# HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
1897
16:
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held at the Council Chamber on the 18th September. Present:-
His EXCELLENCY the Governor, Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON, G.C.M.G.
Colonel ELSDALE (Officer Commanding the Forces).
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. W. M. GOODMAN (Attorney-General).
Hon. T. SERCOMBE SMITH (Colonial Treasurer).
Hon. W. CHATHAM (Acting Director of Public Works).
Hon. Ho Kai.
Hon. C. P. CHATER.
THE INFECTED MILK ORDINANCE.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I have, sir, to move the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to prevent the spread of infectious diseases arising from the consumption of contaminated or unwholesome milk. It is, of course, of the utmost importance to secure a pure milk supply in this colony. No doubt the public are indebted to those who have undertaken to supply such milk, and a company has been formed with the object of supplying milk of a high standard. At the same time, the high price of milk acts as a great temptation to unscrupulous persons to increase the quantity of milk by addition of water or by adulterating it in other ways. The report of the Government Analyst shows that last year there were several samples which he analysed in which he found that water had been added.
We cannot be at all sure as to the source from which the water so added is derived, and as one cannot help feeling, after reading the analyst's report, that there are a very large number of actual cases where water has been added to the milk without being detected, it naturally follows that some provision should be made to ensure the purity of the milk supply. The Bill before the Council deals principally with one danger, namely, dairies where animals are infected or where persons, while suffering from an infectious disease, are engaged in work, such as milking cows or handling milk.
I would like to call your attention to the objects and reasons which I have appended to the Bill and which are as follows:-"It has been found necessary in England to confer powers upon the Medical Officer of Health to inspect dairies and in case he should be of opinion that any infectious disease was caused by the consumption of milk supplied from any such dairy, he is required to report his opinion to the local authority. Thereupon, the local authority is empowered to call upon the dairyman to show cause why an order should not be made by such authority requiring him not to supply any milk from the dairy till the order should be withdrawn."
These powers were conferred, in England, by section 4 of The Infectious Diseases (Prevention) Act, 1890. The present Ordinance, suggested by the Medical Officer of Health, proceeds on similar lines, having regard to local circumstances.
Section 5, which is based upon the Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops Orders of the Local Government Board in England, provides a penalty in the case of a man allowing any infected person to milk animals, assist in the conduct of the dairy, or reside in such part of the dairy as may be used for the housing of cattle or storage of milk.
It is hoped that the fact of such an Ordinance being brought into force in this colony will enable the Medical Officer of Health to exercise more effective supervision over the milk supplies of the colony and cause dairymen to exercise greater vigilance to prevent the possibility of contamination of the milk sold by them.
As to the term "local authority," we have not got a local authority here in the sense in which it is used in the English Act, the nearest approach to a local authority we have here being the Governor in Council. I do not anticipate that in the case of some of the milk supplies there will be much occasion for these powers to be exercised. There is no doubt that these powers will act as a wholesome check on dairymen and they may have to be used in the case of a few dairies, the milk from which is sometimes not altogether free from suspicion.
With these few remarks, I beg to move the second reading of the Bill.
Present at the meeting were:
Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Captain Superintendent of Police).
Hon. R. MURRAY RUMSEY (Harbour Master).
Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
Hon. Ho Kai.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, C.M.G.
Hon. J. J. BELL-IRVING.
Hon. Wei A Yuk.
Mr. J. G. T. BUCKLE (Clerk of Councils).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.
TRAMWAYS FOR KOWLOON.
J. J. BELL IRVING-I rise, sir, to move the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to authorise the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company, Limited to lay and maintain tramways over certain public roads at Kowloon, in the colony of Hongkong and to confer upon the said Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company, Limited, certain other rights, powers, and privileges. Any remarks that may be necessary I propose to make at the second reading.
Hon. C. P. CHATER seconded.
Bill read a first time.
SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Finance Committee.
His EXCELLENCY-I do not know what was done in the Finance Committee. You have had the estimates before you a long time, you know.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-The estimates have been in the hands of hon. members for three weeks. All the items, with the exception of the military contribution, were agreed to unanimously. That was objected to on principle.
