1913-04-11 — Page 3

HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE

COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held yesterday at the Coup cil Chamber.

The following wore present :- HIS EXCELLANCY THE GOVERNOR, BIR H, MAY, K,C.M.G.

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS FRIDAY, APRIL 11ra, 1915.

On Council resuming,

the Bill had passed through committee and The ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that moved that it be read a third time.

move that it be referred, to the Finance }; Council then went into committee to Committee, when any further information comider the Bill cause by clause. required on the subject will be given mity add that, as members are no doubt. are, it was anticipated that the whole of the capital expenso would be covered by the repayments of the loan made to the Viceroy of Wuchang in 1005, in all Famcunting to £1,100,000, but owing to unforeseen items the cost of the construc

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GENERAL, OFFICER COMSIANDING THE TROOPS, MAJOR GENERAL - O. A. "ANDERSON, "C.B.

Hon. Mr. A. M. Toomson (Colonial Becretary).

Hon. Mr. J. A. S. BEKKILA (Attorney General),

INCREASES OF SALARIES. The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of 891,363 in aid of the Notes of the following departments:—

1- Varion Departments, House

THE SALARIES OF CIVIL SERVANTS, ETC.

GENERAL INCREASES AND A NEW EXCHANGE HATE.

There was Jaid before the Legislative 7,378 Council yesterday a précis of the corres- 2,201 | pondence which has passed between the Colonial Government and the Secretary of State for the Colonies in reference to applications for increases of salary by this following:

Allowancar to Messengers, ote. $ 1,248 Various Departments, Increases to subordinate pfficers, not in- elded in the Grading Scheme... -Post Office, Subordinte Staff ... 4-Various Departments, Difference between conversion of salaries at 1. 10d. (the rate adopted in the Estimates for ID13) and 50% at 1s., D. and 20 nt 1s. 10d.... 50,000 5.Public Works Departments

Droneers, £350-80% at 18. 9. parul 20%, at Is. 101.

The COLONIAL SECRETARY Seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. VAGRANCY AMENDMENT ORDINANCE The ATTORNEY-GESEKAL, moved the second tion would prove to be nearly £1,350,000. | reading of the Bill entitled, "An Ordin- The extra £250,000 is to be raised by aanco to amend the Vagrates Ordinance, special loan, a Bill providing for which 1997. In doing so he said-I need not deal appears on the orders of the day at any length with this Ordinance, because defrayed by this loan as specified in tonded to effect, but I might say this that The addition to the works would hon, members will seg exactly what is in-6-Medical Departments, Ward

that the present wording is not very satis factory I propose when the Bill comes into committee to move an amendment which puts forward safeguards so that it 11-Supreme Court, Third Inter- will not be reasonably possible for this

Hon. Mr. A. G. M. FLETCHER (Colonia? / the schedule of the Bill, the most owing to it having been thought by some

Treasurer),

Hon. Mr. W. CHATHAK, C.M.G. (Dires tor of Public Works).

Hou Mr. B. B. HALLIFAX (Registrar-

General),

important bring the terminal station at Kowloon Point. When these have been finally approved the expenditure on actual construction account will cease, at all events until such time as it may be

3,084

masters, 105-80, 2 at 1s. 9d. and 20% at 1s. 10d. -Prison, Princight Würders and

Warders

736

6,939

District Officer, Land Bailiff, £262480:26 nt Is. 9. und 20 * at Is. 10..

283

280

7,750

10,028

Hon; Mr. C. McI. MESSER (Captain./ decided to complete the doublecline Any Bill to be used improperly or in any 13. Various Departments.

Superintendant of Police).

Hon. Bir KAI HO KAI, M.D., C.M.G. Hon, Mr. D. A. Hewert, C.M.G.. Hon. Mr. WEI YUS.

Hon. Mr. C. MONTAGUS EDE.

Hon, Mr. C. H. Ross.

Hon Mr. E. SHELLIM.

Mr. R. H. CROFTON (Clerk of Councila).

MINUTES.

The minutes of the provious meeting

weje read and approved.

NEW MEMENT.

The Hon. Mr. E. Shellim took the oath and assumed his seat as a member.

FINANCLAJ

The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid on the table, the Reports of the Finance Committee, Nos 1 and 2, and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.

The COLONIAL TREASURER conded and the motion was agreed to

FINANCIAL MINUTES,

The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command. of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the tablo Financial Minutes Nos. 9 to 18, and moved that they be referred to the Finauce Committee..

special expenditure that may occur from time to time after the ressation of the expense on construction will be added in the usual way to the departmental estimato.

