Page
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND FIRË BRIGADE.
NEW TURNTABLE LADDER TO BE PROCURED?
REMAINING EQUIPMENT, CONSIDERED UP-TO-DATE.
LEGISLATION REQUIRED FOR COMPULSORY INSPECTION.
cabling him to call upon the own- ers of buildings of the type men tioned to make adequate and ample provision for fire-escapes in such buildings, and to permit of their
At yesterday's meeting of the 'nance so as to invest the Building Legislative Council, the Hon. Mr. Authority with statutory powere J. P. Braga asked & number of questions, concerning the equipment of the Hong Kong Fire Brigade. Replies were made by the Colonial Secretary (the Hop. Mr., W. T. Southorn).
The Arst query was:
Without implying any reflection on the personnel of the efficient and hard-working staff of the "Fire Brigade, is the Government satis- Ard with the up to dateness and completeness of the appliances and equipment for lifesaving in the event of another outbreak of fire like that of the King Edward Hotel in the small hours of March 117
$30,000 for One Machine... The Colonial Secretary replied that the Government was satisfied that the life-saving."apparatus and equiparent of the Hong Kong Fire Brigade are thoroughly up to date except the motor turntable ladder which is seven years old, and is feet in height. It is to remember-
|
|
regular inspection by officers ap jointed by the Government, and to equire that the main staircases of buildings designed for use as bos- telries and groups of offices shall be built of reproof material?
THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS. FRIDAY, MAY 3, 1929.
SELF-GOVERNING DISTRICT.
MEMORIAL TO SÙN YAT
SEN.
CHUNG SHAN ENTERING "PERIOD OF POLITICAL TUTĖLAGE."
[FROM OUR CHINESE CORRESPONDENT.]
CANTON, May 2 The Chung Shan District, which was the birth place of Sun Yat Sen has begun its existence as a model
li-governing district.
Speaking at the inaugural core-!
of
many of the new government of the district, Mr. Tang Shao F, formerly: Minister Foreign Affairs, who has a prominent place in the Government, said that from now on, special attention would be paid to the development of self- government in the district along the lines laid down by Dr. San, who had said that each Hsien, or is trict, should be self-governed and responsible only to the Central Government.
Doubts of Legal Position. Mr. Southorn replied that in view of doubts as to the legal posi- ion fresh legislation would be necessary anwending section 149 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance and enabling modern safety requirements to be minde en forceable in the ease of all build tuga irrespective of age and prior ertificates. The Government is not yet satisfied that drastic legislation of this kind is called for. It willing on
realized that the enforcement of such legislation would render neces sary the reconstruction of much of the house property at present exist ing in Hong Kong.
Under the Law as it has existed
since 1003, ni bildings with floor: more than 10 ft. above the level of
The Chung Shan District is enter. the Period of Political
Tutelage the second period in the Sationalist movement according to the plan of Dr. Sun. San Min Chu 1, as the second period is enlled in hinese, will firat be practical in Chung Shan and from there will,
China.
WAR MAY BE AVERTED.
KWANGSI ENVOY AT
· WORK.
ABERDEEN'S WATER
SUPPLY.
GOVERNMENT APPROVES $3,000,000 SCHEME.
"FIRST AND WORST" TO SUFFER FROM DROUGHT,
RUMOURED SETTLEMENT.
(FROM OCR CHINESE CORRESPONDENT-]
As a result of the passing of a CANTON, May resolution put forward by the General Wong Shiu Elung's en. Colonial Secretary at yesterday's voy, Mr. Kung Kit Yuan, has armecting of the Legislative Council' rived here safely from Kwangsi and the Government, has approved the has been conferring with General Aberdeen. Water Scheme, the carry- Chen Tsai Tong or the question of out of which will add over 2,000,000 avoiding war between the Two gallons daily to the island's water supply. The scheme will probably Kwang provinces, «
cost $3,000,000.
No official statement "has been wade but there is a strong belief that the negotiations were most successful and real hopes are enter tained that the danger of a us less war, which no one in the two provinces wines, may be averted, There is no doubt as to Kwangai's desire for peace. The province is suffering severely from the drought and practically the whole of her trade is through Kwangtung ri the Wess.River
2
SECRECY.
There is considerable hostility section of the Canton among officials towards Kwangsi and, to any envoy that she may send The utmost secrecy has, therefore, been maintained with regard to Mr. Kung's, identity and movements.
The resolution read as follows:- "That this Council approves the carrying out of the Aberdeen Water Scheme set out in Sessional Paper No. 10 of 1927, at an estimated cust of 82,709,000 and the expenditure. of a sure of 8555.000 during the current financial year, the cost, to be met by a future loan and mean- while to be charged as an advance from the surplus balances of the funds of the Colony."
