1914-04-23 — Page 1

32 HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 23RD APRIL, 1914.

PRESENT:―

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIR FRANCIS HENRY MAY, K.C.M.G.

HON. MR. CLAUD SEVERN (Colonial Secretary).

HON. MR. J. H. KEMP (Attorney-General).

HON. MR. E. D. C. WOLFE (Colonial Treasurer).

HON. MR. A. F. CHURCHILL (Director of Public Works).

HON. MR. C. MCI. MESSER (Captain Superintendent of Police).

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

HON. MR. E. A. HEWETT, C.M.G.

HON. MR. D. LANDALE.

HON. MR. E. SHELLIM.

HON. MR. LAU CHU PAK.

MR. M. BREEN (Clerk of Councils). Minutes

The minutes of the last meeting were confirmed.

New Members

Mr. J. H. Kemp, Mr. A. F. Churchill and Mr. E. D. C. Wolfe took the oath and assumed their seats as members of Council.

Paper

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following papers: ― Financial Returns for the year 1913; Sessional paper No. 4 and Jurors' List for 1914; Despatch from the Secretary of State (Sessional Paper No. 5) transmitting letter from the War Office with enclosures relating to the cost of the Garrison in Hongkong for the year 1912-13.

Financial Minutes

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by

command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table Financial Minutes Nos. 9 to 12, and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.

The Law Courts Building Contracts

With regard to Financial Minute No. 12, relating to a vote of $18,505 in connection with the building of the new Law Courts, the COLONIAL SECRETARY said:―I have a copy of the award given by Major Wenborn which I will circulate for the inspection of members of the Council.

HIS EXCELLENCY, in connection with Financial Minute No. 12, said―It will be within the recollection of members that on the occasion of the debate on the Estimates for 1913 the honourable member nominated by the Chamber of Commerce animadverted upon the delay in the building of the Law Courts and the Post Office; and on behalf of unofficial members asked for a Commission to enquire into the administration of the Public Works Department and the cause of delays in carrying out Public Works. In consequence of those representations a Committee was appointed to enquire into the delay and excess expenditure over Estimates in the case of the Law Courts and Post Office, and their report on the subject of the Post Office was laid on the table some months ago. It was impossible for the Committee to prosecute their inquiries into the building of the Law Courts, because the accounts for that work had, owing to disputes with the contractor, not been closed. The contractor claimed $55,448.23 for value of extra work performed in connection with the above building, and as no agreement could be arrived at on the subject it was agreed to submit the question to the arbitration of Major Wenborn, whose services were kindly lent by his Excellency the General Officer Commanding for the purpose. The award is $32,360.35 less $15,854.58 overpaid to the contractor, or a nett sum of $16,505. The arbitrator's award is laid on the table for the perusal of members. His fee amounts to $2,000, and on the recommendation of the arbitrator it is proposed that this fee should be defrayed by the Government. Mr. H. G. C. Fisher, the Executive Engineer in charge of the

HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 33

erection of the Law Courts, has recently been invalided out of the service, and will not return to the Colony. An enquiry without his presence as a witness is not possible, and in these circumstances I do not propose to ask the Committee to hold any further enquiry. I am not without hope that delays such as occurred in the case of the building referred to will not be repeated.

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

Financial

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid on the table the report of the Finance Committee (No. 3), and moved that it be adopted.

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

The Removal of Trees from

Royal Square

THE HON. MR. HEWETT, in the absence of the Hon. Mr. Pollock, asked the questions standing in Mr. Pollock's name.

The first two were:―

(1.)― By whose orders were certain trees in Royal Square, which have been growing there for many years past, cut down on the 9th March and for what reason?

(2.)― Will the Government take prompt action to prevent the further cutting down of trees in that vicinity?

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY replied ― His Excellency the Governor, acting on the advice of the Executive Council, gave orders for the trees in Royal Square to be removed. There were sixteen trees altogether, eight in Chater Road, seven to the West of Queen Victoria's Statue and one to the East, and eight in Wardley Street, three to the North and five to the South of the Statue. The reasons which caused the Government to remove the trees were three in number:―(a) The trees were not of a suitable kind for such an exposed spot as Royal Square. Some were Aleurites or Candle nut trees and others―and these the poorer specimens― Celtis. As the result of more than ten years' growth only a few of them had

attained any size. In the opinion of the Superintendent of the Botanical and Forestry Department those nearer the sea being wind swept were not likely to grow into good specimens. (b) It was represented by the Director of Public Works that the trees being in the middle of the road rendered it difficult to keep the central portion of the roadway in proper repair, as it was impossible to roll the surfacing material in conjunction with that of the side portions of the road. (c) The view of Queen Victoria's Statue and of the Square as a whole, owing to the trees being in the middle of the road, was much obscured, both from Chater Road and the South side. The question of planting at the sides of the roads in Royal Square flowering trees which will not attain much size is now under consideration. It is not proposed to remove any more trees in the vicinity of Royal Square at present.