The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to

CPAPERS

The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of HE the Governor, laid on the table the Financial Returns for the year 1912 and Jurors' List for 1913.

THE GENERAL LOAN AND INSCRIBED STOCK

ORDINANCE.

preter, £25 12-Police, European Polies

Local vindictive or unusual fashion.

Officers on Dollar Salaries The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and 11-Audit Department Senior Clerk the motion was agreed to.

Council then went into committes to consider the Bill clause by clause.

On Council ruming,

* The ATTORNEY-GENERAL reported, that the Bill had passed through committee, and moved that it be read a third time.

The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.

REVENUE OFFICERS POWER OF ARREST ORDINANCE, 1913,

The ATTORNEY-CESENAL moved that the Council go into committee on the Bill en The ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first title, An Ordinance to consolidate and reading of a Bill entitled, “An Ordin-angend the law relating to the powers of anoo to declare the terms and conditions arrest of Revenue Others." applicable to loans authorised to be raised by the Government of Hongkong and to provide for the creation of Hongkong Inscribed Stock.!!...

The COLONIAL SECRETARY Scented, and the motion was agreed to..

The Objects and Reasons are:-The object the general toen Statutory Law relative to of this Bill is to place on a satisfactory hasis Loans raised by the Government and to provide for the Colony being able to create Inscribed Stocks and take advantage of tho Imperial Acts relating thereto. The intro- The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and duction of this Bill is made in compliance the motion was agreed to

with instructions from the Secretary of State for the Colonira:

INCHRASES OF SALARIES. The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid on the table the pries of correspondence on the subject of increases of salary, and added that any further information on the subject would be given in the Finance Committer.

"OPIUM RESOLUTIONS,

The

COLONIAL SECRETARY--I beg to move the following resolution: p

Whereas, by the provisions of sub- section (e) of Section 3 of the Opium Amendment Ordinance, 1915, the Opium Ordinance, 1000, was amended by inter alia, the repeal of Section 12 of the said Ordinance and the substitution of a new Section 12 therefor

And whereas by the provisions of sub- section (4) of the now Section 12 aforesaid

was provided that--

THE RAILWAY LOAN ORDINANCE. The ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled, "An Ordin- ance to make provision for raising a loan of two hundred and fifty thousand pounds sterling or the purposes of Rail

way Construction.".

The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to

The Objects and Reasons attached to the Bill are: The object of this Bill is to authorise the raising of a loan of £260,000 for defraying the cost of the completion of the Conton-Kowloon Railway and is intro- duced in compliance with instructions from the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

OFFENCES AGAINST THE

THE PERSON (AMENDMENT)

ORDINANCE.,

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL MOTed the first reading of a Bill entitled, An Ordin anco to amend the Offences against the No person shall expert or aid or abot Person Ordinance, 1805." It doing so be the exportation of any raw opium from The Colony or the waters thereof, if such said I will add for the information of exportation shall have been notified in the bon members that the provisions of this duzette in pursuance of any resolution of Bill are taken very much from the the Legislative Council as boing-illegal."' Now it is hereby resolved that the exportation of Persian Opium to any port other than the port of London or

English Children's Act of 1909 with soms slight modifications for local conditions.

The COLONIAL SECRETARY' seconded, and the motion was agreed to,

a part of the Island of Formosa shall, The Objects and Reasons are:-The object

of this Bill is to provide an amplification of tip present local Statutory Law dealing with

The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.

On Council resuming,

Tho ATTORNEY GENERAL Teported that the Bill had passed through committee and moved that it be, read a third time.

The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.

journed until this day week.

HIS EXCELLENCY-Council stands ad-

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Finance Committee iras held

afterwards the Colonial,

were passed:---- Secretary presiding. The following rotas

MAINTENANCE OF BUILDINGS.

The Governor recommended the Council

to vole a sum of $1,000 in aid of the vote Public Works, Recurrent New Territories. Buildings, Maintenance of Buildings Mainland and Islands in Northern District.

The CHAIRMAN-This refers to the quarantine stations at present occupied by the military authorities

Toto I

$50

Hon, Mr.-EDE-What percentago to salaries do these increases approximate,

5 per cent 1

The CHAIRMAN-Nothing like it.

Hon. Mr. Ene-It-will come back again, gone up infinitely higher than 25 per cent. I am quite certain the cost of living has

· POLICE EMOLUMENTS."

