1904-10-20 — Page 1

PRESENT:―

( 55 )

20TH OCTOBER, 1904.

are, firstly, to remove any doubt as to whether the terms of the principal Ordinance include natives of the Colony, to

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MATTHEW NATHAN, K.C.M.G.

Hon. Colonel L. F. BROWN, R.E. (Commanding the Troops).

Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Colonial Secretary). Hon. E. H. SHARP, K.C. (Attorney-General).

Hon. L. A. M. JOHNSTON (Colonial Treasurer). Hon. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar-General).

Hon. Captain L. A. W. BARNES-LAWRENCE, R.N. (Harbour Master).

Hon. P. N. H. JONES (Director of Public Works). Hon. Sir C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.

Hon. Dr. HO KAI, C.M.G.

Hon. WEI A YUK.

Hon. R. SHEWAN.

Hon. GERSHOM STEWART.

Hon. W. J. GRESSON.

Mr. S. B. C. ROSS (Clerk of Councils).

BOUNTY-FED SUGAR.

The ATTORNEY GENERAL proposed the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to give effect to Article VIII. of the Brussels Sugar Convention, 1902. The purpose of this measure is to give effect in the Colony to Article VIII. of the Brussels Sugar Convention, 1902, by empowering the Governor-in-Council to make such regulations as he shall deem necessary for the said purpose, and by prohibiting the importation of bountyfed sugar.

The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.

Hon. R. SHEWAN―Can we have any particulars as to the Permanent Commission?

H.E. the GOVERNOR―The hon. member will receive the information he desires.

The Bill was read a first time.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL―I understand that a Bill with the same title was read twice in March last. Certain objections were made as to the form of that Bill. In consequence of these objections no further steps were taken with that Bill. I move that the Bill read in this Council twice in March last be now withdrawn.

The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.

The motion was adopted.

IMBECILE PERSONS.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL proposed the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Imbecile Persons Introduction Ordinance, 1903. The objects of this measure

whom the said Ordinance was not in fact meant to apply; secondly, to exclude persons of Chinese nationality from the operation of the said Ordinance; and, thirdly, to provide that the said Ordinance shall not conflict with the China and Japan Order in Council, 1865, as regard persons deported thereunder from China to Hongkong.

The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.

The Bill was read a first time.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN HONGKONG

AND CHINA.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL proposed the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to enable the Trustees of Saint John's Cathedral Church in Hongkong to hold and deal with property for the purpose of promoting the work of the Church of England in Hongkong and China. The "objects and reasons" of the Bill are set forth as follows:―

The object of this Ordinance is to supply the need which has long been felt for the existence of some statutory corporate body empowered to hold and deal with property for the use of the Church of England in this Colony and in China. Saint John's Cathedral Church Ordinance, 1899, provides for such a body as regards the Cathedral itself, and this Ordinance is not intended to alter or derogate from the statutory powers conferred upon such body as regards the Cathedral. There is, however, already other property dedicated to the use of the Church of England in the diocese, which will doubtless be added to in the future, and it is most desirable that all such property should be duly vested in a corporate body both for its safe keeping and to facilitate any necessary dealing with it. This Ordinance proposes to confer the necessary powers upon the only suitable body corporate already in existence, viz., the Church Body, that is to say, the Trustees of Saint John's Cathedral Church in Hongkong.

The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.

The Bill was read a first time.

CHINESE EMIGRATION.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL proposed the second reading of the Bill entitled the Chinese Emigration (Amendment) Ordinance, 1904. He said―This Bill is practically only formal in character. The matter is perhaps somewhat urgent, as we know that the Chinese labourers have already been shipped to the Transvaal really under the conditions which it is intended to impose by this Bill. It is hoped that shortly more labourers may be shipped under the regulations of the Bill. The intention of the measure is clearly shown in the "objects and reasons." A Convention was entered into this year between Great Britain and China respecting the employment of Chinese labour in British colonies. The immediate object of the Bill is not one expressly referred to in the Convention;

( 56 )

the object of the Convention was to provide for the intended emigration of Chinese labour to the Transvaal, and regulations, differing in some respects from the regulations for years in force in Hongkong with regard to the emigration of Chinese labour, were provided for by the Convention. Pursuant to that Convention, the Transvaal, and I think also Natal, have passed Ordinances the object of which is to prescribe the regulations required under the Convention, and these in the Transvaal and Natal are in force to this extent that coolies sent from here cannot be admitted to the territories of those colonies unless these regulations are complied with. Therefore, as a matter of fact anybody engaging in the transport of these coolies from Hongkong to Durban must comply with these regulations in so far as they differ from the regulations which have hitherto been in force here. The coolies have already been shipped from Hongkong to South Africa, although we have not any ordinance enforcing those regulations referred to in this Convention, and it is inconvenient that the trade should continue on that footing without the regulations being sanctioned. Hongkong has no power at present to ensure that these regulations will be complied with in shipping these coolies. The purpose of this Bill is to obtain the power, and I move that this Bill be now read a second time.

The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.

H. E. The GOVERNOR―I would add to the statement made by the Hon. Attorney-General that the Convention does not apply to emigration of coolies from Hongkong, but it has been considered by His Majesty's Government that it is as well that the conditions of the emigration from Hongkong should be exactly the same as the conditions of the emigation dealt with in the Convention for the treaty ports.

The Bill was read a second time.

On the motion of the Hon Attorney-General, the Council went into Committee on the Bill.

On Clause 2, dealing with the granting of special licences to transport indentured Chinese emigrants to South Africa, the Hon. Attorney-General moved that the words― "in force in the said Colony or Protectorate" should be struck out and the words "which have been made or sanctioned by the legislature of the said Colony or Protectorate and are in force therein" substituted.

Hon. R. SHEWAN―What is the meaning of "indentured Chinese emigrants"?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL―The expression is taken from the Convention, and I think it is a very suitable expression to describe these people. They go down there under contract for a term.

H. E. The GOVERNOR―They sign indentures before they embark.

The amendment was adopted.

The ATTORNEY -GENERAL moved a similar amendment on Clause 3, which was adopted.

A similar amendment was also adopted on the preamble and the Bill passed committee.

The Council resumed.

The Standing Orders being suspended,

The ATTORNEY -GENERAL moved the third reading of the Bill.

The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.

The Bill was read a third time and passed.

The Council adjourned till Thursday, 27th October, at 3 p.m.

———

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

H. E. The Governor having left the chair, the Council went into Finance Committee, the Colonial Secretary presiding.

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $25,000 in aid of the vote Public Works Extraordinary for purchasing the remaining portion of Kowloon Inland Lot. No. 1,011 for the purpose of constructing roads.

The COLONIAL SECRETARY―The object is to continue Robinson Road northward.

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $38,100 in aid of the votes Public Works Recurrent and Extraordinary for the following items:―

Public Works Recurrent,

9. Miscellaneous Works:―

Opium Searchers' Sheds .................................. $ 2,200 Alterations in Government Offices ................ 200 Saiyingpun School ― Surfacing Playing

Grounds ........................................................ 300 Alterations for Improvement of Post Office

Accommodation .......................................... 400 Total Public Works Recurrent ......... $ 3,100 Public Works Extraordinary.

10. Buildings―Post Office ................................. 35,000 Total ................................................... $38,100

The COLONIAL SECRETARY―We underestimated the expenditure on the Post Office this year. It is costing more than was anticipated.

Hon. R. SHEWAN―How?

Hon. COLONIAL SECRETARY ― In respect to the foundations.

The votes were unanimously passed.

QUEEN'S COLLEGE.

A report by the Examiners of Queen's College was laid on the table.

———————————