His EXCELLENCY-Was there anything...
Page 363
...
Page 363
...
Page 363
His EXCELLENCY-Was there anything Hon. C. P. CHATER-No sir, absolutely nothing. We voted against the item to be perfectly consistent in what we had done. We have petitioned and we have protested, and the Secretary of State absolutely took no heed of our doings but ruled that the Ordinance should be passed. We recorded our vote against it, but it was passed by the official majority, and we want to show that even now the unofficial members are not in favour of it.
The COLONIAL TREASURER-I rise, Sir, to move the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to authorise the appropriation of a supplementary sum of three hundred and forty-one thousand and twenty-five dollars and thirty-seven cents to defray the charges of the year 1896. The sum which the Council is now asked to vote, namely, $341,025.37, represents the nominal excess of the actual expenditure for the year 1896 over the estimated expenditure.
The real excess comes to $226,467.69, the difference between the nominal and the real excess being $114,557.68. It is owing to the fact that credit cannot be taken for the savings effected in the various establishments nor in the public works extraordinary or public works recurrent that the difference between the actual excess and the nominal excess appears.
The savings on the public works recurrent amount to $18,278.60, on public works extraordinary to $82,705.21, and in ordinary expenditure to $13,573.81; total, $114,557.68, as already stated. Although the Council is asked to vote this sum of $341,025.37, the actual surplus of revenue over expenditure, if we exclude the amount chargeable on the loan account for public works extraordinary, is $134,968.57.
His EXCELLENCY-That can be done now just as well as next week?
Hon. C. P. CHATER-I think so, sir.
A vote on the third reading was then taken with the following result:-
FOR.
The Acting Director of Public Works.
Hon. J. J. Bell Irving.
Hon. E. R. Belilios.
Hon. T. H. Whitehead.
AGAINST.
Hon. Wei A Yuk.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
Bill read a second time.
Council went into Committee on the Bill which passed through all its stages without amendment.
THE FIRE BRIGADE ORDINANCE.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-As regards the Bill entitled an Ordinance to further amend the Hongkong Fire Brigade Ordinance, 1864, I ask your Excellency's permission to postpone the second reading for the present. I would like, however, to make one or two observations...
Page 364
...
Page 364
...
Page 364
HONGKONG-LEGISLATIFE COUNCIL.
1897
16:
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held at the Council Chamber on the 18th September Present:-
His EXCELLENCY the Governor, Sir Wi LIAM ROBINSON, G.C.M.G.
Colonel ELSDALE (Officer Commanding the Forces).
Hos. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. W. M. GOODMAN (Attorney-General | Hon. T. SERCOMBE SMITH (Colonial Treasurer).
Hon. W. CHATHAM (Acting Director of Public Works).
Hon. Ho Ke Hon. C. P. C..
