1936-07-23 — Page 7

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HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, JULY 23, 1936.

CIVIL SERVICE LEVY LANE, CRAWFORD'S

TENTS AT REPULSE BAY

"

"Segregation Unnecessary"

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HON. MR. M. K. LO

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REPLY BY GOVERNMENT

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A Bill to regulate certain pleasure grounds, bathing places and places of public resort, has become law. It passed its third reading at the meeting of the Legislative Council held yesterday afternoon.

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The Hon. Mr. M. K. Lo, in the course of his speech, sald-he.. was glad that Government had decided not to ban tents at Re- .pulse Bay and he knew that the Government announcement i

this regard was received with pleasure and a sense of relief by the public. But he still submitted that it was unnecessary to mark out any special areas and segregate tents therein,

Replying for the Government, the Hon. Attorney Generai said that it was estimated that the area marked out for tents will permit of the erection of a dozen tents or two cows of a dozen each. Further areas could be marked out if the number of tents increased. He saw no reason under present conditions for limiting the height of the tents or for giving them the in- dividual isolation which the Han. Mr. Lo's proposals involved.

SPECIAL AREA

ALLOCATED

The Attorney General, moving the second reading of the Bill, sald: Sir, since the first reading of this B your Government has reconsidered its decision to ban private tents from Repulse Bay beach and has decided instead to allocate an area 150 feet in length a. the centre of the beach near the central stream and opposite matsheds numbers 27 to 32.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

HON. MR. M. K. LO

Your Excellency When this Bill reaches the Com- mittee Stage I propose to move the delegation of Regulation 2.(3) and (4) or the Regulations governing bathing places. But as my reasons for so doing involve a question of principle rather than a mere de- tall of the Bill, I feel that I should submit my reasons now. The prin- ciple involved is as to what the Legislature should do in regard to the conflicting claims and rights of bathing-shed owners and other members of the general public who desire to erect tents for their own use and convenience.

I am sure, Bir, that you desire to give a fair deal, both to the bathing-shed owners and to those who desire to use tents in connec Lion with, their bathing, and the only question is-What is a fair deal?

High Tribute

Paid

AT COUNCILS MEETING

TO HON. SIR SHOU-SON CHOW

High tribute to the ser vices rendered by the Hon. Sir Shou-son Chow to the public in general and the legislature of the Colony since 1921, was paid by His Excellency the Governor, Sir Andrew Caldecott, ad- dressing members at the meeting of the Legislative Council held yesterday af. ternoon prior to the com- mencement of the business of the day.

Sir Andrew said:-

On December 2, 1921. there on this point: But I noticed that was appointed to this Council a Chinese gentleman who had al- there is a stretch of beach of at least 50 yards between the streamready done. good public service on marking what I presume to be ne Lido property, and the first bath- ing-shed. ou which no sheds have been built at all, and I should ima- gine that this portion could ac- commodate many tents.

I am happy, str. to report to this Council that the views of the shed Own

THE RESTRICTIONS The restrictions which ausgest ed relate to the distance between the "sheds and the tents, the dis- tance between the tents themselves and the heights of the tents, and are based more or less on the act ual conditions at Repulse Bay as I found them that afternoon. I have embodied these restrictions in a suggested Regulation, which is to take the place of Regulation 2 (3), for which I will move in Committee,

one

of

ARBITRARY RATE OF EXCHANGE REDUCED Further Concession To Sterling Paid Officers

SCHEME APPROVED BY SECRETARY OF STATE

Moving a resolution dealing with the rate of ex change at which sterling salaries for the third quarter of 1935 are to be paid, the Hon. Mr. Edwin Taylor (Colonial Treasurer) at the Legislative Council meeting yesterday announced that it was now proposed to reduce the arbitrary rate of exchange by another three farthings to ls, 4id.

that some concession should be made to officers in this position. The scheme has been approved by the Secretary of State and has been accepted by meribers of the Finance Committee. Its adoption will re- duce by $35,000 the total savings under the Levy on Salaries Ordi- nance.

The Colonial Treasurer zald:- adjust their expenditure imme- Your Excellency:-The first re- diately and have been obliged to solution standing in my name deals buy sterling at the Bank's selling with the rate of exchange at which rate, which to-day 18 18/31d. It sterling salaries for the 3rd quar-is, therefore, thought reasonable ter of 1936 are to be paid. For the first quarter salaries were paid at 1s/d, for the second quarter at 1s/5id and the proposal now is to reduce the arbitrary rate of ex- change "by another 3d to 19/41d. The Secretary of State has ap proved and I now more Resolved pursuant to section 2 (4) of the Hong Kong Government Service (Levy on Salaries) Ordinance, 1936, that after deduction of the levy, if any, and of the Widows and Orphans' Pension Contribution, if any, or of either, the remainder of the salaries of all public officers in the Hong Kong Government Service, which are expressed in terms of sterling, whatever their amount, shall be converted at the rate of one shilling and fourpence half-penny to the dollar for the months of July, August and September, 1938.

