72
some
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
pany while not observing the liabili-
This clause. ties of a private company. provides that, if it does not, it ceases to enjoy the privileges of the Ordinance conferred on I beg to move the private companies. first reading.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a first time.
Adjournment
H.E. THE GOVERNOR-The Council will now adjourn to this day week at 2.30 p.m..
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee afterwards held, the COLONIAL SECRETARY presiding.
was
A Harbour Office Vote
contributories, but that a summary of it shall be published in the Gazette. The chief objection to circulating the account is that it means extra expense. We have also omitted, on the suggestion of the Cham- ber of Commerce, one provision which appeared in the original draft. One of the members of the committee appointed to consider this Bill took exception to the form of the Bill. It is, of course, in ways objectionable that the law should be amended by the deletion of words and the insertion of other words, because it does not show very clearly what the new provision is exactly. But. for my part. I think there is something to be said for that method. If you take the original Ordinance and the amending bill ant look at them side by side it is per- fectly clear what alterations have been made whereas, if one re-drafts the whole, section it is hard to say what change is made by the amending Örlinance. The Bill was referred again to the Chamber at a later date and four criticisms were made. On Clause 13, which proposes to give the Governor in Council power to alter, that is to add to, or rescind, or increase, or decrease any of the fees payable to the Registrar of Companies, it is suggested that perhaps this is an unusual power to give the Governor in Council. It is not unusual here, though, of course, it is unusual in England to give such power to the Executive. But the Government are prepared to reconsider that point, if necessary and to alter the section so to give the Legislative Council power to approve what is passed by the Governor in Council, if members think that that should be done. In clause 25 the Cham- her suggested that the first line should road where the substantial control of the business of the company is exer- cised. The Government are unable to accept that proposal because we have to follow the exact wording of the China The Governor recommended the Coun- (Companies) Order in Council. que astcil to vote a sum of $21,500 on account clause of the Bill introduces here the proof Sanitary Department, Special Expen- visions of the Companies Act, 1913, which diture, Motor Meat and Poultry Vans. is to the effect that, if a private com- pany fails to comply with its articles which restrict it in certain ways, it ceases to have the privileges conferred on pri- vate companies by the Ordinance. A pri- vate company is defined in the principal Ordinance as a company which, by its articles, restricts itself in certain ways. There is nothing, at present, to prevent a company inserting these articles, disregarding them, and going on its way with all the privileges of a private com-
28
The Officer Administering the Govern- ment recommended the Council to vote a sum of $1,000 in aid of the vote Har- bour Master's Department, Special Ex- penditure, New Hull for H.D. 3.
THE CHAIRMAN-The accepted tender by Kwong Hip Loong for a new hull is $7,000. A sum of $6,000 is provided in the Estimates. Therefore, $1,000 more is required.
Approved.
Motor Meat and Poultry Vans
THE CHAIRMAN-For these motor meat
and poultry vans the sum of $15,000 was provided, in 1920, but the vote lapsed
because the Vans were not delivered. The cost of the vans is considerably more than was estimated and certain in- cidental expenses bring the total cost to $21,500, which is now asked for.
Approved.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
The Census
The Governor recommended the Coun. cil to vote a sum of $10,000 in aid of the vote Miscellaneous Services, Special Expenditure, Census Expenses.
453
73
THE CHAIRMAN-The Tramway Co. is now relaying its track and it is desirable that the track, the roadway and the Praya wall should be raised. The total cost is estimated at $73,719, but much of this work consists of improving the | carriage way surfacing, and this call THE CHAIRMAN-The amount provided | stand over till next year. The immediate was $15,000. The actual cost is estimat- and essential work is the raising of the ed at about $24,000. To be on the safe Praya wall, surfacing with setts the side we are asking for a total of $25,000. | portion of the roadway between_the tracks between Whitty Street and Ken. Approved.
nedy Town, for which the Government is responsible, and surfacing the re- mainder of the road with macadam. The total cost of this urgent work is $25,000, and that amount is now asked for.
The Volunteer Defence Corps
The Governor recommended the Coun- eil to vote a sum of $7,000 in aid of the vote Military Expenditure, B.-Volun- teer Defence Corps, Other Charges, Uni- form, including boots.
THE CHAIRMAN-The additional sun is required principally for the Scottish Company of the Hongkong Volunteer Defence Corps. The numbers are great er than had been expected, and it may be necessary owing to the popularity of the particular Company to come to the Council for more money later on.
Approved.
Sterilizer for the Operating Theatre
The Officer Administering the Govern ment recommended the Council to vote a sum of $160 on account of Medical De partment, Other Charges, Sterilizer for the operating theatre.
THE CHAIRMAN-The steriliser at the Government Civil Hospital got out of order and as it was very urgently needed another was bought. It is desirable that there should be two in case of a break- down of one of them.
Approved.
Praya Improvements
Approved.
Praya East Reclamation Scheme
The Governor recommended the Council vote Public Works, Extraordinary, Hong- to vote a sum of $194,800 in aid of the kong, Praya East Reclamation Scheme, (48) Road improvement at Arsenal Street. Resumption and alterations of buildings.
THE CHAIRMAN-The sum required for resuming the buildings and land includ- ed in numbers 5, 6, 7 and 8 on the Praya East known as Blue Buildings is $190.000 and the marine rights of that land and of marine lot 65 come to $104.800 which will make a total of $294,800.
The pro- vision made in the Estimates under Public Works Extraordinary, item 46, is $100,000, and this vote is for the balance. I may add that it will eventually be a very profitable thing for the Government to acquire these buildings and marine rights so that I trust we shall not be out of our money very long.
HON. MR. POLLOCK-What is the cause of the excess
THE DIRECTOR or PÚBLIC WORKS ex- plained that it was not intended origin- ally to purchase the whole of the build-
The Officer Administering the Governings and marine rights. ment recommended the Council to vote a sum of $25,000 on account of Public Works, Extraordinary. Hongkong, Com- munications, Roads: Raising the Praya Wall. Surfacing with setts in the Govern- ment portion of roadway between Whitty Street and Kennedy Town-between the tracks, and surfacing the remainder of road with Macadam.
who desire to see it, a plan. The original THE CHAIRMAN-I can show members intention was to resume only so much as we required for the 100ft. road, making an imaginary diagonal line across the property, but that was found to be not so good a bargain for the Government as resuming the whole. By this the Govern- ment gets a portion of the Praya East,
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.