The Privet Shrub and Hay Fever

Mr. Pollock's next question was:―

In view of the fact that the pollen from the flowering privet tends to induce coughing and catarrh, will the Government take steps to exterminate the privet shrub in the vicinity of dwelling-houses in the Island of Hongkong and in Kowloon?

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY replied:―

There is no evidence before the Government that in Hongkong the flowering privet causes what is popularly known as hay-fever. On the other hand, there are many other plants flowering in Hongkong, notably roses, which are well-known to induce the affection referred to. The Government is therefore as at present advised not prepared to destroy one plant which, if it induces hay-fever, is only one of many which are credited with the same result.

The Nursing Staff at Government Civil Hospital

Mr. Pollock's fourth question was:―

Was any written representation sent in by the Nurses on the Staff of the Government Civil Hospital to the Principal Civil Medical Officer last summer upon the subject of the insufficiency in numbers of the

34 HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Nursing Staff at that Hospital? Will the

Government lay such written representation upon the table of this Council? Has any answer been sent to such written representation? If so, will the Government lay such answer upon the table of this Council? What steps, if any, have been taken, and when, to remedy such insufficiency?

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY replied:―

No such written representation was made to the Principal Civil Medical Officer by the Sisters (they are not called Nurses); but under date of the 2nd of July last the Superintendent of the Government Civil Hospital addressed a letter to the Principal Civil Medical Officer setting forth on behalf of the Sisters reasons why they considered their number should be increased by two. The Superintendent recommended the increase, as did the Principal Civil Medical Officer. The Governor, after investigation, recognised that an increase in staff was necessary, but decided that it should take the form of two additional probationers. This decision was communicated to the Head of the Department, and provision was made accordingly in the Estimates for the current year. In February of this year the Governor enquired whether the extra probationers had been engaged, and he was informed that it had not been found possible to engage them. In these circumstances the question of the reorganization of the staff of sisters and probationers was again taken up and is being considered at the present time. It is not considered that any useful purpose would be served by laying papers on this subject on the table.

Supreme Court

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY―I beg to lay or the table and move the adoption of the order as to the fees and percentages to be taken in the Supreme Court of Hongkong.

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL seconded, and the motion was agreed to.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY―I beg to lay on the table and move the adoption of the rules for taxing costs in the Original Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL seconded, and the motion was agreed to.

Seditious Publications Ordinance

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled, "An Ordinance to provide against the circulation in the Colony of seditious publications."

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

The "Objects and Reasons" attached to the Bill are as follows:―

For some time past the attention of the Government has been drawn to the fact that newspapers and documents of a highly objectionable character have been brought into the Colony and distributed amongst some of its inhabitants. Sometimes these papers pass through the post, and although by means of the powers contained in Section 12 of the Post Office Ordinance, 1900, there exist certain provisions as to the stoppage of matter of this character sent through the post, it is difficult and often practically impossible to exercise such powers with success.

The class of publication which has of late given rise to considerable comment consists in the main of newspapers published out of the Colony which are of a highly seditious and disloyal character and which contain matter which is subversive of all social and economic conditions and which, disseminated amongst ill-educated persons, are likely to be productive of disturbance and ill feeling in the Colony. Some of these productions emanate from Indian sources and their publication and appearance in India are already prohibited.

With the existence of a large Indian population both permanent and temporary within the confines of this Colony, the introduction into the Colony of newspapers or other publications of the character indicated should not it is thought be in any way permitted.

The constant complaint which is made to this Government as to the appearance within the Colony of this type of seditious publication has led this Government to introduce the present Bill with the object of enabling the evil to be dealt with effectively.

HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 35

The Bill itself is extremely simple. It gives power to the Postmaster-General and to the Customs authorities to detain any articles coming into the Colony which are expected to contain any publication of a seditious character and if by these or by any other means publications of a seditious character are brought to the notice of the Governor-in-Council, the Governor-in-Council may notify in the Gazette that such documents shall be forfeited and upon such notification such documents may be seized and confiscated (Sections 3, 5, and 6).

Any person who has any interest in the papers thus forfeited has the right of appeal to the Supreme Court.

By Section 4, issue, sale or exposure of forfeited publications is made an offence and a penalty is provided therefor.

The definition of seditious matter is contained in Section 2.

