CO129-541-2 Estimates 1931 14-10-1932 - 19-7-1934 — Page 138

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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

4. Artich 30 of the Geneva Convention (No. 2) provides that the Convention shall not come into force until ninety days after the Secretary-General has received the number of ratifications or accessions therein specified.

5. The existing law of the Colony relating to dangerous drugs is contained mainly in the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance No. 9 of 1916, and the Regulations thereunder and in the Dangerous Drugs Ordinances, No. 22 of 1923 and No. 4 of 1928, and the Regulations thereunder.

6. As a result of the Geneva Convention (No. 2) it became necessary in England to pass, on the 24th March this year, the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1932, amending the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1920, the Dangerous Drugs and Poisons (Amendment) Act, 1923, the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1925, on which the local legislation is mainly founded.

7. Consequently it becomes necessary

necessary to amend the two local Dangerous Drugs Ordinances. This Ordinance therefore consolidates Ordinances No. 22 of 1923 and No. 4 of 1928 with amendments suggested by the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1932, and by the Secretary of State's Circular Despatch of the 22nd July, 1932.

THE BUDGET.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the second reading of "A Bill to apply a sum not exceeding Twenty-seven million five hundred and eighty-five thousand one hundred

hundred and forty-two Dollars to the Public Service of the year 1933.”

THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded the motion.

THE HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK.-Sir,-The speech, which I am about to deliver, represents the unanimous views of my Unofficial colleagues and myself on the Government programme for 1933.

The Estimates contain little contentious matter, and we are satisfied that the finances of the Colony, in spite of the temporary depression, are in a sound condition.

For the sake of convenience of reference, the points made by the Hon. Colonial Secretary, in his able and comprehensive speech, at the last meeting of this Council, are dealt with, so far as possible, in the same order as he dealt with them.

At the outset we have to congratulate the Government upon having, at long last, made provision in the Budget for 1933, for a commencement with the new Government Civil Hospital and the new Gaol and the new Central British School.

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