of such ding shall not! exceed 65 feet. Where the 1th of such street exceeds 35 feet but does not exosed 40 fast the
height of such building shall not exceed ́5 faut. No building shall exceed 75 feet in height above, the level of the street, without the permission of į the Sanitary Board."
Then, in order to provide for the improve. ment of streets as regarde height of buildings in any private lane that may hereafter be regamed by the Government, I propos that the following sub-section be added: For the purposes of this section any building breafter erected so that its principal front abuts on any private street resumed by the Government and widen- ed to the extent of ous-half of its existing width shall he deemed to com's within the provisions of rule b."
Hou. C. P. CHATER-Your Excellency, I must express my sincere thanks to you, on behalf of myself and the unofficial members, for the kind consideration you have given to this clause. I accept the amendment of the Director of Pub- lic Works with a slight rider to the first rule. It would not alter the Bill materially, and I feel sure that if the Government accepted my rider it į would not in any way interfere with the objects in view. I therefore propose that the words the principal front of such building abuta shall not exceed 15 feet" should be altered to 14 feet. And in the next clause I would suggest that 75 be altered to 76 feet. With these alterations I should be very pleased to second the amend- ment,
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-I am prepared to accept the alterations.
Hon. E. R. BELILI08-I do not think the Bill provides up to what point a building shall be measured for the purpose of determining the height.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-That is provided for at the end of the section :-* The height of any building shall be measured from the level of the street to the underside of the waves of such building, at their point of junction with the main walls thereof."
The section was then passed nem. con. The Council resumed and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Gentlemen, this Bill hav- ing passed its third reading it only remains for me to thank the Sanitary Board, the Housing Committee, and the nnofficial members, and es pecially the senior unofficial member, for the ad- vice and assistance they bare given to the Go- vernment in the matter. It is quite true that several of the sections of this Bill have been married by the official majority; and I am very sorry indeed there was not more nnanimity of opinico in regard to these dis pated provisions. With refourence to section 10, which was referred to very strongly by Dr. Ho Kai-resp cting domisiliary visits-f wil give my personal guarantee that these douici- liary visits, when necessary, shall be regalated with the very greatest care-applause)- id if there is any report of andne interference. I will ask the Registrar-General to inquire in to the matter and report to ne fully in regard to it. (Applause). What the Govern- ment feels in regard to this measure is this, that in a colony where the shipping is so enormous and commerce so valuable no possible precaution that may prevent a recurreng of the plague or any other epidemic should be neglented. We hope that this Act will be effective and that its provisions will be cheerfully acquiese xd in, to the benefit of the general health of the olony and to the prosperity of the community at large. I now adjourn the Conncil and will let you know the date of our next ma wsting. In the meantime I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. (Applause.)
Hon. C. P. CHATE-Ou bekalf of the un- official members of the Legislative Council, I beg to realproate the very kind wishes your Ex- cellency has just expressed towards us.