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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL erection of the Law Courts, has recently been invalided out of the service, and will not return to the Colony. An enquiry without his presence as a witness is not possible, and in these circumstances I do not propose to ask the Committee to hold any further enquiry. I am not without hope that delays such as occurred in the case of the building referred to will not be repeated.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER second- ed, and the motion was agreed to.
Financial
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid on the table the report of the Finance Com- mittes (No. 3), and moved that it be adopted.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER second- ed, and the motion was agreed to.
The Removal of Trees from Royal Square
THE HON, MR. HEWETT, in the ab sence of the Hon. Mr. Pollock, asked the questions standing in Mr. Pollock's name,
The first two were:-
(1)-By whose orders were certain trees
in Royal Square, which have been growing there for many years past, cut down on the 9th March and for what reason?
Superintendent of the Botanical and Forestry Department those nearer the sea being wind-swept were not likely to grow into good specimens. (b) It was repre- sented by the Director of Public Works that the trees being in the middle of the road rendered it difficult to keep the central portion of the roadway in proper repair, as it was impossible to roll the surfacing material in conjunction with that of the side portions of the road. (c) The view of Queen Victoria's Statue and of the Square as a whole, owing to the trees being in the middle of the road, was much obscured, both from Chater Road and the South side. The question of planting at the sides of the roads in Royal Square flowering trees which will not attain much size is now under considera- tion. It is not proposed to remove any more trees in the vicinity of Royal Square at present.
The Privet Shrub and Hay Fever
Mr. Pollock's next question was:—
In view of the fact that the pollen from the flowering privet tends to induce coughing and catarrh, will the Government take steps to exter- minate the privet shrub in the vicinity of dwelling-houses in the Island of Hongkong and in Kow- loon ?
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY re- plied:-
There is no evidence before the Govern- (2.)-Will the Government take prompt ment that in Hongkong the flowering action to prevent the further cut-privet causes what is popularly known as ting down of trees in that vicinity? hay-fever. On the other hand, there are THE COLONIAL SECRETARY replied many other plants flowering in Hong- His Excellency the Governor, acting on kong, notably roses, which are well-known the advice of the Executive Council, gave to induce the affection referred to. The orders for the trees in Royal Square to Government is therefore as at present be removed. There were sixteen trees advised not prepared to destroy one plant altogether, eight in Chater Road, seven which, if it induces hay-fever, is only one to the West of Queen Victoria's Statue of many which are credited with the same and one to the East, and eight in Wardley result. Street, three to the North and five to the South of the Statue. The reasons which caused the Government to remove the trees were three in number :-(a) The trees were not of a suitable kind for such an exposed spot as Royal Square. Some were Aleurites or Candle-nut trees and others and these the poorer specimens Celtis. As the result of more than ten years' growth only a few of them had attained any size. In the opinion of the
The Nursing Staff at Government Civil Hospital
Mr. Pollock's fourth question was:-
Was any written representation sent in by the Nurses on the Staff of the Government Civil Hospital to the Principal Civil Medical Officer last summer upon the subject of the insufficiency in numbers of the
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
Nursing Staff at that Hospital? Will the Government lay such writ- ten representation upon the table of this Council? Has any answer been sent to such written representation? If so, will the Government lay such
the table answer upon
of this Council? What steps, if any, have been taken, and when, to remedy such insufficiency?
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY re- plied-
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THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
Seditious Publications Ordinance
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled, "An Ordinance to provide against the circula- tion in the Colony of seditious publica- tions.'
The
*
Objects and Reasons" to the Bill are as follows:-
documents of
attached
Government has been drawn to the fact that For some time past the attention of the
and newspapers
a highly objectionable character have been brought into the Colony and distributed amongst some of its inhabitants. Sometimes these papers pass through the post, and although by means of the powers contained in Section exist certain provisions as to the stoppage 12 of the Post Office Ordinance, 1900, there of matter of this character sent through the
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY second- No such written representation wased, and the motion was agreed to. made to the Principal Civil Medical Oficar by the Sisters (they are not called Nurses); but under date of the 2nd of July last the Superintendent of the Government Civil Hospital addressed a letter to the Principal Civil Medical Officer setting forth on behalf of the Sisters reasons why they considered their number should be increased by two. The Superintendent recommended the increase, as did the Principal Civil Medical Officer. The Governor, after investigation, recognised that an increase in staff was necessary, but decided that it should take the form of two additional probationers. This decision was communicated to the Head of the Department, and provision was made accordingly in the Estimates for the current year. In February of this year the Governor enquired whether the extra probationers had been engaged, and h was informed that it had not been found possible to engage them. In these circumstances the question of the re- organization of the staff of sisters and probationers was again taken up and is being considered at the present time. It is not considered that any useful purpose would be served by laying papers on this subject on the table.
Supreme Court
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY- I beg to lay on the table and move the adoption of the order as to the fees and percentages to be taken in the Supreme Court of Hongkong.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL seconded, un the motion was agreed to.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to lay on the table and move the adoption of the rules for taxing costs in the Original Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
post, it is difficult and often practically impossible to exercise such powers with
success.
The class of publication which has of late given rise to considerable comment consists in the main of newspapers published out of the Colony which are of a highly seditious and disloyal character and which contain matter which is subversive of all social and economic conditions and which, disseminated amongst ill-educated persons, are likely to be productive of disturbance and ill-feeling in the Colony. Some of these productions emanate from Indian sources and their publication and appearance in India are a'ready prohibited.
With the existence of a large Indian population both permanent and temporary within the confines of this Colony, the introduction into the Colony of newspapers other publications of the character indicated should not it is thought be in any way permitted.
or
The constant complaint which is made to this Government as to the appearance within the Colony of this type of seditious publica- tion has led this Government to introduce the present Bill with the object of enabling the evil to be dealt with effectively.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.