1925-10-01 — Page 1

74 HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

1ST OCTOBER, 1925.

PRESENT:―

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR (SIR REGINAL EDWARD STUBBS, K.C.M.G.). HIS EXCELLENCY THE GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING THE TROOPS (MAJOR-GENERAL C. C. LUARD, C.B., C.M.G.).

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

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL (HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK, K.C.).

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

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

HON. MR. D. W. TRATMAN (Secretary for Chinese Affairs).

HON. DR. J. B. ADDISON, M.B.E. (Principal Civil Medical Officer).

HON. MR. P. H. HOLYOAK.

HON. MR. A. O. LANG.

HON. MR. CHOW SHOU-SON.

HON. MR. H. W. BIRD.

HON. MR. R. H. KOTEWALL.

HON. MR. C. G. ALABASTER, K.C., O.B.E. MR. A. G. M. FLETCHER, C.M.G., O.B.E. (Clerk of Councils).

Minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Council were confirmed.

Finance

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. The Governor, laid upon the table Financial Minutes Nos. 71 to 74 and No. 76 and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and this was agreed to.

command of H.E. The Governor, laid upon the table Report of the Finance Committee (No. 10) and moved that it be adopted.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and this was agreed to.

Papers

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. The Governor, laid upon the table papers 37 to 40; and the draft of rules to be made by the Registrar of Patents under the proposed registration of United Kingdom Patents Ordinance.

The by-law relating to the disinfection of infected premises and the by-law relating to the removal of patients, made by the Sanitary Board, were approved.

Tenement Rates

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the following resolution:―

"Resolved by the Legislative Council that the percentages on the valuation of tenements payable as rates for tenements on the following lots on Kowloon Bay Reclamation shall be 13 per cent.:―New Kowloon Inland Lots Nos. 132, 227, 228, 238, 239 and 251."

He said―This resolution was originally before this Council some months ago, but it was then suggested that these particular lots had not been provided with all the services required by the Rating Ordinance in order to justify taxation to the full 13 per cent. The matter has been investigated since and it appears that the

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full public services have now been provided. I, therefore, move that the tenements should pay the full 13 per cent. taxation.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the resolution was passed.

Servant Registration

HON. MR. H. W. BIRD asked the following question, of which notice had previously been given:―

"Has the Government considered the advisability of establishing a Labour Bureau for the voluntary registration of domestic servants and others? If so with what result?"

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY―A bureau for the voluntary registration of Chinese workers of all classes was experimentally established with the assistance of the Government in July last, but the response has hitherto been small. In the same month a private individual put forward a proposal for the establishment of a Domestic Servants Employment and Registration Bureau, and, in reply to an enquiry whether the Government would supervise it, he was asked to define the nature of the supervision required. No answer has been received. The Government does not propose to establish a labour bureau, but it is prepared to consider the giving of assistance to private enterprise in this connection if concrete proposals are put before it.

New Saiyingpun School

HON. MR. HOLYOAK ― Will the Government state when it is hoped to complete and open the new "Saiyingpun" School?

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY ― If no unforeseen circumstances arise it is hoped to complete and open the School by the 30th June, 1926. The work was delayed for about two months mainly owing to the Strike.

Charges for 1924

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the second reading of the Bill intituled, An Ordinance to authorize the appropriation of a supplementary sum of two million seven

hundred and two thousand seven hundred and ninety-four dollars and sixteen cents to defray the charges of the year 1924.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the Bill was read a second time. H.E. THE GOVERNOR―Does the Council wish to refer the Bill to the Finance Committee or is it desired to deal with it in the Committee of the Council.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY―I move the Council go into Committee.

This course was agreed to and the Council went into Committee to consider the details of the Bill. No amendments were made to the Bill in Committee and upon Council resuming

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the third reading of the Bill.

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

Code of Civil Procedure

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL―I wish to postpone the second reading of the Bill intituled, An Ordinance to amend the Code of Civil Procedure. Various suggestions for the amendment of this Bill have been made to me and I should like to have full opportunity of considering them and of conferring with the learned Judges. As hon. members are aware the Chief Justice will be absent for several weeks from the Colony and, therefore, I am afraid the second reading of the Bill will not be able to be taken for some time. I should be glad if any members of the Council or of the legal profession would let me have any further suggestions for the amendment of the Bill, which may occur to them, as it is desired by the Government to make the amendments to the Code as complete as they can reasonably be made.