THE INFECTED MILK ORDINANCE. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I have, sir, to
Tastern Asia, be rendered impregnable actral figures being--revenue. 52,609,878.91;The Attorney-General. outside attack and wholly independent expenditure. $2.474,910.37. I propose to advert The Colonial Secretary. of the naval squadron, which, the to only two items in these supplementary esti- The Colonel Commanding. event war, would be required for the mates. The first is the military expenditure; The motion was therefore carried and the B protection of British merchant vessels ation. The total expenditure for solitary par
and the second the excess on the Fraya Reclam- read a third time and passed. float. This is the brond factat has to be poses, or rather, the total amount expended in faced, and itill render essary, sooner 1886 upon military matters, was $523,128.45. move the second reading of the Bill entitled an -later-and the sooner the better-nagree. That total is made up as follows-Military Ornance to prevent the spread of infectious met with China recession of a small expenditure actually paid in 1896 on account of dises arising from the consumption of on. strip of territory and few sandy outlying 1806, 8402,680.76; contribution for barracks ser- taminated or unwholesome milk. It is, of c islands, which though no great value to vices, $40,000; Volunteer expenses, $13,418.93; of the utmost importance to secure a pre her she would be reluctant to part with ex-$102,080.76 expended in 1896, and actually paid doubt he public are indebted to those whol
aud balance due for 1895, $7,598.76. The suppl of wholesome milk in this colony. cept for some very substantial quid pro quo. We have standing accolts to settle sented 17 per cent. of the estimated revenue for cial serprise of that kind is worthy of in 1896, towards the military contribution repre- undertaken to supply such milk, and a comp with Chip, but unless these are pushed to 1896, exclusive of land sales premia. The actual support and consideration. At the same time settlement at once the authorities Peking figures for 1896 were $2,30019.95, and the total high price of milk acts as a great temptation will presently deny their existence plead for the military contribution $409,328.49. The nuscrupous persons to increase the quantity condonation. The present therefore the difference of 87,247.73 has been met out of the milk by addition of water or by adulterat
favourable time for bringing this maj-
revenue for 1897. It will be noticed that the in others. The report of the Governm most
total sum of $523,128.45 which has been paid Analyst moves that last year there were sever Ker to head.
for military purposes in 1896 represents about samples which he analysed in which he fors
per cent of the reveane for 1896, but if we that water had been added.
Well now, take off 867,508.76, the balance paid in 1896 of cannot be at all sure as to the source we what was due in 1895, it reduces the expen-
the water so added is derived, and as one ce. diture for military purposes to about 19 per help feeling after reading the analyst's report, cent. Of course, the sum of $402,080 is the that there are a very large number of actual amount really spent on what is known cases where ter has been added to the milk as the military contribution proper. The other without being detected, it naturally follows itoms were voted separately and, although that some provision should be made to enx coming under the heading of military purposes, the purity of h ruilk supply. The Bill befor do not fall under the well-known head of the Council pls principally with anot military contribution. In regard to the Praya danger, namely, dairies where animals Reclamation I may say that in 1895, the sum infected or where persons, while sufferi of $40,000 was appropriated as the Government's from an infection disease, are engaged in contribution towards certain works connected work, such as ilking COWB or ht with the Praya Reclamation. The work WBR milk. I would like to call your atter done and the claim made towards the end of the objects and reasons which 1. appen 1895, but the sum was not paid until the bill and which are as follows:-"It January, 1896, and that is the reason it found necessary in gland to confer pow appears us excess in the estimates for 1896, the Medical Officer of Health to inspect da I shall be glad to give further information if and in case he should be of opinion tha any hon. member wishes it upon any matters tious disease was caused by the consump connected with the supplementary estimates. milk supplied from y such dairy, h required to report opinion to the authority. Thereupon, the local authori to call upon the dairgun to show cause After the meeting of the Finance Committee an order should not be made by such aut the COLONIAL TREASURER reported that all requiring him not to say any milk from the items had been unanimously recommended dairy till the order should be witho with the exception of the military contribution. These powers were confered, in Englan again t which all the unofficial members voted. section 4 of The Infectious Diseases (Preverni. Council then went into Committee on the Act, 1890. The present Ordinance, sugges› Bill which was reported without amendment. by the Medical Officer of Health, proceeds On the motion for the third reading, similar lines, having regard to local circumst Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Not that it will Sections 5, which is based upon the D make any difference in the ultimate result, but I Cowsheds, and Milkshop Onders of the think it might be well to postpone the third Council and Local Government Board in reading of the Bill until the text meeting of the land, provides a penalty in the case of a Council, so that the nuofficial members may man allowing any infected person to mi have an opportunity of meeting and considering | animals, assist in the conduct of the dairy, their position in veiw of what has transpired in reside in such part of the dairy as muy bo the Finance Committee.
for the housing of cattle of storage of 1 It is hoped that the fact of such an Ordinar being brought into force in this colony enable the Medical Officer of Health to ex more effective supervision over the milk plies of the colony and cause dairymen to greater vigilance to prevent the possibilit contamination of the milk sold by t As to the term "Jocal authority," we have ron authority here in the sense in which it is n in the English Act, the nearest approach local authority we have here being the ovo. in Council. I do not anticipate that in case of some of the milk supplies there be much occasion for these powers t exercised. There is no doubt that - powers will act as a wholesome check or da men and they may have to be used in the of a few dairies, the wilk from which is s times not altogether free from suspicion. these few remarks I beg to move the se reading of the BUL
Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Captain Enper- intendent of Policej.