The provisions of this Bill, with the exception of Section 4, are adapted from parts of the Indian Press Act, 1910, whilst Section 4 itself is an adaptation of the Section 2 of the Chinese Publications (Prevention) Ordinance, 1907, which is at present in existence in this Colony.

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the suspension of the Standing Orders to enable the Bill to be read a second time.

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

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL, in moving the second reading, said―The aim of this Bill, Sir, is set out clearly, I think, in the "Objects and Reasons" appended, and I do not think I need do more than refer to it very shortly. Briefly, the object of the Bill is threefold: (1), To make it clear what matter is to be deemed to be seditious; secondly, to provide for more effective means of preventing the introduction into the Colony of seditious matter as defined by the Bill; and, thirdly, to provide for seizure and forfeiture of seditious publications. In the law at present there is certain power for preventing the introduction into the Colony of seditious matter, but it is confined to stopping seditious matter which comes in through the Post Office. The present law is also limited in other respects, as it appears that the Postmaster is only able to return seditious matter to the Post Office of origin. The present Bill, Sir, provides that as seditious matter

may come into the Colony in other ways besides through the Post Office, while the Postmaster General will still have power to detain any matter which passes through the post which he is suspicious is seditious, similar power will be given to the Superintendent of Imports and Exports, and to any other officer authorised by the Governor-in-Council to have power to detain any suspected article. The Bill gives power to detain any articles suspected of containing seditious publications. It also provides that the Governor-in-Council may, if any book, or newspaper or document is seditious, declare it to be such, and declare it to be forfeited. Notice is published in the Gazette, and power is given to issue search warrants for such publications, and for seizure by the officer making the search. The fact that seditious publications have found their way into the Colony recently is sufficient reason for coming to the conclusion that this Bill is desirable.

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

Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.

On resuming,

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL reported that the Bill had passed through Committee without amendment, and moved that it be read a third time.

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

Protection of Women and Girls'

Ordinance

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled, "An Ordinance to amend the Protection of Women and Girls' Ordinance, 1897."

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

The "Objects and Reasons" are:―

The International Convention for the suppression of the White Slave Traffic was signed at Paris on May 5th, 1910. The ratification of the adherence of Great Britain to the terms of this important International Congress was deposited at Paris on August 8th, 1913. This Colony has declared its accession to the Convention, and it has

36 HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

accordingly become necessary that certain modifications should be made in the local law dealing with this matter in order to carry out the obligations which are imposed upon all those Governments which adhere to the resolutions of the Congress. This Bill carries out some of the required modifications in the local law by amendments of the local Protection of Women and Girls' Ordinance, 1897.

In the first place the age of girls the subjects of procuration offences has been fixed by the Convention as that of 20 as a minimum; Section 2 of the Bill brings up the age, which at present stands locally at 18, to the necessary minimum.

Secondly, by an amendment Section 17 of the existing Ordinance, the fact that a male person, who is proved to live or to be habitually in the company of a prostitute, has no visible means of subsistence is no longer to be taken into account, but he is deemed to be guilty of the offence of living on the proceeds of prostitution if he is proved to have exercised control, direction or influence over the movements of a prostitute in such a manner as to show that he is aiding, abetting or compelling her prostitution with any other person or generally.

By a further amendment of the same Section (17) it is made possible to proceed against a female who for the purposes of gain is proved to be exercising similar control over the movements of a prostitute.

The reason for these two last amendments is that Article 2 of the Convention contemplates the punishment of male or female persons who, by some more subtle means than direct fraud or violence, control and profit from the prostitution of others; the text of these amendments is taken from Section 7 Sub-Section (1) and Sub-Section (4) respectively of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1912.

Lastly, by an amendment of Section 31 of the same Ordinance power is given to the Magistrate or the Court to inflict the of flogging on a male person living on the proceeds of prostitution in respect of a second offence of this or similar character.

Although the power of flogging in the case of a second offence exists in respect of certain offences against the local Protection of Women and Girls' Ordinance, such power does not exist at present in the case of the offence of living on the proceeds of prostitution against which

Section 17 of the Ordinance is directed.

The above amendment places this offence in the category of those for which the penalty of flogging may be inflicted in respect of a second offence of this character; and is taken from Section 7 Sub-Section (5) of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1912.

The provisions of this Bill are supplemented by the provisions of two other Bills, namely, the Magistrates Amendment Bill, 1914, and the Flogging Amendment Bill, 1914 (laid before the Council simultaneously with this Bill), which also amplify punishments in certain cases connected with the White Slave Traffic.

The Magistrates' Ordinance

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled, "An Ordinance to amend the Magistrates' Ordinance, 1890."