Letters Patent

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL ― I beg to move the second reading of the Bill intituled, An Ordinance to provide for the registration in Hongkong of letters patent granted in the United Kingdom.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and the Bill was read a second time. Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.

76 HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

No amendments were made in Committee and upon Council resuming.

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

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

Larceny Ordinance

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL ― I beg to move the second reading of the Bill intituled, An Ordinance to amend the Larceny Ordinance, 1865.

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 stated that a person would be guilty of a misdemeanour who unlawfully used any dredge, net, instrument or engine whatever for the purpose of taking oysters, with the proviso that nothing should prevent any person from fishing for any floating fish within the limits of any oyster fishery with any net, instrument or engine adapted for taking floating fish only.

HON. MR. C. G. ALABASTER―What does it mean by floating fish―dead fish floating on the water or fish still living?

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL ―I take it that it means living fish.

H.E. THE GOVERNOR ― I presume it refers to fish swimming about and not at the bottom of the sea. I feel diffident about criticising the proviso because it is taken from an Act of Parliament Otherwise I would suggest it serves no purpose.

HON. MR. C. G. ALABASTER―I suggest that the proviso be omitted.

This was agreed to.

Upon Council resuming.

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL proposed that the Bill as amended in Committee be read a third time.

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

Companies Ordinance

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL ― I beg to move the second reading of the Bill intituled, An Ordinance to amend the Companies Ordinance, 1911.

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

Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause. There were amendments in Committee and, upon Council resuming.

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the third reading of the Bill as amended.

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

H.E. THE GOVERNOR ― The Council stands adjourned until to-day week (Thursday) at 2.30 when I hope to have the estimates for 1926 ready for the consideration of the Council.

FINANCE COMMITTEE

A meeting of the Finance Committee followed, the COLONIAL SECRETARY presiding.

Indian Quarters

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $8,000 in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary, New Territories, Buildings, 98, Quarters for Indian Married Police.

THE CHAIRMAN ― The total estimated commitments for this work amounted to $36,000. The vote, item 98, Public Works Extraordinary, was $25,000 leaving a balance of $11,000. The retention money, which is not payable until next year, is $3,000 so that the amount now required is $8,000.

Agreed.

Compensations and Resumptions

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $11,402 in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary, New Territories, Miscellaneous, 124, Compensation and Resumptions.

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THE CHAIRMAN―This sum is required for the payment of compensation for old buildings, the awards made by the courts of arbitrators, etc.

Agreed.

Hongkong Volunteer Defence Corps

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $2,200 in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary, Hongkong, Buildings, Alterations and Additions to the Hongkong Volunteer Defence Corps Headquarters.

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

Kowloon Recreation Grounds

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $34,000 in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary, Kowloon, Miscellaneous, 86, King's Park, Laying out Ground for Recreation purposes.

THE CHAIRMAN―The new road from King's Park to Ho Mun Tin, the bridge across the railway and the laying out of grounds in King's Park for recreation purposes practically form one scheme. A portion of the road now being constructed was necessary to give access to the recreation grounds. One part of the work cost $34,000 more than the estimate but this amount is available from the saving on another portion so no extra expenditure is involved.

HON. MR. KOTEWALL―Could not this work be postponed and the money saved?

THE CHAIRMAN―The work is practically completed. Now that we are on the subject I may mention that the ground was prepared for different clubs ―the Kowloon Cricket Club, the Club de Recreio, the United Services Recreation Club, and one or two others. Owing, however, to the military land question being held up these clubs, with the exception of the Club de Recreio, will not at present require this ground. But the ground has been allotted to other clubs in urgent need so that the work has been very useful in that way.

Agreed.

Clearing Kowloon Sites

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $2,360 in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary, Kowloon, Miscellaneous, 90, Clearing and Forming Sites to the West of Kowloon City Road.

THE CHAIRMAN ― Two amounts were wrongly charged to Public Works. Extraordinary, 80a, main road to Kowloon instead of to this vote. It was impossible to adjust the matter by a transfer. It is, therefore, necessary to increase this vote by $2,360 but it will mean a saving on vote 80a.

Agreed.