563078-1929-Minutes--No-5 — Page 2

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THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, JUNE 21, 1929.

1. The Council met pursuant to adjournment. His Excellency the Governor

occupied the Chair.

MINUTES.

2. The Minutes of the Meeting held on the 2nd May, 1929, were confirmed.

PAPERS.

3. The following papers were laid on the table :-

Prohibition under section 39 sub-section 18 of the Merchant Shipping Ordi-

nance, 1899, on 10th April, 1929.

Notification re change of name of Lunatic Asylum to Mental Hospital, on 26th

April, 1929.

Declaration under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899, Ordinance No. 10

of 1899, Table L, Quarantine Regulations, on 2nd May, 1929.

Declaration under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899, Ordinance No. 10

of 1899, Table L, Quarantine Regulations, on 3rd May, 1929.

Declaration under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899, Ordinance No. 10

of 1899, Table L, Quarantine Regulations, on 7th May, 1929.

Sessional Paper, 1929:

No. 5.-Report of the River Steamers Commission 1928.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

4. The Colonial Secretary laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee

(No. 5), dated the 2nd May, 1929, and moved its adoption.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

QUESTIONS.

5. The Hon. Mr. J. P. BRAGA, pursuant to notice, asked the following questions :-

1. In view of the weight of public opinion against the recommendations of the Committee appointed to advise on the taxation of motor-cars (S. P. 3/1929), is it the intention of Government to proceed with legislation on the lines of the Committee's recommendations?

2. If so, will the Government delay any legislation until it has had time to receive representations which the recommendations in question are likely to call forth from the Automobile Association, the motoring and oil trades and transport companies operating in Hong Kong and Kowloon, and other interests affected?

3. In the consideration of the aforesaid recommendations will the Govern-

ment keep in view--

(a) a very generally expressed opinion, to which prominence was given in a leading article of the South China Morning Post of the 2nd May, that "one of the primary needs of the Colony is decentralization-development of suburban residential areas particularly and for this cheap transport is essential";

;

(b) the possibility of an increase in 'bus fares affecting the masses on whom the proposed taxation may fall most heavily and who are least capable of bearing it;

(c) the further rise in the high cost of living in the Colony; and