1921-12-29 — Page 1

HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 190 29TH DECEMBER, 1921.

PRESENT:―

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIR REGINALD EDWARD STUBBS, K.C.M.G.

H.E. LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR GEORGE MACAULAY KIRKPATRICK, K.C.B., K.C.S.I. (General Officer Commanding the Troops in China).

HON. MR. CLAUD SEVERN, C.M.G. (Colonial Secretary).

HON. MR. J. H. KEMP, C.B.E., K.C. (Attorney General).

HON. MR. C. MCI. MESSER, O.B.E. (Colonial Treasurer).

HON. MR. E. R. HALLIFAX, O.B.E. (Secretary for Chinese Affairs).

HON. MR. E. A. IRVING (Director of Education).

Hon. MR. T. L. PERKINS (Director of Public Works).

HON. MR. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C.

HON. MR. LAU CHU PAK.

HON. MR. H. W. BIRD.

HON. MR. A. O. LANG.

HON. MR. CHOW SHOU-SON.

MR. A. G. M. FLETCHER, C.B.E. (Clerk of Councils).

ABSENT:―

HON. MR. A. G. STEPHEN.

Tribute to th Late Sir Boshan Wei Yuk, C.M.G.

H.E. THE GOVERNOR―Gentlemen, before proceeding with the business I wish to mention the great loss which the Colony in general and

the Chinese community in particular have suffered owing to the death, since our last meeting, of Sir Boshan Wei Yuk. I have not had, myself, the pleasure of serving with Sir Boshan, but his name has been familiar to me for years and on the few occasions when I have found it desirable to consult him I have found his advice of great value. His services to the Colony are well known to you and the excellent service which he rendered to the Council. I feel that it would be the wish of the Council that the Clerk should convey to the family an expression of our sincere sympathy in their bereavement and the appreciation of the Government and the community of the work he did for the Colony.

HON. MR. H. E. POLLOCK―Sir, on behalf of the unofficial members of the Council I desire to associate them with the remarks which have fallen from your Excellency with regard to our late friend, Sir Boshan Wei Yuk. The deceased gentleman was a colleague of mine for very many years in this Council and I very much valued the assistance and co operation which he was at all times willing to give.

HON. MR. LAU CHU-PAK ― Sir, I beg respectfully to support and associate myself with the sentiments just expressed by your Excellency and the Senior Unofficial Member. By the death of Sir Boshan the Colony has lost a son who gave to it of his best for the unprecedented period of over half-a-century. It had been my good fortune and privilege to serve with him on many public committees as well as on this Council and I can testify to his good qualities, his loyalty to the Government, his devotion to duty and his whole-hearted support of everything that was conducive to the welfare of the Colony. With the public tribute which your Excellency has just paid to his memory, I have no doubt that the whole Chinese community will heartily share.

Members of the Council stood in silence as an expression of their approval of His Excellency's proposal.

Minutes

HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 191 HON. MR. POLLOCK ― I rise to put the

The Minutes of the last meeting were approved and signed by the President.

Notice of Questions

HON. MR. BIRD ― Sir, I beg to give notice of the following questions:―

1. ― What action does the Government propose to take in connection with the Report of the Committee appointed for the purpose of considering what measures can be best taken:―

(I.)―To facilitate the prompt acquisition by applicants of sites which they may require?

(II.) ― To facilitate the prompt passing of building plans?

2.―With reference to the statement published in the Press relating to cases of communicable disease, are all cases of small-pox included therein; if not, why not?

Papers

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of the H.E. the Governor, laid on the table a notification under Section 92 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903, made by the Governor in Council on December 22nd, 1921, and published as Notification No. 540 in the Government Gazette.

Finance

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY also laid on the table Financial Minutes Nos. 137 to 143 and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and it was agreed to.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of the H.E. the Governor, laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committe, No. 16, and moved that it be adopted.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and it was agreed to.

