22
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
Q. Why has the First Police Magie trate and Coroner been appointed to act Director of Education in addition to bis other duties when there are in the Colony two or three educationalists with previous experience of the office!
A-It was considered to be the most suitable appointment. Owing to the war the Government's staff is much depleted, but it is anticipated that it will be possible shortly to make other arrange ments for filling the post of First Magia- trate.
Q-Has the tavernment made any protest against the arbitrary cancella. tion, without notice, of homeward book- ings by the Empresses of Russia, Asia, and Japan and the Monteagle!
A. Yes; telegrams were addressed to the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the 31st March and the 1st April.
Q. Has the attention of the Govern ment been drawn to the serious lack of suficient hotel accommodation in the Colony? If so, has the Government done anything to assist visitors to obtain shelter?
A. The Government is aware that the hotel accommodation has recently been overtaxed, owing partly to the unexpec ed arrival of a Military Mission. Its received to application for assistang in obtaining shelter.
Q-Why have there been no Legislative Council Meetings for about a megfith↑
A. It was considered that t business which was ready for transaction was not sufficient in amount, urgengf, or import- ance to justify the summoning of Council. Questions by Hon. Mr. Holyoak The following questions were asked by the Hon. Mr. Holyok, the answers being read by the Colonial Becretary:—
Q. Will the Government appoint committee of experts to inquire into and report upon : →
(a) The edition of the channel by which vessels enter the Harbour in ord to proceed to their buoys or to the existing wharves,
(b) The efficiency, or otherwise, of the present Government dredger, the St. Enoch.
e) The necessity, or otherwise, of at once ordering a modern dredging plant for constant in this Harbour.
use
¡
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
A. The Government, 85 at press HoN. MR. HOLYOAK moved that the Bill advised, sees no necessity for such a Could be passed through all its stages
If persons who are qualified that meeting. mittee. express an opinion will give particula Hox. MR. DODWELL seconded and this of any dredging which they deem to required in the interests of the port, ts agreed to. matter will at once be investigated.
356
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ed in the public Press in this Colony re cently which would not have been publishe if certain simple measures had been taken to obtain information. I have repeatedly asked those who are responsible for the newspapers in the Colony to come and ask for any information they want and I think it would very rarely be withheld. It might be the fact that information would be given which could not for obvious reasons be published, but at any rate the fact that certain knowledge would be possessed by the responsible for the newspapers would prevent state- ments appearing, sometimes at consider-
Hos. MR. HOLYOAK then moved the Q-Has the report and finding of ond reading of the Bill. In doing so *Civil Service Salaries Cominis said-A similar Ordinance was passed been sent in to the Government yet anently in connection with the Union if so, will the Government lay it up urance Society of Canton, Ltd. The the table for the consideration of sent Ordinance is desirable, not only the reason that the greater bulk of e Company's business is carried on in A.--The report has been received auntries where there is a gold standard, has been sent to e Secretary of Stat also because the Company is amaigeable length, which do not represent the
Council?
ed with the Union Insurance Society Canton, Ltd..
for the Colonies for his consideration. is not possible to make the conte public.
Jos. Ma. DODWELL seconded and the Hos. MR. FOLYOAK-With regard was read a second time. the answer to my second question I w to give notice of motion that the shall be id upon the table.
recouncil went into Committe to consider Bill clause by clause. The Bill passed rough Committee without amendment
. upon Council resuming,
HE THE OFFICER ADMINISTERS THE GOVERNMENT. You have not seen. Mr. HOLYOAK moved the third letter to the Chief Justice.
ding of the Bill.
HON. MR. HOLYOAK-No
I
facts. I am sure that is the one desire of the Press to repent facts accurately to their readersd, therefore, I again publicly say that if the editora or managers of th newspapers require any information the Government's inten tions on subject they only have to ask for i It would hardly do for us to suppl daily balletin of our doings, and have little time to do that, but if an information is required we shall N. MR. DODWELL secondled and the arred, which is not often the case.
beery glad to give it unless we are 1 was read a third time and passed. The Government and the Press
all be in my office until one o'clock this morning to give any information requir H.E. THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING ed by those in charge of newspapers in E GOVERNMENT-With regard to the this Colony. Many things are written, burry, which in eth question asked by the hon. member perhaps sometimes in
represents the Justices of the Pen, why calmer moments might not be written. ouncil meeting has been held would I am not complaining of them and, per- e to point out that there was motion baps sometimes they may be corrected. t down for to-day by the heh. member I refer especially to something which Hos. M. P. H. HOLYOAK movei represents the Chamber Commerce, appeared in one of the morning papers first reading of a Bill intituled, even if that had not beef so we should to-day. Ordinance to authorise the British Tri have had a meeting of the Council ers Insurance Company, Limited to carry out the pledge at any questions vert its silver capital into gold.” ked should be ansered at an early te. That is all very well, but if there HON. MR. S. H. DODWELL seconded a no business before the Council except the Bill was read a first time.
H.E. THE OFFICER ADMINISTERO THE GOVERNMENT-When you have a that perhaps you will consider whether will propose the motion.
British Traders Insurance Oo
Ltd. (Capital Conversion Ordinance, 1919)
The Objects and Reasons state object of this Bill is to enable The Brig Traders Insurance Company, Limited convert its capital from silver into by a special resolution to that effort
questions and perhaps some Finance inutes which guld easily wait, it seems be unnecessary to ask hon. unofficial embers, who have plenty of work to do, come bead and sit in Council. I would ooee at the course adopted at Home, ere the questions have become very be passed by the shareholders. The dies, of answering certain questions tors consider this desirable because iting and publishing the replies, bo great bulk of the Company's businessted. If hon. members agree to this carried out in pountries where use the questions can be published at currency prevails.
and the answers published at the liest opportunity, without having a seeting of the Council. In connection th that I should like to say that many atements, articles and so on have appear.
The fact that the Company does carry on any life insurance business to make it unnecessary to provide for special notice to policy holders.
1
HIS EXCELLENCY then asked the hon. members if they agreed to the course proposed with regard to answering ques
tions.
The members signified their agreement and the Council adjourned sine die.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
followed, the Colonial Secretary presid A meeting of the Finance Committee
ins- Police Reserve Office
The Officer Administering the Govern- ment recommended the Council to vote sum of two hundred and forty-five dollars in aid of the vote Police and Prison De- partmenta, Police, Other Charges, Rent of Office for Deputy Superintendent of Police (Reserve).
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