The Governor recommended the Council Police and Frison Departments, to vote a sum of $4,728 in uid of the vote Police, Personal Emoluments:

European Constables Allowances

as Detectives

1.1st Class Chinese Sergeant

2nd Class Chinese Sergeant.

House Allowances to 2 Chinese.

Sergeantes

7 1st Class Chinese Constables

2nd Class Chinese Constables

Detectivo Allowance to 2 Chineso Sergeants and, 15 Chinese Con- stabiles

Chinese Ration · Allowances to. 2

Sergeants and 15 Chinese Con- stables

Total

1.--Messengers, etc.-House Allowances. 2.-Subordinate Officers not included in

the Grading Scheme. 3.-Subordinate Staff of the Post Office. 4.Officers of the Cadet Service.

-Overseers, Public Works Depart

ment,

6-Wardastors Medical Department. 7.-Principal Warders and/Warders,

Prison Department.

8.--Sanitary Inspectors.

9-Land Bailiff New Territories 10-Assistant Engineer and Station

Officer Fire Brigade. 11-Third Interpreter, Supreme Court. 19.-European Polico on sterling salaries and on dollar salaries with ex- change compensation. 13-Local Officers on dollar salaries. 14-Senior Clerk, Audit, Department. 15-Assistant Masters, Queen's College,

These applications pleaded generally

the fatis cost of living and in the the fantequacy of salaries on account of

INTIMATIONS

JOHNSTONE'S

M.P.

A Really Recherché Whisky,

The best that quality of ingredients

case of salaries on a sterling basis alio on account of the rise in exchange. They and age combined with experience were laid before the Governor soon after- his arrival in July last and were in due and skill can produce. course forwarded to the Secretary of State for the Colonies with recommenda- tions for increase of salaries, except in Jiat, and these received Mr. Harcourt's the last mentioned instance on the above approval

The most important recommendation relates to the rate of exchange on which 394 salaries are paid.

800

In a despatch under date 22nd Novem 210 ber, 1912 (No. 1), the Governor repre- sented to the Secretary of State for the 120 Colonics that dissatisfaction with existing 1,200 salaries was largely due to the high rate 1,200 of exchange which had supervened upon an undoubted increase in the cost of lving the main fact to be borne in mind was that the standard of value in the Colony was the Mexican Dollar and. not the English Pound Sterling, that to the foriner standard local products must conform and that these with house rent, wages, doctors and dentists' fees, which never varied with exchange, represented in the case of married officers 66 per cent. and in the case of bachelors 80 per cent. of their liabilities.

1,020

20

34,728

THE NAILWAY RESOLUTION. The CHAIRMAN Hon, members will find that this xatter was gone into by the Colonial Secretary last year. You will End it in Hansard, page 82 of 1912. He gave a full explanation of everything that was asked for up to date, and that includes everything completed up to date

now

Sir Kai Ho Kai-Including the station i The CHATEAN--Yes.

HON. Ma. Ross-Does the $141,000 include the station ?

The CHAIRIAS-That is what will be spent this year.

THE MINERAL RESOURCES OF

FORMOSA

A recent Consular report says that Hon. Mr. HEWETE-In-any case the geologically speaking, Formosa is divided

The weat buildings must be kept up?

into three longitudinal belts. ern belt is on the average about 20 miles The CHAIRMAN Yes. If we get rent so wide, and is an alluvial formation con much the better.

always

SECRET SERVICE.

TA, GENERAL WORKS,

The average rate for the year 1902, when the sterling salaries scheme was in- troduced and double exchange compensa- tion was granted, was 18. The maximuto rate of exchange for the pay- dollar ment of sterling salaries and salaries with exchange compensation had been fixed in 1907 at 29.

The average rates for the years 1908 and following were :-

!: 1908.

1800

: 1910 TOP 1911

1s. 9.

1. વર્તે.

18. 9ld. 18. 91d.

The rates for these years had tonded to regulate expenditure on the basis more or less of a 1s.. Od. dollar,

The rates for the current year were as follows:

January

May

Faliruary

March

April

June

July

Angust

September October

1s. 11 d.

-18-11d.

OBTAINABLE EVERYWHERE.

H. RUTTONJEE & SON,

Wine and Spirit Merchants.

ZEISS

131

PRISM

BINOCULARS

AT HOME PRICES:

16 Power

12

(new model).

£10.10.0 .£10.10.0

1

104d.

is. 11 d.

12

£9.5.0

1. 111d..

£6.10.0

(large field)....

