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19TH APRIL, 1904.
PRESENT:- FIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER AD MINISTERING THE Government, F. H. MAY, CMG
HIS EXCELLENCY MAJOR-GENERAL VIL LIERS HATTON, C.B. (Commanding the Troops). Hon. A, M. THOMSON (Colonial Secretary). Hon. Sir H. 8. BERKELEY (Attorney
-General.
Hon. L. A. M JOHNSTON (Colonial Treasurer).
Hon. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar-General). Hon. Captain L. A. W. BARNES-LAWRENCE R.N. (Harbour Master).
Hoa. P. N. H. JONES (Director of Public Works).
Hon. Bir C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, C.M.G.
Hon. WEI A YUK
Hon. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C.
Mr. R. F. JOHNSTON (Clerk of Councils).
NEW MEMBER.
Heu. P. N. H. Jones. Director of Public Works, was duly sworn and took and his seat
An Official Member of Council
FINANCIAL.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table Financial Minutes (Nos. 21 to 23) and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee. The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and The motion was agreed to.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee (No. 4), and moved its adoption.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
PAPERS.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the following sessional papers-Report of the Directer of Public Works for the year 1903, spatch from the Secretary State on tropical Greases research, financial returns for the year 2013 returns of the Bubordinate Court for year 1993, report on the Health and Sanitary dition of the Colony for the year 1903, and Blue Book for the year 1903.
NOTICE OF QUESTIONS.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-Your Excellency, I beg to give notice that I shall ask certain estions at next meeting of Council of which gave notice on Friday last. I understand Government is not prepared to answer these estions now. I beg to give notice that I hall ask them at next meeting,
HIB EXCELLENCY-The Clark has uestions?
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK-Yes.
EMPLOYMENT OF PILOTS.
the
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL Mored the second eading of the Bill optitled an Ordinance to
who
provide for and regulate the Employment of Pilots. He said-The object of this Bill is to provide for the exercising of control over per- Colony. There is at present, I understand. a sons who practise as pilots in the waters of the so-called pilot service, but the meu ply for hire as pilots are not licensed or qualified in the Sensa of having passed under examination DY had the approval of any person competent to say whether the man offering his services as a pilet knows any. thing of what he undertakes to do. In one selle it may be said that a place like this does not and there is no need to have pilots to bring require pilots; the navigation is open. ships into Hongkong or take them out. But apparently the Harbour is so extremely crowded and the diffoulties of finding berths so considerable, that the Government has been approached by the shipping community and asked to provide some safeguard that persons who offer themselves for pilots within the waters of the Colony shall know what to do. That application was considered, with the re- sult that this Bill has been brought in. There is no compulsion for anyone to take a pilot. nor will taking a pilot exempt the ship that takes him from any consequences that may occur from gollision or otherwise. accepta absolutely no responsibility in the Government matter. People are free to take a pilot or not as they please. What the Government wants to do is to see that no one shall offer his services as a pilot who is not reasonably considered to be capable of performing the duties of s pilot. I think that the measure which is a new one, will be found useful in its application.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. and the motion was agreed to.
The Council then went into committee on the Bill and considered it clause by clause, only a few minor amendments being made.
On the Council resuming, the Bill was read a third time and passed on the motion of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL, seconded by the COLONIAL SECRETARY.
HILL RESERVATION. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance for the Reservation of a Residential Area in the Hill District. He said-Bir, the necessity for this measure and the expediency of passing such a measure is, I think, very clearly if succinctly stated in the objects and reasons appended to the Ordinance itself. It will be found stated there that " The reservation of this district is desirable in order that a healthy place of residence uy be preserved for all those who are accustomed to a temperate climate sud to
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