CO129-546-1 Loans for public works 6-1-1934 - 14-8-1934 — Page 44

Đang trong

Hansend

Depart of

14.6.34.

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

COLONIAL (BAHAMAS AND LEEWARD ISLANDS)

LIGHT DUES ORDINANCE, 1934.

55

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a Biil intituled "An Ordinance to provide for levying in Hong Kong Colonial light dues in respect of certain lighthouses and a buoy on or near the coasts of the Bahamas and Leeward Islands". He said: The purpose of this Ordinance is sufficiently get out in the Objects and Reasons thereto.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a first time.

Objects and Reasons.

The "Objects and Reasons" for the Bill were stated as follows:

1. The object of this Ordinance is to enable the colonial light dues prescribed by the Order in Council set out in the Appendix to be collected in Hong Kong.

2. The twelve lighthouses and the buoy mentioned in the Schedule to the Order in Council are administered by the Board of Trade and have been maintained by the General Lighthouse Fund which derives its revenues mainly from light dues collected in Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State.

3. They have been maintained and improved, at considerable expense, in the interests of shipping of all nations deriving benefit from the lights, and it has become necessary to reconsider the incidence of the cost of the service. To this end His Majesty has been pleased to make an Order in Council on the 17th December, 1931, under section 670 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, providing for the levy of a due of one penny per ton on all ships passing and deriving benefit from the lighthouses and buoy in the Bahamas, and of a half-penny per ton on ships passing and deriving benefit from the light at Sombrero.

4. As stated in the preamble to the Order in Council section 670 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, also provides that colonial light dues shall not be levied in any British possession unless the legislature of that possession has signified its opinion that the dues ought to be levied. Section 2 of this Ordinance therefore expresses the statutory opinion. Section 3 makes provision for the collection locally.

HONG KONG DOLLAR LOAN ORDINANCE, 1934.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to make provision for a loan of twenty-five million dollars for the carrying out of certain Public works, for the redemption of certain inscribed stock, and for other purposes." He said: During the Committee stage of the Bill 1 shall move three small amendments adding the name of the Hong-

46

32

44