And resolved further that in the. case of such an officer, who has two or more auch` dependents so resident as aforesaid, the exemp-, tion (after the said deductions, if

any) shall extend to one third of the salary.

The Colonial Secretary seconded and the resolutions were passed..

Hong Kong's District Watch Com- mittee and its Sanitary Board; a

I now move Resolved pursuant to man who was destined to become & dominant personality in this

section 6 of the Hong Kong Gov- the

ernment Service (Levy on Salaries) Chamber and a pillar of Colonial Administration. His name

Ordinance, 1938, that with effect was Mr. Chow Shou Son, and he

from the 1st day of January, 1938, served as a member of the Legis-

until the 30th day of September, 1936, both days included, that one whom I consulted,ature for ten years; receiving the were unanimous and emphatic: honour of Knighthood In 1926, In

sixth of the salary, it expressed in that they do not wish in any way which year he was also appoint-

terms of sterling, of every oficer to interfere unduly with the sim ed to be the first Chinese member

of the Hong Kong Government ple and innocent pleasure of tent of our Executive Council A fort

Service, who shall have a wife or users and that, provided certain night age to-day Bir Shou Son

u child under the age of twenty- one years dependent on him and restrictions, which I myself aug: Chow left these precincts for the

resident in a sterling or gold- sested. were to be imposed, they last time as a Councillor in would welcome the presence of spelling of that word, but with the

standard country, shall be exempt rafter deduction áf the levy, if any, tents in the midst, which has generous promise that we might

FURTHER CONCESSION.

and of the Widows and Orphans' the effect of adding to the galety still rely and call upon him as a and happy atmosphere of the counsellor in the other spelling. I The Colonial Treasurer: The Pension Contribution, if any, or of place.

shall not forget that promise. He next resolution is self explanatory, either) from the operation of the left moreover » with the seal

Council Win remember that a special conversion rate provided Royal gratitude set upon all that similar concession was made in for in section 2 (4) of the he has done for the Government 1931 to officers who had one or two sald Ordinance during the period and people of Hong Kong on dependents in a sterling or gold į in which such wife or child is so either Council for His Majesty standard country when salaries resident. the King has been graciously were bald half at 1s/6d and half pleased to approve the retention at current rate. It is a fact that by him of the title 'Honourable' the imposition at short notice of within this Colony. All of us here arbitrary rates of exchange of this afternoon will, I know, desire 18/6d, 18/5id and 13/4id for the to congratulate him on that änely first three quarters of the year has deserved honour, to wish him pro- pressed somewhat harshly on of longed health and happiness in cers having to remit funds as they which to enjoy it, and to place on were for the most part unable to official record in the local Han- I am glad, Sir, that Government sard an expression of our deep has decided not to ban tents at gratitude and admiration for his Repulse Bay, and I know that the signal public service. With your Government announcement in this permission, gentlemen, I will ask regard was received with pleasure the Clerk of Council to forward a and a sense of relief by the publice copy of these proceadings to Sir But I still submit that, provided shou Bon Chaw. (Applause). tents are subject to such restric-

UNOFFICIAL'S ASSOCIAȚION tions as I have indicated, it 13 unnecessary to mark out any aph-

The Hon. Mr. J. J. Paterson. cial areas and segregate tents speaking on behalf of the Unoff- therein as if they were uncleancial members, remarked how much things.

W they regretted the departure of I therefore respectfully commend Sk Shou Son Chow from the Regret he said, was near suel my amendment to this Council, Council.

when it is put forward in the Com- rather a selfish way to look on it mittee Stage as one which does for Sir Shou Son Chow had done u The number of bathing-shed fairly harmonise and reconcile the considerable amount of good work owners in relation to the number condicting claims of the bathing for the welfare of the Colony with his wide experience which the of potential gathers in the Colony | shed and tent "owners... must be infinitesamally small, The 2 (3), Tents, awnings or similar Colony had benefitted. He wished fact that bathing-sheds are n structures not exceeding 7 feet in Sir Shou Son Chow every hap- yearly Dermits may well give a height, in private ownership and piness and good health in the lei

sure which he had so richly earn- false view as to the precariousness Lot intended to be let, and not in of their holding, with its equally fact let, for hire, may be erected ed. (Applause). misleading implication that mem- and maintained without permit for bers of the general public may. periods not exceeding 12 hours in

ber of the Council I wish to asso-highwater mark, and and do, get their turns of being any one day on any beach: prociate myself with the remarks pathing-shed owners. In noint of vided that no such structure shall fact we know that bathing sheds be erected within 30 feet of another made by may honourable friend. and inhabited within approximate- are held more or less in mortmain. such structure or within 60 feet Sir Shou Son Chow's vast ex-ly 50 yards of the cesspool? Bathing-shed proprietors, either in front of any bathing-shed held original owners or assignees from under a permit issued by the Dir- original owners, must of necessity ector of Public Works or the ap- belong to a class which can afford propriate District Officer. the capital outlay in the construc-