£7.10.0

£0.0.0

(small model)

£5.18.0

£5.8.0

25.

Is. itd. 25. ..24.

taiting no mineral deposits. The middle belt in of tertiary formation. This belt The Governor reccmended the Council is about 15 miles wide, broadening out in the north to include the entire north to vote a sum of $4,000 in aid of the vote coast, and ranges in altitude from 200 to This strip Harbour Master's Department, C3,500 feet above sea level,

contains all the mineral deposits which It would thus be sech that officers on Other Imports and Exports Office,

are at present productive. The eastern sterling salaries had suffered a serious telt includes about one-half of the island, loss of purchasing power. Charges, Secret Service.

A careful investigation of the matter The CHAIRMAN-Numerous contraband and consists of high mountain ranges showed that the increase in the cost of

reaching an altitude of 13,000. feet. The articles have been seized, and the vote formation of these mountains is paleozie living since 1902 for officers domiciled in was exceeded. The seizures are not limestone, granite. and crystalline Europe was 213 per cent.. a figure, which dead loss, as they are disposed schist; their mineral resources are pracIn view of the above facts and of the

was calculated on a conservative basis.

to the credit of the Colony.

tically unknown. The middle belt, which forms, as it were, a frontier between the fact that the average rate of exchange for a sterling civilised districts in the alluvial of the the payment of salaries on west and the savage territory in the moun basis for the ten years andling 31st Decem tains of the east, has been prospected some ber. 1011 was is. 10, the Governor co- what thoroughly, and the mineral re commended that as from 1st January, sources have been found to be varied and 1913, 80 per cent of sterling salariés, in sence has already been discovered are guld, exchange compensation, should be paid o Useful minerals whose pro which are included dollar salaries with both natural and in ores; placer gold; a fixed rats of exchange of 1s. 9d. and. silver ores; copper, both natural and in the 20 per cent. be regarded as sterling compounds with arsenic and sulphur; salary and be paid at the average Hong- kong demand rate from the lath of the malachite; Bulphur phosphorus gres; alanite; limonite; yellow and brown iron preceding month to the 15th of the month uras: iron pyrites; zine and lead ores; quicksilver, natural and in compounds. such as cinnabar; coul and brown con petroleum and natural gay

Ninety-eight per cent of the totul out

after the expiration of one week from the date of this resolution, be illegal, and it is further hereby resolved that a noticity to children. Under the present section 20 of The Offences against the Person fication shall he made in the next issue Ordinance, 1865, ubandonment or exposure of the Government Gazette accordingly. of a child ander the age of two years by Works.

Proceeding, he said-This resolution which the life of the child is endangered or has been brought forward to prevent the exportation of Persian opium to any place or countries which prohibit such import. It has been agreed that Formosa is the only place to which this kind of

for purposes of business. At the same

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $2,200 in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary, Kowloon, range, Training Nullahs-General The Governor recommended the Council is punishable with imprisonment for a period to vote a sum of $1,700 in aid of the vote not exceeding three years. There is also no Public Works, Extraordinary, Hongkong, doubt that, under the Common Law which Drainage, Training Nullahs, () General obtains in the Colony, it would he possible Works. to proceed, in some cases, against persons guilty of serious cruelty to children but not inly is the procedure under the Common

its health ikely to be permanently injured

VOLUNTEER RESERVE.

The Governor recommended the Council.

extensive..

of payment.

The Secretary of State for the Colonies 1913, approved the foregoing proposals in a despatch under date 8th February, subject to their being, liable to re-con- opium could be exported from. Hongkos Lar more cumbrons than when the principles to vote a sum of $10,472 or £959 17s 3d.put of the mines of Formosa comes from sideration at the end of every three years, are concisely contained in an Ordinance but at 1/10) in aid of the rote Military the Prefecture of Taihoku, in the extreme in view of the possibility that the ex- tim, in order to allow merchantan market as there may exist instances in which the Expenditure, Z.- Volunteer, Other north. The remaining 2 per cent, repre- change value of the dollar might in tho future rise and remain so high as to make in case the stuff is not required in For-

Common Law afforts unsatisfactory looplietes Charges, Volunteer Reserve, Aminunition seals the output of a petroleum well bear

the arrangement a source of serious - The CHAIRMAN-A brtain amount of yoritan and a coal mine in the same for escape. The provisions of this Bill are

Mr. mosa, the port of London has been added intended to remedy both these defects and ammunition was to be held, but this petroleum have been discovered in many

vicinity.". Beans of coal, however, and barrassment to the Government.

