216
50
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
HIS EXCELLENCY-What is the parti cular objection?
Hoy. Mr. LANG-It Barily inquisitorial.
is unnecès-
HIS EXCELLENCY-Was there not some difference of opinion? It was not gene rally agreed that the clause was of that nature ?
without sworn information. Of c all this is akin to smuggling.
HON.
MR BIRD-I do
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
51
The Council then adjourned until April 28th, at 2.30 p.m.
The Adjournment
At EXCELLENCY-We will leave the
7, at 2.30.
not E it is a question of honesty, but fin committee and meet again on Thurs- quite unnecessarily. If the books r inconvenience a man might be pat found all right and the stamps in of there is no redress.
N. MR. STEPHEN-Am I in order I think the ferring to clause 20?
unworkable and it has been wisely HON, MB. LANG-It was
doned, but I would like to know if HIS EXCELLENCY-It is not likely
Attorney-General intends to take gested from the Chair but from the body any action will be taken without ace of the Sharebrokers' Association
tical certainty that an offence has be committed.
of the hall.
not sug-
HON. ME, LAU CHU PAK said the Chinese Chamber of Commerce had sug- gested that power should be vested in
magistrate or the puisne judge.
HON.
MR. suggestion was that there should be only POLLOCK-I think the entry after a search warrant had been applied for.
ΤΗΝ COLONIAL SECRETARY-The Collector has to get a warrant every time he wants to see the books of a firm,
HON. ME. POLLOCK-It is rather a serious matter if a firm can be invaded at any time by the Collector's office.
HIS EXCELLENCY-It has been said that this clause has no terrors for honest
men.
HON. MR. POLLOCK--I think the Attorney-General would concede that there should be some safeguard with re- gard to the search warrant.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL-A dolay sometimes results in a document not being
found.
HON. Ma POLLOCK-I do not sup- pose any firm having any business to speak of would suddenly close its doors.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL-No, but it might make away with the incriminating document.
war-
HON. MR. POLLOCK-All dealing with smuggling require a
cases Tant when the existence of smuggling goods is suspected.
His EXCELLENCY-There are many eases in which there is power to inspect
HON. MR. POLLOCK-But the C lector can only have reason to beliere
Hox.
estion that it should be compulsory ransfer shares in the name of the aer before claiming dividend.
EXCELLENCY-That is to try and Bate the old difficulty of dividends g to the wrong persons. It is a ques- MR. STEPHEN-1 think cution at the hands of the Collector. leaves the public too much open to tenance. It may be a most desirable whether it can be done in a stamp
may be a very good man, but he may be. If we were always in the hands Mr. Messer we might always be gi content.
HON. MR. BIRD-It seems to that if it is only to be an isolated acti it will not take many minutes to get
warrant
It was agreed that the clause shout redrafted. stand over in order that it might
moved that the clause be amended
On clause 45 the ATTORNEY-GENERAL shown in a printed sheet of amendme laid on the table. These amendme were agreed to.
similar resolution with regard to clause “ THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved (renumbered 48),
know what these words or attemptr HON. MR. POLLOCK-I should like
commit are intended to cover.
Wh sort of a case?
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL-Say, an tempt to destroy a book of account evade the duty.
That would be a covered by the words.
His EXCELLENCY-Or going inton and seeing a person attempting to thượn
■ document into the fire.
The clause as amended was pasted.
ON. MR. STEPHEN-You would get te revenue from your transfer by
aps.
Hox. MR. POLLOCK-There is also a pulty in various companies when cor- people are registered as trustees for in other people.
EXCELLENCY-I do not think that properly comes in a stamp bill.
Tas
ATTORNEY-GENERAL-It would d to produce a little more revenue from msfers but not a great amount. Fox, Ma. STEPHEN-I was only sug- ting that as a
means by which the Du might receive a substantial in-
Base
HE EXCELLENCY-In place of getting is we have raised the rate on share con. pet notes, at the instance of the brokers mselves. It is an expression of their at relief in getting rid of this section. Fos. MR. STEPHEN-Yes they did. 518 EXCELLENCY-What is the sense of Council as to making some provision this Bill?
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was held immediately after the Council, the COLONIAL SECRETARY presiding.
The Telephone Co. H.E. the Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote a sum of $5,000 on account of Services, payment to Miscellaneous Messrs. Lowe, Bingham & Matthews for report on the China and Japan Telephone professional services in connection with and Electric Co., Ltd.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL-If you kesir, I will try and draft something. HEXCELLENCY-I think we have this Bill as little obnoxious as it can be les revenue-producing machine, ad I think it would be better to keep ear of anything that would hamper it. or the Council wish the Attorney eneral to draft anything or not t I
ink not.
0
THE CHAIRMAN-This sum was, course, not provided in the Estimates but it was asked that Mezers. Lowe, Bingham
Matthews should make a
report ou the value of the buildings, plant, and goodwill separately, of this undertaking, and it was proposed that the Govern- ment should pay for it.
Hox. MR. POLLOCK-I hope the public will have an opportunity of seeing this report for which they are paying $6,000.
THE CHAIRMAN-I do not think it will be impossible to publish this report, but His Excellency was not able to say at the time he spoke.
The minute was approved.
A Railway Vote
H.E. the Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote a sum of $3,337 on account of Kow-
loon Railway, special expenditure, Ram- apo switch stands.
THE CHAIRMAN -These were to be pro- cured last year and they were not actually procured. The manager of the railway for this year. A special warrant was was proposing to put it in the Estimates actually taken last year. These switches have now arrived but they were not allowed for in this year's Estimates, and this is in the nature of a re-vote.
The vote was approved and the Com- mittee rose.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.