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

The "Objects and Reasons" are:―

The object of this Bill is to give power to a Magistrate to inflict the penalty of flogging upon a male person convicted of a procuration offence under Section 4 of the Protection of Women and Girls' Ordinance, 1897. The Hongkong law does not at present provide for the infliction of this penalty in the case of a first procuration offence. The amendment is taken from Section 3 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1912.

This Bill should be read together with the Protection of Women and Girls' Bill, 1914, and the Flogging Amendment Bill, 1914, simultaneously laid before Council.

This Bill is introduced in order to bring up to the standard which exists in Great Britain the penalties in connection with procuration offences which have been made more severe in consequence of the Paris International Convention of 1910 for the suppression of the White Slave Traffic.

The Flogging Ordinance

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled, "An Ordinance to amend the Flogging Ordinance, 1903."

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

HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 37

The "Objects and Reasons" are:―

The object of this Bill is to give power to the Supreme Court to inflict the penalty of flogging upon a male person convicted of a procuration offence under Section 4 of the Protection of Women and Girls' Ordinance, 1897. The Hongkong law does not at present provide for the infliction of this penalty in the case of a first procuration offence. The amendment is taken from Section 3 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1912.

This Bill should be read together with the Magistrates Amendment Bill, 1914, and the Protection of Women and Girls' Bill, 1914, simultaneously laid before Council.

This Bill is introduced in order to bring up to the standard which exists in Great Britain the penalties in connection with procuration offences which have been made severe in consequence of the Paris International Convention of 1910 for the suppression of the White Slave Traffic.

The Airships Ordinance

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled, "An Ordinance to amend the Airships Ordinance, 1912."

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

The object of this Bill is to give statutory power to enable force to be used to compel the descent of aircraft which disobey the law.

This Bill is introduced under instructions from the Secretary of State and is modelled upon the Aerial Navigation Act, 1913.

The scheme of the Bill is that the Governor shall have power to prescribe places within which foreign aircraft coming from outside the Colony must descend and if any aircraft which without the requisite permission by the Governor makes an ascent or any foreign aircraft arriving from outside the Colony fails to comply with the published and public signals requiring it to descend then officers, designated for the purpose by regulation made by the Governor, may use force against such aircraft so disobeying the requirements of the law.

It need hardly perhaps be pointed out that at a place such as this Colony which is of a fortified character the provisions introduced by this Bill are highly necessary.

The Public Lighting Ordinance

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled, "An Ordinance to provide for the public lighting of the Colony, and for the protection of the appliances used in connection therewith."

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

The "Objects and Reasons" are:―

The object of this Bill is to provide for the protection of public lighting appliances throughout the Colony. The existing Ordinance, namely, the Victoria (Lighting) Ordinance, 1856, applies only to the City of Victoria, and it has been found desirable that the provisions dealing with the protection against damage to, or improper interference with, public lighting appliances should be extended to the whole Colony.

As the Bill will cover rural as well as urban districts, the second clause has been thrown into a permissive form.

Opportunity has also been taken to introduce some modern technical terms, and to provide that any improper interference with the light of a street lamp shall be punishable even if the light of the lamp be not actually extinguished.

The liability imposed by Section 186 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903 (No. 1 of 1903), upon the owners of the land adjoining private streets to contribute to the cost of providing lighting apparatus for the street is saved.

The Stamp Ordinance

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled, "An Ordinance to amend the Stamp Ordinance, 1901."

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

The "Objects and Reasons" are:―

The object of this Bill is to provide that the stamp on a receipt is to be cancelled by the person by whom the receipt is given before he delivers it out of his hands. Under the present law there is no obligation on any one to cancel a receipt stamp. This would enable dishonest persons to use the same stamp over and over again.

38 HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Foreign Marriage Amendment

Ordinance

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill entitled "An Ordinance to amend the Foreign Marriage Ordinance, 1902." In doing so he said―It appears from the "Objects and Reasons" that this Bill is intended to introduce here a slight alteration in our present law in order to provide machinery to be used in connection with an Order-in-Council of the King-in Council. The Foreign Marriage Act of the Imperial Parliament provides for, and regulates, the marriage of British subjects outside the British dominions. It provides for marriage districts in which marriage officers shall have power to celebrate marriages, and one of its provisions, contained in an Order-in Council made under the Act, provides that if either of the parties intending marriage do not reside in the marriage district and cannot therefore give notice there, notice can be given in the place where he or she happens to be living. The original Order-in-Council directed that notice might be given by the absent party if he or she had been living in the Colony three weeks before marriage. An Order-in-Council has now been passed making the time one week instead of three. This Bill is intended to make the change from three weeks to one week in our local law.