Az Unpleasant Experience. Speaking on the resolution. Mr. Southern said that the details of the scheme were fally set out in Sessional Paper No. 10 of 1947 and it was, therefore, not necessary to take up the time of the Council with a detailed description of the scheme. was estimated, would which, it Provide an additional 12 million to say that it appeared to be the gallons of water a day, Suffice it
last remaining practicable scheme any large incrense in the storage of water on the island of hibitive expenditure. admitted, especially in view of mur He thought it would be generally
unpleasant experience during the long drought which unfortunately still continues that, whatever water. from Kowloon, they should have available all possible means of storage on the Hong Kong side.
for
ed that this appliance is primarily a water-tower, to be used as such by members of the Fire Brigade, and can only occasionally be used the street are required to be pro- it is hoped, spread to all parts of arrived in Canton on Tuesday, Hong Kong without almost pro- for life-saving purposes, in circumvided with such means of escape in stances requiring extreme care and the case of fire for the persons considerable skill.
dwelling or employed therein as the Building Authority may reason. The Government has taken notably require, in accordance with of the suggestion in the finding of section 140 of Ordinance 2 of 1903. the Jory at the Inquest into the This requirement has been regular fatalities in the King Edward Hotel y enforced since 1903 but opinions Ere that an improved water-tower I have varied from time to time, as formally given office cz. April 9 moned hy the injured lender. He it might be able to bring across
to what is reasonable, much stricter views having prevailed in rezent
years,
should be obtained and the matter is now under consideration. The enat. is considerable and may amount to as much as 8301:000 for
The Balding Authority now con- one machine.
sults the Chief Officer Fire Brigade. The next question and answerefore expressing satisfaction under were as follow:-
section 149. The section further requires aay means of escape 30 provided to be maintained to the satisfaction of the Building Author ity: but insufficiency of staff has prevented regular inspections from being carried out to see that this part of the section is observed.
Are the rescue-laiders of a suf- Beint height to reach the top floor of the tallest building in the Colony when any inmates are entrapped therein in the CLSC of n fire 1 If not, will the Government take mediate steps to provide the Fire Department with a sufficiency of all appliances (including jump- ing-sheets) necessary so as to avert the recurrence of a disaster and to minimise, as far as practicable, the loss of fires such as happened in the King Edward Hotel gre?
Exceptional-Buildings,
Mr. Southern went on to explain that certain classes of exceptional buildings such as hotels, cinemas, theatres, etc., have for some years past been required by the Building Reply-No The longest manual | Authority to have special protection
The Executive Committee for the new government of the Chang Shan District, who have been appointed
having sailed in the Tai Ming from Wuchow to Hong Kong. There he heldi a lengthy conference with General Chen Ming Shu and several by the. Central Government, were other officials who had been sum
ני
stayed in the British Colony under with due ceremony in the Magiaan asumed name and came, strictly acy of the district at Sheki, which incognito, to Canton, where the
same precautions are being taken. The Government, as the Council was invishly decorated for the oc-
knew, was not putting forward this VISIT FROM MR. T. V. Aberdeen scheme as tzaion.
a substitute for that portion of the Shing Mun SOONG?
scheme which involved the bring There is a rumour that Mr. T. Ving of Shing Mun water to Hong Soong, Finance Minister to the with the Shing Mun scheme as fast Kong. They were pushing ahead Nationalist Government," will short- Chung Yung Kwang (President ofly pay a visit to Canton. His busi as they could. Lingnam University), and Mr. Li Luess in the Southern capital is not
known and it is only a Chin (a member of the Provincial that it will be confined to questions Government of Kwangtung).
of finance and the currency problem.
The Committee include Me Tang"1" Shan Y3, Mr. Ma Ying Pin (Man- ager of the Sincere Co., Ltd.), Mr.
THE INAUGURAL CERE-
MONY.
Mayor Lin Wan Koi represented fire escape in Hong Kong is 55 feet against fire even though of a less the Central, Government at the in in height, which is the largest height than those referred to in
n respect of a buildings of more than two stories. It must be re- membered, he said, that the plans of the King Edward Hotel were approved in 1202 and the building was certified in 1903 when Tess stringent views prevailed than those
trate of the model district, took
his oath of office in the presence of
ever a thousand persons.
The ceremony was presided over by Mr. Tang Shao Yi, whe dwelt at length on the inauguration of the Period of Political Tut-lage
nade. The largest mechanical Firesection, 149. The Government isaugural ceremony, and Mr. Li Lu Brigade. ladder or water tower now considering whether similar | Chiu, the newly appointed magis. manufactured so far na is known safeguards should not be required is only, a feet in length and there are many buildings in the Colony with stories above this height. It is one of these water towers which is referred to in the answer to the first part of the Honourable Mem ber's question.
