116
75
7
74
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
prepared to solve them. The words of the Prime Minister uttered two years ago seem to me peculiarly applicable to the present time. He was speaking after some very gallant actions of our men, when our hopes of victory ran high :—
new
it. a new
They have given courage meaning, they have given standard, a new rating it means some- thing different, it means more than it ever meant before We never knew we were capable of such great things, and if we do such things in war we can also do them in peace. Peace has its sacrifices, peace demands valour, peace demands devotion; and it will be an unutterable insanity if the lesson which this war has taught us of the possibili- ties of our people in unity, in sacrifice for a common end, in devotion to the cause of a common humanity, should be lost when the flag has been brought back triumphant from the field of battle and planted on the field of labour and of toil."
The Bill was read a first time and the Council then adjourned until October
17th.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
meeting of the Finance Committee followed, the Colonial Secretary A. GM. Fletcher) presiding.
Launch Repairs
HON. MR. LANDALE Is the whole of this amount for that one case?
THE CHAIRMAN-The whole of it, and I would ask leave to add $830.45 to the Financial Minute in conection with the costs of the criminal proveedings which were only taxed this morning.
H.N. MR. LANDALE-Eefore incurring beer possible to lay the matter before the so large an expenditure would it not have Legislative Council?
THE CHAIRMAN It was hardly realis- ed, I think, that the expenditure would come to anything like this sum.
It was. as you know, a very long case. The Government anticipated, when they inter- vened, that the remaining part of the proceedings would be very short, and we were advised that the chances of success were considerable.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER--One difficulty about bringing it before the Council would have been that it would not be considered proper to discuss an action which was still going on.
HON. MR. HOLYOAK-Were the Gov- (Mr.ment aware that the Official Receiver
had brought this action in his name?
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of five hundred dollars in aid of the vote Harbour Master's Depart- ment, Government Marine Surveyor's Office, Other Charges, Launch Repairs.
THE CHAIRMAN This is for special repairs to the engine of a launch.
The vote was agreed to.
Legal Expenses
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of one hundred and fifty- one thousand and thirty-nine dollars and seventy cents in aid of the vote Crown Solicitor's Office, Other Charges Extra Legal Expenses.
Discussion in Committee
THE CHAIRMAN - This vote ha already been explained by H.E. the Officer Administering the Government.
an
as an
name
THE CHAIRMAN-No, they were not at first. The Official Receiver was officer recently appointed; He has a large discretion in such matters, but ordinary rule the Official Receiver does not bring an action in his own unless the funds are ampla to cover the costs. When he began the action, of course, he had a very large sum of money, and it was very reasonable that sum of money
would think that possible costs.
cover
any
HON. MR. HOLYOAK--H. E. the Officer to a very large sum of money which had Administering the Government referred already been spent. Can you tell us what amount that was?
THE CHAIRMAN--I think the share- holder spent $125,000 out of his own pocket.
HON. MR. HOLYOAK--Did you think at that time that the matter might have been brought before the Council before embarking further?
not
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
THE CHAIRMAN As the Colonial HON. MR. LANDALE-Yes. Treasurer has pointed out it was a rather difficult matter to discuss in Council. It A vote was accordingly taken and the was a very urgent action still going on financial minute was passed by a majority and, as H.E. the Officer Administering the of seven votes to four. The Hon. Mr. Government explained, the Government Landale, the Hon. Mr. Holyoak, the Hou. did not come into this action except at Mr. Shellim and the Hon. Mr. Bird voted the wish of the Court. They began by against it. The two Chinese representa taking criminal proceedings. If the tives voted with the official members. Government had known they were going to take up this case they very possibly would have put forward the question of money, but in instituting criminal ceedings the question did not arise.
pro-
HON. MR. HOLYOAK What safeguard is there against any similar incident happening?
THE CHAIRMAN--I think is is a peculiar case and it is not likely to happen again.
HON. MR. LANDALE—Could not a vate on account have been taken when it was seen that a large sum
of money involved?
Was
THE CHAIRMAN-Yes, that might have been possible.
HON. MR. LANDALE I think that the question of the expenditure of so much public money should have come up.
THE CHAIRMAN The Government felt themselves driven to take proceedings on the evidence put before them, and the Government decided that the
proper course was to take criminal proceedings. They had no option and they took those proceedings and asked the Court to stay the civil proceedings. The matter went before the Full Court who expressed a very strong opinion against the criminal proceedings and were not prepared to stay the civil proceedings. The Govern- ment felt they were bound to follow the wishes of the Court and so took what was apparently the only course.
Repairs to Lifts
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of one thousand eight hundred dollars in aid of the vote Mis- cellaneous Services, Lifts Maintenance.
THE CHAIRMAN--This is for renovat- ing the steel ropes of the lifts in the Supreme Court.
The vote was agreed to.
Landslides
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of eleven thousand dollars in aid of the vote Public Works, Recur- rent, New Territories, Miscellaneous, (45) Typhoon and Rainstorm Damages.
THE CHAIRMAN This vote has been occasioned by the heavy land slides which occurred after the heavy rains recently.
The vote was agreed to.
Naval Tennis Courts
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of two hundred and fifty- eight dollars in aid of the vote Miscel laneous Services, Ipprovement to Naval Tennis Courts, elc.
THE CHAIRMAN-This is to assist in making tennis courts in the Naval Yard.
The vote was agreed to.
Fire Float
HON. MR. LANDALE--1 am not questo vote a sum of seven hundred dollars The Governor recommended the Council tioning the decision of the Government in aid of the vote Police and Prison De- What I object to is the expenditure of public funds without coming to the Charges, Repairs to Engines and Plant.
partments, B. Fire Brigade, Other Legislative Council. The only way we can stop that is to vote against it.
THE CHAIRMAN You wish a vote to be taken.
THE CHAIRMAN-Unusual repairs were required to be made to the fire-float.
The vote was agreed to.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.