Overcrowding and Building Operations

questions standing in my name:

1.―In view of the following statement, which occurs at the end of Section I of the recently published census report:

"The number of floors in Hongkong and Kowloon occupied by Chinese has increased, in the last 10 years, by 7,117, which at 15 persons per floor, a fairly high average, affords accommodation for 106,755 out of a total increase of 157,398 in the Chinese urban population, thus leaving a large portion of the increases to find accommodation in houses already fully occupied in 1911";

will the Government state how many floors in Chinese tenement houses have been made available for occupation

(i.) in Hongkong;

(ii.) in Kowloon

since the Census was taken?

Will the Government also state to what extent further floors in tenement houses are likely to be available for occupation during the first half of 1922?

2.―In view of the above quoted statement in the Census report, and with the object of securing the provision of sufficient accommodation for Chinese workmen, without overcrowding, will the Government obtain from the Director of Public Works and lay upon the table of this Council a report as to the cost of the erection by the Government of tenement houses for 100,000 Chinese workmen upon the land at Hunghom which was formerly occupied by Macdonald's ship yard or upon other land in that neighbourhood?

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY replied:―

It is not possible to answer the first question without longer notice. The information will be obtained as soon as practicable.

In the second question the honourable member is, I presume, referring to a suggestion which has already been put forward by the Director of Public Works. The Government is awaiting a detailed report.

HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 192

Judgments (Facilities for Enforcement) Ordinance

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill intituled, An Ordinance to faciltate the reciprocal enforcement of judgments and awards in the Colony of Hongkong and in other parts of His Majesty's dominions and in certain other territories.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the second reading was approved.

The Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause. No amendment was made.

The Council then resumed.

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved and the COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, the third reading of the Bill.

This was carried and the Bill passed accordingly.

Indemnity Ordinance

The second reading of the Bill intituled, An Ordinance to restrict the taking of legal proceedings in respect of certain acts and matters done during the war and to provide in certain cases remedies in substitution therefor, was again deferred.

H.E. THE GOVERNOR―The Council will adjourn for a short time while the Finance Committee meets and will then resume.

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Finance Committee then took place, the COLONIAL SECRETARY presiding.

"Miscellaneous Services"

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $1,000 in aid of the vote Miscellaneous Services, Other.

THE CHAIRMAN ― A sum of $1,000 is required to pay sundry items up to the end of the year under the head "Miscellaneous Services, Other." The items, at present, do not amount to quite that sum, but it is estimated that there will be a few more small amounts which will make

up that amount.

Approved.

Furniture for Officers' Quarters

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $7,000 in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary, Hongkong, Miscellaneous, (28) Furniture for Officers' Quarters.

THE CHAIRMAN―The vote under the head P.W.D. 28 for furniture was $48,000 and the expenditure estimated to the end of the year is $55,720. The reason for this excess is that calls by the police, sanitary and other departments had to be met as well as those for which the estimates were prepared. The votes for furniture are divided under three heads. The expenditure for the year shows that while this particular vote, 28, has had to stand more than the amount voted, there are balances under Heads 62 and 65; ― under 62 is "furniture, Kowloon" $1,232; and under 65 is "furniture, New Territories $214. If these balances are used towards reducing the debit balance on 28, "furniture, Hongkong" the difference is $6,274. There may be one or two items―small amounts―to come in before the end of the year and it is proposed to take a vote of $7,000.

Approved.

Drainage Works

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $5,000 in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary, New Territories, Drainage, (79) Miscellaneous Drainage Works, (b) General Works.

THE CHAIRMAN ― This extra amount is required in connection with drainage―extention of sewers and drains―in Samshuipo. Owing to the rapid development of the district there are five new streets in which the drains and sewers have to be extended, the amounts varying. The largest amount is Keelung Street, $2,500. and the smallest Nangchang street, $200. The vote was $10,000 and the estimate of total expenditure for the year is $15,000, a difference of $5,000.

Approved.

HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 193

Waterworks

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $2,700 in aid of the following votes:―

Public Works, Recurrent:―

Kowloon Waterworks:―

(36) Water Account, (Meters,

etc.), ................................ $2,000.00 New Territories, Waterworks:

(47) Water Account, (Meters,

etc.), ................................ 700.00 Total.......................... $2,700.00

THE CHAIRMAN ― In connection with the first item, Kowloon Waterworks, $2,000, the original vote for 1921 was $5,000, and a supplementary vote was taken under Financial Minute 46, $6,000, making $11,000. But a large issue of new meters was rendered necessary by the number of buildings erected during the year. The total expenditure up to December 5th was $12,000 and it is estimated that for meters up to the 31st another $1,000 will be required, making $13,000; $11,000 has already been voted, leaving a balance of $2,000. The item $700 in connection with the New Territories includes two meters which have been placed at Laichikok water boat station. The vote is only $300: these two 3- inch meters with contingencies cost $1,000. They were necessary on account of a larger supply of water being required than can be taken through the present meters. The amount required is $700.

HON. MR. H. W. BIRD ― Do they cost $500 a piece?

THE CHAIRMAN ― I understnad they are large meters.

THE DIRECTORY OF PUBLIC WORKS―I am afraid they will cost a little more than that: they are very expensive.

The vote was approved.

School Furniture

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $127 in aid of the vote Education, A. ―Department of Director of Education, Special Expenditure, Furniture for Normal School.

THE CHAIRMAN―For the Normal School, Queen's College, a sum of $500 is provided in this year's estimates and the furniture has cost $626.95; $627 is asked for.

Approved.

Cape D'Aguilar Wireless Station

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $9,300 in aid of the following votes:―

Post Office:―

Radio-Telegraph Staff:―

Personal Emoluments.............. $7,850.00 Other Charges:―

Radio-Telegraph Station:―

Repairs and Stores................... 1,450.00 Total.......................... $9,300.00

THE CHAIRMAN―These sums are all in connection with the taking over of the Cape D'Aguilar Station from the naval authorities. During the last four months of this year the personal emoluments amount to $7,850 and repairs and stores to $1,450, but the amount in the estimate would have been sufficient except that by the transfer of the station it has become necessary to pay, during this year. When the naval authorities were running this station a claim for a refund of expenses during the fourth quarter was sent in and paid to the naval authorities during the following year. We now have to pay expenses and salaries monthly. When the estimate was drawn up it was not known that we should have to take over the station this year.

The vote was approved.

HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 194

Public Works

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $10,100 in aid of the following votes:―

Public Works, Extraordinary:―

Hongkong Drainage:―

(18) Training Nullahs: (c)

General Works............................ $3,500.00 Miscellaneous:―

(22) Reconstruction of Ferry

Piers............................................ 4,600.00 Waterworks:―

(44) Miscellaneous Waterworks 2,000.00 Total .................................. $10,100.00

THE CHAIRMAN―The first item, $3,500 is due to the draining of certain nullahs in connection with the campaign against mosquitoes which was undertaken during the summer, leading to more being done than was anticipated when the estimate was drawn up. The second item $4,600, is due to compensation, $7,250 being paid in respect of the Kinshan and Saiwanho piers which were taken over by the Government instead of being removed by their owners on the termination of the licence and the undertaking of what is called the Eastern Ferry Service. The last item, $2,000, is due to certain unforeseen works which had to be undertaken and which were not contemplated when the programme

was drawn up for the year. The approved programme amounted to $11,000, as against a vote for $10,000. In addition to this, $1,000 was spent during the year on works which were unforeseen.

The vote was approved.

The Council Resumed

H.E. THE GOVERNOR then returned and the meeting of the Council was resumed.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY said―Sir, I beg to report that Financial Minutes 137 to 143 have been approved by the Finance Committee and I move that they be now adopted.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and the motion was carried.

The Governor's Thanks and New Year Wishes

H.E. THE GOVERNOR ― Gentlemen, that completes the business of the year. I have to thank you for your assistance during the last twelve months, in which we have carried through a considerable amount of important work and legislation, of a somewhat controversial nature in some cases, which I am glad to say has been adopted without any friction and appears to be working without any friction. I thank you very cordially for your assistance during this year and I wish you all the best of good wishes for the year to come. The Council will now adjourned sine die.