1911-12-07 — Page 1

HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 249 7TH DECEMBER, 1911

PRESENT:―

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIR FREDERICK J. DEALTRY LUGARD, G.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O.

HIS EXCELLENCY MAJOR-GENERAL C. A. ANDERSON, C.B. (General Officer Commanding the Troops).

HON. MR. C. CLEMENTI (Colonial Secretary).

HON. MR. C. G. ALABASTER (Attorney General).

HON. MR. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer).

HON. MR. W. CHATHAM C.M.G. (Director of Public Works).

HON. MR. E. R. HALLIFAX (Registrar General).

HON. CAPTAIN F. W. LYONS (Captain Superintendent of Police).

HON. DR. HO KAI, M.B., C.M.G.

HON. MR. WEI YUK, C.M.G.

HON. MR. E. A. HEWETT.

HON. MR. C. H. ROSS.

HON. MR. E. OSBORNE.

MR. R. H. CROFTON (Clerk of Councils). Financial Minutes

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by the command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table Financial Minutes No. 98 to 101, and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.

Financial

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid

on the table the report of the Finance Committee (No. 21) and moved its adoption.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.

Public Health and Building

Ordinance

THE ATTORNEY - GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled, "An Ordinance to amend the Ordinance relating to Public Health and Buildings." In doing so he said― The principal amendment in this Bill is due to the fact that section 8 of the principal Ordinance, which was introduced in the principal Ordinance by Ordinance 14 of 1908, provided that the electorate of the sanitary board should be such persons as are included in the special and common jury lists, and such persons as are exempted from serving on juries. That is very much wider than it was ever intended to go, because there are a great many people exempted from serving on juries on account of their avocations who would not serve on juries even if their avocations were different.

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

Statute Laws Ordinance

Amendment

THE ATTORNEY - GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled, "An Ordinance to amend the Statute Laws (New Revised Edition) Ordinance, 1911. In doing so he said ―As is generally known by members of this Council, it is intended that the revised edition shall contain the law as it stands on the last day of December of this year, but many of the revised Ordinances

250 HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

which are in course of preparation will not, owing partly to the printers' strike and to other causes, be ready in time. Therefore the amendments introduced by clause 3 will enable the new revised edition to contain the law as it stands on the last day of December, 1911, as amended by purely revisionary Ordinances passed early next year. The remaining clauses of the Bill are introduced because it has been decided that the new revised edition shall be the only proper statute book of the Colony. At the same time provision is made for the preservation of copies of all Ordinances passed.

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

University Amendment Ordinance

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL ― I beg to state that as the hon. and learned member who is interested in this Bill is not present to-day, His Excellency has decided out of courtesy to him that it shall not be proceeded with to-day.

Companies Ordinance Amendment

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved that the Council resolve itself into Committee on the Bill entitled, "An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the Ordinance relating to Companies," to consider the amendments left in Committee last Thursday.

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

On Council resuming,

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL reported that the Bill had passed through Committee, and moved that it be read a third time.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.

HIS EXCELLENCY ― The Council will adjourn until this day fortnight.

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Finance Committee was then held, the Colonial Secretary presiding. The following votes were passed:―

Public Buildings

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of One thousand seven hundred Dollars ($1,700) in aid of the vote Public Works, Recurrent, Buildings, Maintenance of Buildings.

Police Charges

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of Nine thousand Four hundred and forty-five Dollars ($9,445) in aid of the vote Police and Prison Departments for the following items:―

A.―Police, Other Charges:―

Passages and Bonuses in lieu of Passages, .......................................... $7,500 Repairs to Launches and Boats,........... 745 Secret Service,...................................... 700

B.―Fire Brigade, Other Charges:―

Coal,...................................................... 500

Total, ........................ $9,445

Marine Surveyor's Department

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of Three hundred Dollars ($300) in aid of the vote Harbour Master's Department, D.―Marine Surveyor's Office, Other Charges, Coal, Oil, etc., for Steam Launch.

Bonus to Mr. Lindsey

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of Three hundred and fifty Pounds (£350) in aid of the vote Kowloon-Canton Railway, Personal Emoluments, Bonus to Mr. E. S. Lindsey.

THE CHAIRMAN―This is a vote for the sum of £350 as a bonus to Mr. Lindsey in lieu of leave. Mr. Lindsey has had no leave since he arrived in the Colony, and although he has been very "seedy" from time to time he has been unable to take leave because there was no one to act in his place. He has done excellent service. He is leaving, I am sorry to say, on Saturday next.