1902-12-04 — Page 1

PRESENT:―

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4TH DECEMBER, 1902.

get the full supply for the advertised period, get little or no water, and even that little at a most insufficient pressure?

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, Sir HENRY A. BLAKE, G.C.M.G.

HIS EXCELLENCY Sir W. GASCOIGNE, K.C.M.G. (Commanding the Troops).

Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Colonial Secretary). Hon. Sir HENRY SPENCER BERKELEY, KT. (Attorney General).

Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer).

Hon. Commander R. M. RUMSEY, R.N. (Harbour Master).

Hon. W. CHATHAM (Director of Public Works). Hon. Dr. F. W. CLARK (Medical Officer of Health). Hon. Dr. HO KAI, C.M.G.

Hon. WEI A YUK.

Hon. C. S. SHARP.

Hon. C. W. DICKSON.

Hon. G. W. F. PLAYFAIR.

Hon. R. SHEWAN.

Mr. C. CLEMENTI (Acting Clerk of Council).

H. E. Major-General GASCOIGNE took the chair in the temporary absence of H. E. the Governor, who arrived at a later stage in the proceedings.

THE WATER SUPPLY.

Hon. G. W. F. PLAYFAIR put the two questions standing in his name:―

1. Would the Director of Public Works give some explanation of the inequalities of the intermittent system with special reference to Queen's Garden and the higher levels of the Peak―why very many houses, which ought to

2. To ask the Director of Public Works why the water accounts for 30th September are not yet out?

The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS―Sir, in reply to the first question, I beg to lay upon the table reports of inspections made of the districts referred to, which state the causes of the insufficient supply to certain houses and the steps taken with a view to improving it. With regard to the second question, some delay was caused by the introduction of the new Ordinance, which necessitated working out the free allowance to be given in respect of the ratable value of all premises supplied by meter. The inspections for the purpose of ascertaining and reporting on the supply of water under the intermittent system have also absorbed much of the time of the senior officers. The first batch of accounts was sent out on the 2nd December, and the remainder will follow in a few days.

DR. THOMSON AND THE CHINESE COLLEGE

OF MEDICINE.

The COLONIAL SECRETARY―Sir, some time ago a question was raised in the Finance Committee regarding the duties performed by Dr. Thomson on behalf of the Chinese College of Medicine. I have now, by His Excellency's commands, to lay on the table a letter from the Dean of the College relative to the matter, and to say that the duties performed by Dr.

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Thomson for the College have in no way interfered with his public duties, and that, in the interests of the College, it is extremely desirable that Dr. Thomson's connection with the institution should not be severed.

PEAK ROAD WATER SUPPLY.

The COLONIAL TREASURER―Sir, regarding the report on the water supply in the Peak Road district laid on the table by the Director of Public Works, the statement as regards the supply to Blue Bungalow is not quite correct.

Hon. G. W. F. PLAYFAIR,.―Hear, hear.

The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS―The report, sir, is from an actual inspection, and was given to me by a responsible officer.

The COLONIAL TREASURER.―There is no date given.

The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS―The date is at the end of the report―3rd December, 1902.

FERRY CO. BYE-LAWS.

Hon. C. S. SHARP moved the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to authories the making of Bye-laws by the "Star" Ferry Company, Limited.

Hon. C. W. DICKSON seconded, and the motion was carried.

WIDOWS' AND ORPHANS' PENSION FUND.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Fund Amendment Ordinance, 1902 (No. 12 of 1902). He said―This Bill is intended to effect the necessary amendments in the Ordinance referred to. These amendments are made necessary by the decision to adopt a monthly instead of a yearly rate of exchange in the payment of salaries fixed in sterling.

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

The Council then went into committee on the Bill, which was afterwards read a third time and passed.

RATING ORDINANCE.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to further amend the Rating Ordinance, 1901. He said―In the objects and reasons attached, hon. members will see that the object of this Ordinance is to prevent any question arising as to the scale of rates to be levied in the area between the 600-foot and 700-foot contours in the hill districts.

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

The Council afterwards went into committee on the Bill, which was read a third time and passed.

CHINESE HOSPITAL ORDINANCE.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the Chinese Hospital Incorporation Ordinance, No. 3 of 1870. He said ―This Bill was introduced because, in view of the approaching opening of two new hospitals, it is considered

necessary to take power to increase the maximum number of members of the permanent board of directors and so strengthen the permanent working committee.

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

The Council after wards went into committee on the Bill, which was read a third time and passed.

REPEALING ORDINANCE.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to repeal Ordinance No. 5 of 1902. He said―This Ordinance is introduced, as is stated in the objects and reasons, to repeal No. 5 of 1902. It is expedient, if not necessary, to pass this Ordinance, because though, as appears by the title, Ordinance 36 of 1902 intended to repeal Ordinance 5 of 1902, and does so by implication, yet there are no specific words of repeal, those words having been omitted by a clerical error not noticed at the time.

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

The Council afterwards went into committee on the Bill, which was read a third time and passed.

EMPLOYERS AND SERVANTS.

The Council went into Committee on the Bill entitled an Ordinance to Amend the Law relating to Employers and Servants. A few minor amendments were made, and the motion for the third reading was not made.

NATURALISATION OF ALIENS.

The Council went into Committee on the Bill entitled an Ordinance relating to the Naturalisation of Aliens, and there being no amendments, the Bill was read a third time and passed.

PUBLIC HEALTH AND BUILDINGS BILL.

The Council went into Committee on the Bill entitled an Ordinance to Consolidate and Amend the Laws Relating to Public Health and to Buildings.

The Committee considered in detail Section 6, comprising the definition clauses. A suggestion of Dr. Ho Kai that the definition of external air should be altered so as to reduce the width of open space to 12'6" or 12' was discussed but not agreed to. The definition of mezzanine floor was discussed and amended. Various other minor amendments were made.

Section 7. relating to the list of authorised architects, was as follows:―The Governor in Council shall prepare and publish by notification in the Gazette a list of the names of all such architects, engineers and other persons, as he may deem qualified to perform the duties required by this Ordinance to be performed by an authorised architect, and such list shall include the names of the Director of Public Works and of such other officers of the Public Works Department as the Governor in Council may think fit. The Governor in Council may also,

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from time to time, add to such list the names of any other persons whom he may deem qualified as aforesaid, and remove from such list any of such names; provided that due notice shall be given to any person whose name it is proposed to remove from such list, and he shall be entitled to be heard by the said Council, either in person or by counsel, before such removal is made. All such alterations shall be notified in the Gazette. Such list as altered from time to time shall be deemed to be the list of authorised architects.

Hon. Mr. SHARP asked how this would affect architects at present practising? Would it operate so as to exclude any persons practising as architects? as it seemed to him doubtful whether Government could lawfully deprive a person of his means of earning his livelihood through the practice of the profession he was already engaged in.

H.E. the GOVERNOR said that it was contemplated that such architects would be on the list

ipso facto. Anyone wishing to become an architect must come before the Committee.

Hon. Dr. CLARK said the section did not prevent him practising but simply granting certificates under the Ordinance.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL added that only such as were authorised would be entitled to give these certificates.

The HARBOUR MASTER asked if a member of the Institute of Architects would not have the right to practise here notwithstanding that he had not been passed by the Board.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL replied that he would be entitled to practise, but would have to get someone else to grant the certificates.

The HARBOUR MASTER put the proposition that the Board of Examiners were to refuse him.

H.E. the GOVERNOR said that it was not likely they would refuse a qualified man.

The section was approved.

The Council adjourned.

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