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

Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.

On resuming,

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

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

Electricity Supply Amendment

Ordinance

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill entitled, "An Ordinance to amend the Electricity Supply Ordinance, 1911." In doing so he said―This amending Ordinance is intended to expand somewhat the principle of the existing Ordinance, which has for one of its main

objects the protection of the public from dangers inherent in electric installations, from fire or current, but it does not apply to installations where the current is consumed in the premises; for instance, a shop might have a plant of its own, and if it does not supply any electricity outside it is exempt from the existing law. Therefore, it is proposed to secure the safety of the public from all installations, whether supplying the outside public or whether the use of the installation is confined to the party who owns it. It is obvious that it should be extended.

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

Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.

Clause 2 was amended by the insertion, after the word "Colony" in the sixth line, of the following words: "The said regulations may be amended, varied, rescinded, revoked, suspended or added to by the Governor-in Council (b), by renumbering sub-clause 2 of the proposed clause 3 of the principal Ordinance as 3, and by renumbering sub clause 3 as 4."

The Dentistry Ordinance

HIS EXCELLENCY―The last Bill on the orders of the day (the Dentistry Ordinance) will not be proceeded with to-day. Council stands adjourned till this day fortnight.

——

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

——

A meeting of the Finance Committee was then held, the COLONIAL SECRETARY presiding. The following votes were passed.

New Territory Roads

His Excellency the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $5,222.22, in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary, New Territories, Communications, Roads:―

(a.)― Kam Tin-Au Tau ............. $ 3,500.00 (e.)― Train Halt to Shek Wu

Hui ................................... 718.66 (f.)― Shek Wu Hui to Sheung

Shui ................................. 1,003.76 ————

$ 5,222.42

HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 39

THE CHAIRMAN said it was found impossible to complete the roads set down and discharge all liabilities in connection with them at the end of last year. The Train Halt to Shek Wu Hui was estimated at $672, but was subsequently found to be the exact sum of $718.66. The road from Shek Wu Hui to Sheung Shui was estimated to cost $739, and compensation for land, $116. Subsequently there was a small addition found to be necessary. These sums should have been settled last year, but the amount was only sent in to the District Officer at Taipo on March 20th, and could not be included in the vote asked for. With regard to the sum of $3,500 for the road from Kam Tin to Au Tau, that sum practically represented the unexpended balance in the vote for this service in last year's estimates, so that was a re-vote.

HON. MR. HEWETT―Could not the work be pushed on a little faster? The vote has been made, and the money should be spent.

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS ― An embankment was made, and that had to be allowed time to settle.

HON. MR. HEWETT ― You estimate for certain work for 1913. Why shouldn't it be carried out in that year?

THE CHAIRMAN ― That is not always possible.

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS ― Because the work was estimated for, and the vote taken, it does not necessarily follow that the work should be completed in that year.

The Law Court Buildings

His Excellency the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $18,505, in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary, Hongkong, Buildings, New Law Courts:―

(a.)― Award in connection

with the contracts for

the construction ........... $16,505.00 (b.)― Fee for Arbitrator of

same ............................. 2,000.00 —————

$18,505.00

HON. MR. HEWETT asked that this minute should stand over for further consideration.

THE CHAIRMAN―You will see the award of the arbitrator is $16,505, as opposed to the claim of the contractor for a much greater amount.

HON. MR. HEWETT―We recognise that the claim and the vote have to be paid. At the same time, we should like to have an opportunity of stating our views, as his Excellency has expressed a pious hope that members will make such observations as occur to them. A fortnight more cannot do much harm, and I move that the matter stand over for that time.

HON. MR. WEI YUK seconded.

A division was taken, the voting being as follows:―

AYES:―Hon. Mr. Lau Chu Pak, Hon. Mr. Shellim, Hon. Mr. Hewett and Hon. Mr. Wei Yuk.

NOES: ― The Captain Superintendent of Police, the Colonial Treasurer, the Attorney General, the Director of Public Works and the Chairman.

The motion for an adjournment was declared lost.

Extinction of Publicans' Licences

His Excellency the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $3,000 in aid of the vote Miscellaneous Services, Compensation to Licencees of Public Houses.

THE CHAIRMAN said―This is for carrying out the policy of the Committee which considered the question of the extinction of public house licences. This particular amount is for the New Travellers Hotel. Instead of waiting till the end of the year, the manageress has asked for compensation for the extinction of the licence.

Belilios School

His Excellency the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $4,500 in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary, Building: ―

Belilios Public School extension $4,500.00 The vote was passed.