Harcourt further reserved to himself, and as a place to which they may export they provide that nuy adult who wilfully amount is assumed by the military places all the way to the southern ex his successors in office the right tops were surplus stocks. You will observe there assaults or neglects, a child or young person is an addition to the part of the resulu so as to cause it unnecessary suffering or authorities to be insufficient. The new fremity of the island, but no effort at sider the system as soon as any steps were tion when it comes into operation. It injury shall be duly punishable.

ammunition is more expensive then the exploitation has yet been male. On the taken to place either the Chinese or the

east coast also many valuable deposits Hongkong currency on a gold basis. old.

have been discovered, notably of gold in the region inhabited by the Taroko THE BRITISH CONSULAR SERVICE savages, There is no doubt that when this region becomes pacified and settled further valuable discoveries will be made. Mining in Formosa, must therefore be said

has

been made at the instance of the merchants connected with the trade in order to enable them to dispose of surplus. stocks at present in their possession.

The ATTORN 29 GENERAL seconded, and

the resolution was carried

KOWLOON CANTON HAILWAY.

MERCANTILE BANK NOTE ISSUE AMENDMENT ORDINANCE.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill entitled, "An Ordin- ance to amend the Mercantile Bank Note Issue Ordinance, 1911. In doing so he said-I think I need only say that the

The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the Ordinance as it stood was not considered following resolution :---

by the Lords Commissioners of His

and

thirty- cents

It is hereby reshood-that- n Bui of Majesty's Treasury to give quite suficient Dollars Four hundred and thirty thousand power with regard to the sale of all the and sixty-eight (8430,058.30) be advanced out of funds funds which were placed at the disposal in the custody of the Government for the of the Crown agents in the case of neces construction of the Kowloon-Canton Rail-sity for the redemption of the Bank's way (British Section) during the year note issue. The suggestion, then, which 1918. In doing so he said-In connection with is now being made by them is that they. this I beg to lay on the table a statement are clearly given full power as to the sale of the estimate of expenditure during the of these securities in their hands, in the year 1913, together with other figures in event of it being necessary to redeem the

notes.

connection with the expenditure on' con- struction. I do not propose to prosced

The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and with the resolution to-day, but simply the motion was agreed to.

to

MAIL CHARGES.

The Governor recommended the Council vote a sum of $222,000 in aid of the Post Office, Other Charges, Carriage

Share of Mail Subsidy

$ 25,615 Tmusit Charges

196,385

of Mails -

Total

INSPECTOR'S QUARTERS.

$222,000

to be still in its infancy."

At the annual inecting of the Associated Chambers of Commerce in London a dis- cussion took place on a resolution sub- The value of the aimual output of the mitted by Belfast that "the utility of the British Consular Service would be gold mines of Forniosa is over one-half the total value of all mineral products. materially enhanced if Consular officials There are at present more than 20 gold were authorised to communicate direct.. on personal application, information mines in the island, but of these practical sought by accredited British inquirers in ly only three are productive. In many foreign countries. It was pointed out of the mities nothing is found but quartz that Corsular oficers were appointed by others contains little gold, and in the Foreign Office, but transferred their others iron pyrites have been mistaken: for gold ore. among the mineral productions of For-

Coal is second in value formation through the Board of Trade. It was stated that an important develop-- Bosa. There are four varietics, anthra- ment in the service had been decided The resolution was carried. A eite, black-brown, and two varieties of upon. brown. The Governor recommended the Council leum veins all over Formosa.

There are indications of petro-motion was also carried expressing, the Some 300 opinion that in the interests of British to vote a sum of 83,900 in aid of the vote wells have been dug, but the only one that trade it was desirable that the Board of Public Works Department has

is actually productive is the Shukkoku Trade should compile and publish a special and comprehensive report showing. Personal Enioluments

well, owned by the Hoden Oil Co. The Other Charges, Converance,

others consist of dry wells, wells produc-in detail the existing trade with the coun

tries contiguous to economically Allowanc

Eng little oil, wells producing only affected by the Panama Canal, for the in- or well, on trial. Although considerable formation of traders desiring to extend capital and energy have been expended

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $1.786 in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary, Hong kong, Buildings, City Slaughter House Quarters for Additional Inspector, **

P.W.D. EXPENSES.

Total

$3,600

360

$3,000

or

in trying to induce a flow of oil, results their business relations with those coun

tries. have so far been unsatisfactory.

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Chs. J. Gaupp

& Co.,

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43