اله

I concede at once that Govern- ment, having granted permits to bathing-shed holders for maintain- ing bathing-sheds in consideration of an annual fee, should do no thing in derogation of its own grant But as tents, to a kreater or less extent, have been in use for a lorik time, bathing-shed holders must be presumed to hold their bathing- sheds with the knowledge of the probabilly, or even certainty of tents being erected sheds.

FALSE VIEW

tion of the shed and the annual GOVERNMENT REPLY rent payable to Government--both fairly expensive items. No one be

The Hon. Dr. 8. W. Tso: Br. as senior Chinese unofficial mem-

perence in China has brought to bear in his services to the benefit of the Chinese community. (AP-

plause).

NO FREE PETROL

FOR CIVIL SERVANTS

Questions asked by the Hon. Mr. M. R. Lo concerning Chek Sha beach, situated midway between Ban Sin Hok and 'Jonk Bay: duty-free petrol to civil servants; and optum divans in the Colony, were replied to by the Colonial Secretary (Hon. Mr. R. A. C. North at

at the Legislative Council meeting held yesterday. Hon. Mr. M. K. Lo asked: With reference to the bathing | beach known as Chek Bha, situated midway between Ban Bin Kok and Miu Sek at Junk Bay,

Is Government aware:- (a) Thật it is a popular bathing

beach frequently resorted to by launch picnic parties?

(b). That a fair sized cesspool was recently constructed and used within approximately 200 yards of

(c) That two sheds were built

within the boundary of this ad- facent land but this would not im- prove the bathing amenities of the

beach, in the circumstances Gov- ernment' does not propose to take any action.

FREE PETROL "Hon. Mr. Lo:

Will Government Be good enough to furnish to this Council full in- formation as to the suppy from any Government depot or other- wise of duty-free petrol to civil servants

(a) setting out the terms and conditions and restrictions (if any) under which such supply, is given; and

(b) setting out the amount of duty-free petrol so supplied during the years 1934, 1935, and the first Fix months of 1936. --

Will Government consider the question of having the cesspool and matsheds removed to some other place not adjacent to popu- lar bathing beaches, as that the ing the ares running immediately

sea may not be polluted thereby?,

The Colonial Secretary replied: Colonial Secretary: parallel to the frontage of the Lot 1. I) (a) It is understood that

Government does not supply, nor grudes the shed owners their sheds Replying the Attorney General for the purpose of the use of that this is a small stony beach not has it ever supplied duty tree petrol or the amenities which sich struc-| spid)-—.

Lot as a public bathing pavilion particularly Bappted to use_by}} tó2 civil servants. Civil servants tures afford. But I submit that Bir-I am glad to hear that the and pleasure resort, but save as bathers, but that motor beate cony may obtain petrol for their per they are not the only persons en honourable and learned member aforesaid the Lesser has acquired reying bathers "frequently anchorsonal use from Government Stores

welcomes the Government's dect no rights whatever over the tore of the shore. titled le consideration.

on payment of the contract price. On the July 1, which was a Banksion not to ban private tents at shore and sea, bed in front of the (b) Yes..

together with the duty. holiday, I took the trouble to visit Repulse Bay. The Government's said Lot. Repulse Bay and to seek the views | proposal is to allocate an area for of various shed owners. Before the erection of these tents near setting out much views I may muji-the central stream which separates mit of the erection of a row of a tion that I did not see a single the matshed area from the Lido tent in that long stretch of beach Area. It was one of the condi- which fronts The Lido. I do not hans of sale of Lot O of the Lido know whether The Lido possesses property that the Lessee should 'all the foreshore rigtits, and I do have the right of tree and unin- aire respectfully to be enlightened terrupted across to the sea cover-

It is estimated that the area marked out for tents will per-

dozen tents or two rows of a dozen each, Further arese can be mark ed out if the number of tents fa creases. I submit, sir, that the

(Continued on Page 11)

(e) Yes,

(II) The cesspool and matsheds are necessary for the cultivation of private agricultural land ad- loining the beach. I am informed that the cesspool does not drala un to the beach, and therefore does not pollute the sea. The cultiva tor might be required to remove the cesspool and the masheds to`

OPIUM DIVANS

Hon. Mr. Lo

Is Government aware that in a recent criminal proceeding it was proved in evidence by Crown War- resses that there were no less than 800 cpium divans in the Colony,

(Continued on Page 11)

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