56251-1918-Legislative-Council-Minutes-No-3 — Page 3

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, MAY 31, 1918.

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The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Colonial Secretary laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee (No. 1), dated the 21st February, 1918, and moved its adoption.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

QUESTIONS.Mr. LAU CHO-PAK, pursuant to notice, asked the following questions :---- 1. Will the Government make arrangements to have all the permanent public places of amusement periodically examined as to their stability, and the adequacy or otherwise of the provision of fire-exits and fire-extinguishing appliances ?

2. Will the Government state what conditions they propose to impose to ensure the safety of the

public in the case of temporary structures used as public places of amusement?

The Colonial Secretary replied.

QUESTIONS. Mr. HOLYOAK, pursuant to notice, asked the following questions:-

1. When did the Victoria Hospital on Barker Road cease taking in maternity cases? and for

what reason was this decision come to ?

2. How many infectious cases of discase have been taken into this Hospital during the fortnight

ending March 9th ?

3. Why are infectious cases imported into an area which was previously free from infectious

diseases?

4. How many cases of Measles have been taken into the Victoria Hospital during the past 3 weeks

and how many of these cmanated from Kowloon ?

5. Are such diseases as Measles, Diphtheria, Scarlet-Fever, etc., “notifiable" diseases? and if

not, will the Government take immediate steps to make them so?

6. Will the Government provide in the next Estimates for increasing materially the size of

Victoria Hospital ?

(a) Sell a portion of the present site of the “Government Civil Hospital” and with the

proceeds erect :----

(b) A Hospital for Europeans in the Central district of Hongkong?

(c) A Branch Hospital for Europeaus in Kowloon ?

(d) Improve the present Lunatic Asylum ?

7. Will the Government give instructions that the General Post Office shall remain open on all Bank holidays, other than Xmas Day and China New Year's day, until 12 o'clock Noon for the despatch of Mails?

The Colonial Secretary replied.

Mr. HOLYOAK addressed the Council and His Excellency the Governor replied.

QUESTIONS. Mr. POLLOCK, pursuant to notice, asked the following questions:-

1. In connection with the recent disaster at the Racecourse which resulted in the death of over

570 persons,

(i) Is it the fact that the Coroner, near the close of his charge to the Jury, said as

follows:-

"It would appear that this calamity was one which could most probably have been prevented by the exercise of foresight, and foresight which one might have reasonably expected before the event and which one certainly found it easy to expect after the event.”

(ii) Is it the fuct that the Jury, in their findings, specified certain neglects and omissions of duty on the part of the Public Works Department and the Police Department?

(iii) Is it the fact that the Jury recommended the making and enforcement by the Gorernment of certain classes of regulations for the purpose of minimizing, so far as possible, the risk of a future recurrence of such a disaster?

2. If the answer to the last Question is in the affirmative will the Government take early steps to pass the necessary Regulations, and, in the framing of such Regulations, will the Govern- ment take especial care to enact that certain definite Officials in the Government Service shall be personally responsible for seeing that such Regulations are carried out ?