Hon. R. MURRAY RUMSEY (Harbour Master). Hon. C. P. CHATER, CM.G. Hou. Ho KAL
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD.
Hon. E. R. BыLILIOS, C.M.G.
Hou, J. J. BELL-IRVING.
Hou. Wax A YOK.
Mr. J. G. T. BUCKLE (Clerk of Councils). MINUTES,
The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.
TRAMWAYS FOR KOWLOON,
J. J. BELL IRVING-I rise, sir, to mop the first ending of a Bill entitled su Ordiance to authorise the Hongkong and Kowlog Wharf and Godown Company, Limited to lay and maintain tramways ofertain public roads at Kowloon, in the colony Hongkong and to confer upon the said Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company, Limad, certain other rights,wers, and privileges Any remarks the may be necessary I propose to make ate second reading.
Ho. Č. P. CHATER seconded. Bill read a first time.
SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION
ORDINANCE,
The CULONIAL SECRETARY seconded. The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Finance Committee.
His EXCELLENCY--I do not know what was done in the Finance Committee. You have had the estimates before you a long time, you know. The COLONIAL SECRETARY-The estimates have been in the hands of hon. members for three weeks. All the items, with the exception of the military contribution, were agreed to unanimously. That was objected to on prin- ciple.
His EXCELLENCY-Was there anything Hon. C. P. CHATER-No sir, absolutely nothing. We voted against the item to be perfectly consistent in what we had done. We have petitioned and we have protested, and the Secretary of State absolutely took no heed of our doings but raled that the Ordinance should be passed. We recorded our vote against it, but it was passed by the official majority, and we want to show that even now the nuofficial members are not in favour of it.
The COLONIAL TREASURER-I rise, Sir, to move the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to authorise the appropriation of a supplementary sum of three hundred and forty- one thousand and twenty-five dollars and thirty-new seven couts to defray the charges of the year 1896. The sum which the Council is now asked to vote, namely, $341.025.37, represents the no- minal excess of the actual expenditure for the year 1896 over the estimated expenditure. The real excess comes to $226,467.69, the difference be tween the nominal and the real excess being $114,557.68. It is owing to the fact that eredit cannot be taken for the savings effected in the varions establishments vor in the public works extraordinary or public works recurrent that the difference between the actual excess and the nominal excess appears. The savings on the public works recurrent amount to $18,278.60, on public works extraordinary to $82,705.21, and in ordinary expenditure to $13.573.81; total, $114,557.68, as already stated. Al- though the Council is asked to vote this sum of $341,425,37, the actual surplus of The Colonial Treasurer. revenue over expenditure, if we exclude the The Harbour Master. amount chargeable on the loan account for { The Captain Superintendent Sublic works extraordinary, is $134,968,57, the of Police.
HE EXCELLENCY-That can be done now just as well as next week?
Hon. C. P. CHATER---I think so, sir.
A vote on the third reading was then taken with the following result :---
FOR.
AGAINST.
The Acting Director of flon. Wei A Yuk.
Public Works.
Hon. J. J. Bell
Irving. Hon. E. R. Belilios. Hon. T. H. White-
head.
The COLONIAL: SECRETARY seconded, Bill read a second time.
AZ.
Council went into Committee on the 1 which passed through all its stages with amerd nent.
THE FIRE BRIGADE ORDINANCE) The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-As regard Bill entitled an Ordinance to further umenii t Hongkong Fire Brigade Ordinance, 1864 ask your Excellency's permission to post the second reading for the present. I w like, however, to make one or two observa"
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.