Further, with the exception of (w enforced. the improved water-tower already referred to the Fire Brigade has! all the equipment recognised by the London Fire Brigade as life saving apparatus. Certain other appliantes such as rocket lines have been under careful consideration but are not considered to be of practical value.
Mr. Braga then asked:
Will the Government consider the
advisability of compelling holders for Chung Shan in his opening of hotel icenges to fulfil the re-speech. Chung Shan District had quirements set out and to instal en chosen for the first experiment automatic electric fire-alarma,
other mechanical centrivances for of Dr. Sun's principles because it effectively raising alarms upon an was his birth place, he said. and outbreak of fire, in their premises?
district with an
income
«
gurmise
DANGEROUS DRUGS ORDINANCE,
BENZOYL-MORPHINE INCLUDED.
A bill faid on the table as yester day's meeting of the Legislative Council provides for the inclusion of the drugs benzoylimorphine, dihydro-ozycodeinone, dihydrocodet none, and their respective salts, and any mixture or preparation con taining them, to come under the terms of Regulation, I. of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (1003).
The drug benzoyl-morphine, which is an Ester of morphine, should not be confused with benzoyl-mor- phine, which is an Ether of mor phine. The latter drug is occasion ally used in medicine, being sold under the proprietary name of
"Peronine
Bywash Reservoir.
was being provided in the new Increased storage on the mainland-
Kowloan Bywash Reservoir, the actual construction of which has commenced, and the Waterworks Engineer was, it was hoped, already engaged in final discussions with the Consulting Engineers at Home as to the design of the pipe line. At the same time, preliminary inves tigations were in hand for further storage on the upper reaches of the Shing Mun River. ............
50
The Aberdeen" scheme was, far as Hong Kong Island was coin- cerned, supplementary to the Shing Mun scheme and would be of the utmost value in securing improved supply to the Western end of the city which, in times of drought, was always the worst and first to suffer
It would be noticed that there a discrepancy between the estimated cost of $2,627,000 given in the Sessional Paper and the figure of 2.702,000, given in the re- solution. This represent the differ ence between the estimated and the netual cost of the necessary resump- tions.
was
In grapy, Mr. Southore said that he added: "Chung Shan is a very The Health Committee of the The estimated time necessary for these suggestions are receiving the rich
League of Nations refer to dihydro-completion of the Aberdeen scheme consideration of the Government;
oxycodeinene), and to dihydrosolution was approved, they should. but it is probable that begislation equivalent to that the whole proxendeinone as Eucodak (dihydro-was three years, so that, if the re- codeinone as Dicodide (dihydro- obtain the benefits of the scheme by codeinone).
W
Difficulties of Inspection. Mr. Braga: Will the Government cause an immediate inspection to be sade of all the large buildings and offices in the Colony-... Chips will be necessary before they can Building, Quera's. King's, Prince's, he insisted upon in the case of Alexandra, and similar buildings, buildings already certified. to ascertain if fire exits are pro- vided on every floor therein; that there are indicators showing the way to the exits and lighted in red by night, in the same manner as is done in theatres; that the passages along these exits are made easily accessible and kept free from ob- structions at all times?
The 1977 Suggestion."
The Hon. Mr. W. E. L. Shenton asked the following questions:---
What steps have been taken by
vince of Kweichow."
Pedestal Hydrants. The relaying of the water mains and fixing, of pedestal hydrants is being undertaken on annual votes
Schedule Lis further amended by
1932,
The scheme was strongly recom- the substitution of the works,mended by the Director of Public morphine, etc., cocaine, etc., Works and the Waterworks En- diacetyl-morphine (heroin) etc,gineer in the reports published in benzoyl-morphine, etc., dihydro Sessional Paper No. 4 of 1928. oxycodeinone, etc., dihydrocodei- the Government to carry out the As regards legislation for the none, etc., medicinal opium, extract report of the Committee appointed purpose recommended by the Con or tincture of Indian hemp, for the to consider suggestions for the immittee, namely to give the Gover-words, morphine, ete, cocaine, cté, provement of the fire-fighting crnor-in-Council power to make re diacetyl-morphine (heroin), etc., ganisation of the Colony, which was gulations in regard to the prevco- asedicinal opium, extract or tine laid on the table of the Legislative tion of fire, escape from and extine ture of Indian hemp..
tion of fires, the matter was refer- Council on May 27, 1927 1
COUNCILLORS AND THE
ECLIPSE.
