1924-11-13 — Page 1

HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 123 13TH NOVEMBER, 1924.

PRESENT:―

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

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING THE TROOPS (MAJOR-GENERAL SIR JOHN FOWLER, K.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O.).

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY (HON. SIR CLAUD SEVERN, K.B.E., C.M.G.).

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL (HON. MR. J. H. KEMP, K.C., C.B.E.).

THE COLONIAL TREASURER (HON. MR. C. MCI. MESSER, O.B.E.).

HON. MR. H. T. CREASY (Director of Public Works).

HON. MR. A. E. WOOD (Secretary for Chinese Affairs).

HON. MR. E. D. C. WOLFE (Captain Superintendent of Police).

HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK, K.C.

HON. MR. P. H. HOLYOAK.

HON. MR. CHOW SOU-SON.

HON. MR. H. W. BIRD.

HON. MR. R. H. KOTEWALL.

MR. S. B. B. MCELDERRY (Clerk of Councils). ABSENT:―

HON. MR. C. MONTAGUE EDE.

Finance

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. The Governor, laid on the table Financial Minutes Nos. 99 to 105, and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.

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

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. The Governor, also laide on th able the Report of the Finance Committee, No. 11, and moved that it be adopted.

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

Papers

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. The Governor, laid on the table a regulation made by the Governor in Council under section 6 of the Dogs Ordinance, 1893, on November 6th, 1924.

Fraudulent Transfers of Businesses (Amendment)

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL―Sir, I beg to move the first reading of a Bill intituled, An Ordinance to amend the Fraudulent Transfers of Businesses Ordinance, 1923. This Bill, which is introduced at the suggestion of the Board of Trade, makes a slight amendment in the principal Ordinance. It adds to the particulars which must be advertised in order to secure the benefits of the Ordinance a statement as to the nature of the business which is being transferred.

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

Crown Solicitors Ordinance, 1912

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill intituled, An Ordinance to amend the Crown Solicitors Ordinance, 1912.

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

The Council went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause. The Bill passed through the Committee stage without amendment. On the Council resuming the Bill was read a third time on the motion of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL seconded by the COLONIAL SECRETARY, and passed.

124 HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Summary Offences Ordinance, 1845

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill intituled, An Ordinance to amend the Summary Offence Ordinance, 1845.

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

The Bill passed through the Committee stage without amendment and on the Council resuming the Bill was read a third time and passed.

Forgery Ordinance, 1922

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill intituled, An Ordinance to amend the Forgery Ordinance, 1922.

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

The Bill having passed through Committee without amendment, and on Council resuming, the Bill was read a third time and passed.

Telegraphic Messages (Amendment) Ordinance

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill intifuled, An Ordinance to amend the Telegraphic Messages Ordinance, 1894.

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

After the Bill had passed through the Committee stage without amendment it was read a third time and passed.

The Adjournment

H.E. THE GOVERNOR―As the Companies Ordinance is not a matter of great urgency I propose that the Council adjourn sine die.

——

FINANCE COMMITTEE

——

A meeting of the Finance Committee was afterwards held, the COLONIAL SECRETARY presiding.

Alterations at the Government Civil Hospital

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $5,000 on account of Public Works, Extraordinary, Hongkong, Miscellaneous, Alteration

to the Kitchen buildings at the Government Civil Hospital.

THE CHAIRMAN―This has been already agreed to by the Finance Committee.

Approved.

The Kowloon Magistracy

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $6,050 in aid of the following votes:―

Judicial and Legal Department, B.― Magistracy:―

Personal Emoluments ......................... $5,080 Other Charges:

Electric Fans and Light ................... 250 Incidental Expenses ......................... 600 Uniform for Messengers ................. 70 Vehicle hire for serving Summons 50 ———

Total .......................... $6,050

———

THE CHAIRMAN―These sums are required in connection with the opening of the Magistracy at Kowloon.

Approved.

A Police Vote

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $22,020 in aid of the following votes:―

Police, Other Charges:―

Bedding and Mess Utensils ............ $ 5,750 Identification of Criminals .............. 100 Incidental Expenses ......................... 1,000 Light and Electric Fans ................... 8,000 Rent of Stations ................................ 1,810 Rent of Married Police Quarters .... 3,360 Transport ........................................... 2,000 ———

Total ........................... $22,020

———

HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 125

THE CHAIRMAN―The vote for Bedding and Mess Utensils was $7,000, and the excess amounts to $5,750 which includes the purchasing of 500 mosquito nets at $11.50 each, in connection with the prevention of malaria. The vote for identification of criminals, was $150 and the excess is due to more identification parades than were expected. The incidental expenses vote is $4,000 and it is estimated that an additional sum of $1,000 will be required, the excess being due to paying $195 to the Dairy Farm Company as compensation for restoring two plate glass windows broken by a police van; a sum of $300 for fixing partitions in the police quarters in Jordan Road, and there are certain expenses connected with the training of men at Wei-hai-wei. With regard to light and electric fans, the excess in this vote is due to the following stations being opened during the year: The Mongkok station, and quarters for Indian police in Hospital Road, and the Quarry Bay station was opened in 1923, which is not included in the 1924 estimates. The consumption of electric light at the Yaumati station was also under-estimated, and in a number of quarters gas was installed for cooking and heating purposes. The vote for "rent of stations" is required to complete the payment of rent of the Quarry Bay station, provision for which was not made in the 1924 estimates. As regards rent for married police quarters, when the 1924 estimates were drawn up only $2,640 was inserted for the rent of premises and the renting of the Berlin Mission premises has increased the amount by $3,360, and provision has to be made for that. Regarding transport, this vote was reduced in the 1924 estimates by $2,000, and it is estimated that this additional amount will be required owing to the increase in cost and transport expenditure incurred in Wei-hai-wei. The accounts for Wei-hai-wei for August to December are still to come in.

Approved.

A Railway Vote

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $61,000 on account of Kowloon-Canton Railway, Special Expenditure, Locomotive, Carriage, and Wagon Expenses: Breakdown Crane.

THE CHAIRMAN―This is a revote. The accounts did not arrive in time for payment to be made before the end of the year.

Approved.

A Rescue Tug

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $2,000 in aid of the vote Harbour Master's Department, Special Expenditure, Building of a Rescue Tug.

THE CHAIRMAN―This sum is required to cover the increase in the first two instalments of the contract price of the Rescue Tug. The contract price has been increased $5,000 owing to the installation of a stronger pump and each instalment is therefore increased by $1,000. There are two to be paid this year.

Approved.

Prison Vote

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $15,600 in aid of the following votes:―

Prison Department, Other Charges:―

Subsistence of Prisoners ................ $14,000 Light ................................................. 1,600 ———

Total ..................... $15,600

———

THE CHAIRMAN―The increase in the vote for "subsistence of prisoners" is due to the larger number of prisoners, and with regard to light, $1,600, this is due to the opening of two new halls at Laichikok Prison.

Approved.

Increased Vehicular Traffic

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $20,000 in aid of the vote Public Works, Recurrent, Hongkong, Communications, (4) Maintenance of Roads and Bridges in City.

THE CHAIRMAN―This sum of $25,000 is required owing to increased percentage rate of contract and the extra amount of work to be done, owing to increasing vehicular traffic.

Approved.