98
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
PRESENT:
16TH DECEMBER, 1915.
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIR F. H. MAY, K.C.M.G.
the table the report of the proceedings of the Finance Committee held on December 2nd, and moved that it be adopted.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER second-
Hox. MR. CLAUD SEVERN (Colonial ed, and this was agreed to. Secretary).
HON. MR. J. H. KEMP (Attorney-
General).
HON. MR. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial
Treasurer).
Mr. Pollock and the Executive Council
HON. MR. H.E. POLLOCK-Sir, I beg
ing questions at the next meeting of the Legislative Council:—
Hox. Mn. E. R. HALLIFAX (Secre- to give notice that I shall put the follow tary for Chinese Affairs).
Hox. MR. W. CHATHAM, (Director of Public Works).
HON. MR. WEI YUK, C.M.G. Hoy. MR. POLLOCK, R.C. HON. MR. D. LANDALE. HON. MR. E. SHELLIM.
HON. MR. LAU CHU PAK.
HON. MR. P. H. HOLYOAK,
C.M.J.
1. What steps is the Government or His Excellency the Governor taking to fill up the place of the late Mr. Hewett on the Executive Council?
2. Is it not the fact that I was a Mem ber of the Executive Council, as acting Attorney-General, for periods of time amounting to nearly three years, and is
MR. A. G. M. FLETCHER (Clerk of it not the fact that I acted in addition as Councils).
Minutes
The minutes of the last meeting wer read and confirmed.
New Member
MR. P. H. HOLYOAK having taken the oath of allegiance took his seat in the Council.
Finance
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. by command of H.E, the Governor, laid on the table Financial Minutes Nos. 64 to 66, and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee,
THE COLONIAL TREASURER second- ed, and this was agreed to.
Papcrs
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid en
an Unofficial Member of that Council during the last absences on leave 10 Europe of Sir Paul Chater and the late Mr. Hewett, respectively, in the years 1911 and 1912?
3. Has the Government, or has
H:9 Excellency the Governor, sent any Des- patch, and, if so, when, to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies recommending any, and, if so. what, person as successor to the late Mr Hewett on the Executive Council?
4.If any such Despatch has been ad dressed to the Right Honourable the Sec retary of State for the Colonies, has the Right Honourable gentleman been in- formed in such Despatch of the facts re- ferred to in the above question 27 Wil the Government lay such Despatch (it any) upon the table of this Council?
5.--Will the Government recommend to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies that the two Un official Members of the Executive Council shall be elected Members, instead of being nominated by the Government?
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
6. Will the Government recommend to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies that all the Unoffi- cial Members of the Legislative Council shall be elected, instead of two-thirds of them being nominated by the Govern- ment, and also that the number of Unofficial Members in that Council be in creased!
I will now formally hand a copy of my questions to the Clerk of Councils,
British Nationality and Aliens
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled,
"An Ordinance to provide for the fees to be paid in this Colony in respect of various things and matters to be granted or done under the provisions of the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1914."
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY second- ed, and the Bill was read a first time.
The Objects and Reasons" state that the object of this bill is to provide for the fees to be paid in this Colony in respect of various things and matters to be granted or done under the provisions of the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1914,
The regulations made by the Secretary of State and published in the London Gazette of the 1st January, 1915, and in the Hong- kong Government Gazette of the 28th May, 1915, are in force in the Colony except so far as respects the imposition of fees, and the appointment of a table of fees is there- fore necessary in order to complete the machinery of the Act here.
Tramway Ordinance Amendment
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill intituled, "An Ordinance to amend further the Tramway Ordinance, 1902."
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY second- ed, and the Bill was read a first time.
The Objects and Reasons" state that two main objects of this Bill are to increase the maximum speed allowable on the Hong- kong Electric Tramway, and to give to the company's officers and servants more satis- factory powers with regard to the detention of persons who commit offences against the Tramway Ordinance or against the rules made thereunder.
Clause I is formal.
99625
Clause 2 raises the maximum speed by five miles per hour. The present maxi- mum has been found to be unnecessarily
low.
Clause 2 also deals with the procedure for bringing new rules into operation. At present, a rule made by the Governor-in- Council cannot be brought into operation under a month, and a rule made by the company cannot be brought into operation under two months. This might be very inconvenient in case of emergency, and the clause will empower the Governor-in-Council to reduce either period if necessary in any particular case.
Clause 3 will relieve the company from the obligation to exhibit a list of the fares on the outside of the cars. It is impossible to find any place on the outside of the cars where such list would be of any real use,
51 of the Principal Ordinance.
Clause 4 improves the wording of Section
Clause 5 will repeal a provision in the Principal Ordinance which is more appro- priately dealt with in the rules made under the Ordinance.
Clause 6 deals with the question of the detention of offenders, and its main object is to prevent their evading the law by the false name and expedient of giving a address, or by refusing to give any name or address.
Amending Societies Ordinance
THE
An
ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled, Ordinance to amend the Societies Ord nance, 1911."
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY second- ed, and the Bill was read a first time.
The "Objects and Reasons," state that the object of this Bill is to exclude money loan associations from the operation of the Societies Ordinance, 1911.
THE
Deportation Ordinance
move i ** An
ATTORNEY-GENERAL the first reading of a Bill intituled, Ordinance to amend the Deportation Ordi- nances, 1912-1914."
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY second- ed, and the Bils was read a first time.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.