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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
Generally speaking, the effect will be the elimination of verandahs on the upper storeys of high buildings hereafter erected, but balconies of greater projection than hitherto will be permissible.
The tendency will be to dispense with verandah piers from all new buildings erected on streets less than 75 feet wide. On these streets, balconies in the lower storeys will be permissible with a projection extending to the line of the kerb.
Although there are many other minor alterations, the remainder of the Bill substantially follows the existing Ordinance.
With these remarks, Your Excellency, I beg to move the first reading of this Bill.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a first time.
Objects and Reasons.
The "Objects and Reasons" for the Bill were stated as follows:
1. One of the recommendations in the Report of the Director of Medical and Sanitary Services on the need for re-organization of the Medical and Sanitary Services is that Regulations regarding the construction of buildings should come under a Buildings Ordinance.
2. Hitherto this subject has been dealt with under the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance (No. 1 of 1903).
3. It is felt that there are disadvantages in mixing provisions as to the design and construction of buildings, which concern mainly the Public Works Department, with provisions relating to house-cleansing and the prevention of disease, which are the special concern of the Sanitary and Medical Departments.
4. This Ordinance extracts from Ordinance No. 1 of 1903 (which it is intended shortly to repeal and replace by another Ordinance or Ordinances dealing with Sanitation and the Pre- vention of Disease) those provisions which deal with the construc- tion of buildings and concern the Public Works Department and amends them where amendment is considered necessary.
5. A Table of Correspondence attached to the Bill shews the origin of its various clauses and the nature of the amendments.
ST. JOHN AMBULANCE ORDINANCE.
THE HON. SIR WILLIAM SHENTON moved the first reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to further and protect the activities in Hong Kong of the St. John Ambulance Association and the St.
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