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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
to take place in this Colony, When 1 last spoke on this subject I stated that the Government would not allow the situation to be exploited, and I thought the landlords woul be wise enough to take that as a hint and confine their proposals for increased rents to reason able limits. They have not done s0: they choose to throw down the gauntlet in this way, and I am perfectly prepared to take it up. A situation of this kind cannot be tolerated, and I ask you to advise me, gentlemen, as to the steps that should be taken to deal with the situation. I desire the matter to be fully considered and propose, there- fore. to appoint a committee of this. Council to consider and advise what steps should be taken to protect the tenants of domestic tenements from un reasonable increases in rental and from arbitrary termination of their tenancies, 1 propose that the Committee shall consist of the Attorney-General. the Colonial Treasurer. the Hon. Mr. Pollock, the Hon. Mr. Lau Chu Pak, and the Hon. Mr. Holyoak. I do not wish in any way to fetter the delibe- rations of the Committee, but I should like to say what, in my opinion, is a possible course, one which would enable us to deal with this situation without making the position so unsafe for land- lords that they will not invest their money in building further houses. I would suggest that the soundest course would be to consider what, in view of the fall in the value of money, is now equivalent to the rents which were in existence, say, in 1914 and 1915, and what percentage on rents it would be neces- sary to add to meet that fall. Having done that I would further propose that in future no rent should be raised to a greater percentage without the con- sent of some body appointed for the purpose, and I would go further and say that if rents have been raised beyond that percentage they, should be reduced as from the beginning of next month. In order to deal with the situation of people who are given notice to leave. I would suggest that no such notices should be allowed to take effect for a period of six months-that would prob- ably be long enough to carry us over the period of pressure caused by the influx of refugees from China, and by that time a certain number of additional houses will be ready for occupation. I am
merely throwing out these suggestions for the consideration of the Committe. This does not touch houses built since 1914; their case would need to be very care- fully considered. There is, as I suggest- ed before, a danger that interference with rents may check the readiness of landlords to build houses, but I think that can be got over, to some extent at least, by making the law of restricted opera- tion by making it for one year only and requiring it to be re-voted annually if necessary. If that is done I consider that the situation will be materially im- proved.
It is with great regret that I feel compelled to ask the Council to interfere with business matters in this way. It is undesirable to interfere with economic laws, but if these laws are not allowed to work smoothly,, and the landlord takes the opportunity of rack-renting by virtue of his monopoly, or makes a
+ corner in housing accommodation, it is necessary to abandon precedents and general principles. The landlords have chosen to defy the Government and the public, and I must ask you, gentlemen, to assist me to deal with them.
to
HON. MR. HOLYOAK -- I regret to say, sir, that, on health grounds, 1 must decline to serve. I have been strictly forbidden, by my Doctors undertake any extra work for several months. I am afraid this will be a some what heavy task and I must not under- take it under the circumstances.
HIS EXCELLENCY-I am sure I am ex- pressing the regret of the Council at Mr. Holyoak's decision and the reasons for it.
on
His EXCELLENCY enquired if the Hon. Mr. Bird would be prepared to serve the Committee. The hon. member signi- fied his willingness and his name was ac- cordingly substituted Hon. Mr. Holyoak.
for that of the
Liquor Duties
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the following Resolution under the provisions of Section 41 (1) of the Liquors Con- solidation Ordinance, 1911, Ordinance No. 9 of 1911: -
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
Resolved that the Resolution made by the Legislative Council under the pro- visions of Section 41 (1) of the Liquors Consolidation Ordinance, 1911, on the 7th day of April, 1921, and published in the Gazette of the 7th day of April, 1921, as Government Notification No. be amended by cancelling the clauses thereof marked (f) and (2) res pectively and substituting therefor the following clauses:-
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(f)-$0.20 cents per gallon on all na- tive liquor distilled in the New Territories, not including New Kowloon, for consumption in the said Territories. (2.)-Stills in the New Territories, not including New Kowloon, shall be prohibited from sending liquor produced in these stills to Hong- Long or to New Kowloon, pro- vided that any licensee of a dis tillery who desires to send such liquor to Hongkong or to New Kowloon may be granted a permit to do so, upon payment of the duties charged in Hongkong and
New Kowloon.
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materials on the Praya during transit from the lighters or junks in which they arrive?
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY replied- This is a difficult subject which the Govern- ment has had under consideration for some time. It is proposed to provide permanent stages for the deposit of build- ing material. Pending their construction efforts will be made to introduce tempor- ary arrangements which will meet the case so far as is possible without undue inter- ference with traffic.
Cheung Chau
HON. MR. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C., in accordance with notice previously given, asked :—
1. Has the new Telephone Cable from the Island of Hongkong to Cheung Chau, which was referred to by the Colonial Secretary in this Council on September 18th, 1910, been laid i
2. Is it the fact that an European Sergeant is the only European Police THE COLONIAL SECRETARY said---The Officer stationed at Cheung Chau, and effect of this resolution is to place the is he constantly, in the course of his island of Cheung Chau on the same foot duty, absent from that Island? ing as the remainder of the New Terri- the Government yet in a position to com- Is not tories (excluding New Kowloon) as reply with the requests which have been gards native liquors distilled there. repeatedly made in this Council for the Representations have been made by those stationing of a second European Police who distil native liquors that the exist Officer at Cheung Chauì ing regulation is having the effect of driving customers-chiefly those of the fishing fleet--to other places, and there appeared to be no reason, why the Is- land of Cheung Chau should stand in a different position to other parts of the New Territory. The Government has decided that their representations are justified, and this resolution is the re-
sult.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY replied-
These
1. The telephone cable referred to is in two portions, the first from the mainland to Lantao near Ma Wan and the second from Lantao to Cheung Chau. cables were laid in February, 1920, and have been working over since, except for the period from 14th to 19th of May when the land line on Lantao was interrupted
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded owing to heavy storms. the-motion, and it was agreed to.
Facilities to Contractors
Hox. MR. H. W. BRD, in accord- ance with notice previously given, asked the following question:-
"Will the Government instruct the Police to afford facilities to Contractors for the temporary storage of building
2.-The Acting Sub-Inspector in Charge is the only European Police Officer sta- tioned at Cheung Chau. He is at times, but not constantly, absent from the Island. April and May he was absent from the During the months of March, Island 16 times in all for a period exceed ing four hours. These absences are neces sitated by visits to adjacent islands and part of the southern coast of Lantao, which are in Cheung Chau police district.
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