A. HOLIDAY.
Mr. Southorn replied that power of inspection of buildings by the Building Authority exists, but the necessary staff to make immediate If steps have already been taken,red to the Attorney-General, who inspections such as are suggested what further steps does the Gavern-advised that legislation was neces in the question is not availablement propose to take?.
sary, but that the drafting of the Inspections were actually made by
The Colonial Secretary replied Ordinance should await the formu Fire Brigade Officers of 982 build- ings during 1928 and advice given, that in matters of personnel Andation of the regulations to be made referred to the Chief Officer of the The more difficult questions are guipment, the recommendations of thereunder. The matter was then
At the close of yesterday's meet those of the policy of enforcing a the Committee referred to have been more modera. Interpretation of see generally adopted and either have Fire Brigade, but owing to the tion 140 of Ordicanes No. 1 of 1803 been, or are being, carried out with great difficulty of compiling pracing of the Legislative Council, His in the case of buildings erected stain minor exceptions, the chief ticable regulations, the matter has Excellency, the Governor (Sir Cecil prior to
the enactment of that of which is that the Government made slow progress. Draft regula Clementi), observed that the eclipse tions regarding places of public of the sun will occur on Thursday section in 190 and of the power to considered it best to retain the enforce such an interpretation in Captain' Superintendent of Police entertainment, garages and the next. the case of buildings which have as Chiel Officer of the Fire Brigade storage of inflammable liquids were recently submitted to the been certified a6 complying with
Financial Arrangements. "Coming now to the question of. the Gov. Finance, he went on, ernment iĘ satisfied that water. works schemes of this inagnitude are not a fair charge on the current revenue of the Colony, and bas secured the approval of the Secre tary of State to charge the cost of
to the Aberdeen scheme Loan Funds. The present public works loan will, however, be more than fully expended in paying for the first section of the Shing Muni lacheme, the construction of the Kai Tak Atrodrome and the Harbour Dredging
It will, therefore, be necesinry to charge the Aberdeen scheme and As no doubt many members of the the extensions of the Shing Mum scheme to a further loan which will Legislative Council would desire to
cil meet on the following Thursday.
advance the necessary money from the surplus funds of the Colony which later on, will be reimbursed from loan funds.
Ordinance No. 1 of 1993. This sub we shall be able to As regards construction, it has Government, together with a draft see the phenomenon, His Excellency / be raised at a future date. For jeeb has from time to time engaged funds for the suggested annin put into effect. the attention of the Government Station in Kowloon but the site
Further consideration of these and it is now a matter for con referred to is earmarked for the draft regulations was postponed aideration whether the interests of purpose. Temporary sub-stations pending the finding of the Coroner's the public should not outweigh the exist in the Eastern and Western enquiry into the King Edward
Districts of Victoria but the per- Hotel fire. hardship to owners of property,
The
Mr. Braga then asked whether, manent buildings have not yes been The regulations already drafted if no powers exist to compel the erected for want of funds,
are receiving consideration and the enforcement of the requirements Shaukiwan sub-station has not yet preparation of further regulations stated in the foregoing question,en provided but a hand-trailed is being considered by the depart- will the Government frame and in-motor-pump is installed nt Shau-ments concerned troduce early legislation with A view to amend the Building Ordi.
kiwan Police Station,
Other business before the Legisla (Continued on nert Column). tive Council is reported elsewhere.
MR. B. D. F. BEITH.
SWORN-IN AS MEMBER OF COUNCIL.
..
Mr. B. D. F. Beith was sworn-in as a member of the Legislative Council at yesterday's meeting.
"It is estimated that the amount which will be required for expendi ture during the current financial year is $558,000, the greater part of which will be spent on "resump tions"
The resolution, which was second ed by Sir Shou-son Chow, was pass- rd unanimously.
Now--
5
THE BATHING SEASON
MEN'S BATHING
COSTUMES
in
One and two piece
styles
and in the New Colours and Designs. All sizes
from
34" to 46" chest measurement
Lane, Crawford, Ltd.
Without
5256
ELECTRIC
Columbia Needs RECORDS
(Scratch
9665
(ANNIE LAURIE_VARIATIONS ...
KEYS OF HEAVEN-VARIATIONS,.
TITOLI THEATED ORGAY.
BIRD SONGS AT EVENTIDE (I'M LONELY
+
(GOSSAMER WINGS
SQUILE'S OCTET.
5254
LAND OF DREAMS...
MEMORIES OF MENDELSSOHN
9649-
TWO PARTE ***
ANDERSON MUSIC Co., Ltd.
DIRECTORY
OF
THE FAR EAST
1929
NOW READY
Classified List of Manufacturers
and Merchants in Japan, China, Straits, Etc.
Hong Kong Daily Press Office.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.