1928-04-19 — Page 1

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 27

April 19th, 1928.

PRESENT:―

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR (SIR CECIL CLEMENTI, 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. MR. E. R. HALLIFAX, C.M.G., C.B.E.).

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL (HON. SIR JOSEPH HORSFORD KEMP, KT., K.C., C.B.E.). THE COLONIAL TREASURER (HON. MR. C. MCI. MESSER, O.B.E.).

HON. MR. H. T. CREASY, C.B.E. (Director of Public Works).

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

HON. MR. R. A. C. NORTH (Secretary for Chinese Affairs).

HON. SIR HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, KT., K.C.

HON. SIR SHOU-SON CHOW, KT.

HON. MR. R. H. KOTEWALL, C.M.G., LL.D.

HON. MR. A. C. HYNES.

HON. MR. J. OWEN HUGHES.

MR. T. W. AINSWORTH (Deputy Clerk of Councils).

ABSENT:―

HON. MR. W. E. L. SHENTON.

MINUTES.

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

PAPERS.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid upon the table the following papers:―

Declaration of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899, Table L, Quarantine Regulations, on April 5th, 1928.

Declaration of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899, Table L, Quarantine Regulations, on April 5th, 1928.

Regulations under section 4 of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, 1923, on April 12th, 1928.

Regulations under section 3 of the Watchmen Ordinance, 1928, on April 12th, 1928. Report of the Director of the Royal Observatory, Hong Kong, for the year 1927.

28 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Report of the Police Magistrates' Courts for the year 1927.

Report of the Superintendent of Prisons for the year 1927.

Report on the Botanical and Forestry Department for the year 1927.

QUESTIONS.

HON. SIR HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK―Will the Government consider the advisability of making representations to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies with reference to the constitution of this Council being amended in order to permit of Kowloon being represented on this Council?

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY―H.E. the Governor proposes to discuss the question of the composition of the Legislative Council with the Secretary of State during his approaching visit to England.

HON. SIR HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK―If the construction of a public pier at the end of Nathan Road is impracticable, will the Government favourably consider the erection of a public pier at the end of Jordan Road?

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY―The provision of a public pier at the end of Nathan Road is impracticable.

The construction of a vehicular and passenger ferry pier at the end of Jordan Road is under consideration and until the questions concerning the proposed vehicular ferry have been decided, no further answer can be given.

HON. SIR HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK―Will the Government state what steps it is prepared to take in order to meet the desires of the Kowloon Residents' Association in regard to the improvement of traffic regulation in the vicinity of the Star Ferry Wharf at Kowloon?

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY―A comprehensive scheme has been prepared for the lay out of the area in the vicinity of the Star Ferry Wharf at Kowloon with a view to improved traffic regulation. It has been prepared to meet as far as possible the desires of the Kowloon Residents' Association whose proposals have received due consideration. The scheme will be made public in a sessional paper in due course.

HON. SIR HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK―With a view to the increase of public bathing facilities in the Colony, will the Government

(i) Put up additional bathing cubicles, and pavilion accommodation, for the use of the public, at Repulse Bay?

(ii) Put up bathing cubicles, and a pavilion, for the use of the public, at the Bay near Stanley where private bathing matsheds have already been erected?

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY―At present fifteen cubicles (10'0" x 6'0") are being erected at Repulse Bay with fresh water showers,

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 29

water stand pipes, etc.; ten are for men and five for women. No provision is being made for a pavilion.

The beach at Stanley has been fully allocated; two or three additional sheds might be erected on the higher ground above the beach, but this site is not considered suitable.

No public bathing cubicles or pavilion are being erected and no funds are provided for this purpose.

HON. SIR HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK―Arising out of the answer to the first part of this question I should like to put this supplementary question. Are the proposed public bathing facilities at Repulse Bay referred to considered by the Government as adequate for the use of the public?

H.E. THE GOVERNOR―I think that question will have to stand over until our next meeting.

HON. SIR HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK―Will the Government (in accordance with the recommendations of the Bathing Beaches Committee contained in Sessional Paper No. 12 of 1926), expend a sum, then estimated at $7,115, with an annual wages bill for boatmen and coolies of $560 for the season, in providing bathing cubicles, a shelter or pavilion, sanitary conveniences, boats, buoys, rafts, fresh water, etc., at Ch'eung Sha Bay, which is on the motor road a few miles nearer to Kowloon than Castle Peak Bay?

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY―Funds are not available at present for the suggested works at Ch'eung Sha Bay.

HON. SIR HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK―Will the Government take steps to enable the residents of Kowloon Tong to have a sufficient water-supply for the flush closet system, which system has been installed in their houses in accordance with the original building scheme?

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY―On the 25th September, 1924, the Hon. Mr. Montague Ede raised in Executive Council the question of the water supply of the Kowloon Tong settlement. He put forward proposals for the construction of a reservoir to supply the settlement with water for a water flushing system and for the trees, gardens, lawns, etc., which were essential to the scheme. The then Director of Public Works pointed out that these proposals were uneconomical and said that the settlement would be supplied in due course from the Shing Mun Waterworks. Mr. Ede, however, pressed his point, and after discussion the Governor-in-Council agreed that he should be allowed to construct a reservoir for the Kowloon Tong scheme on the clear understanding that the Government took no responsibility in the matter and assumed no liabilities in respect of it. In these circumstances it is clear that, if the existing water supply to the Kowloon Tong scheme is defective, the blame for such defect rests on the Kowloon Tong Estate Company, which should take steps to remedy it by negotiating with the Government for connection with the Shing Mun Water-works.

30 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

HON. SIR HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK―Will the Government utilize one of the strips of Government land abutting on Salisbury Road as a play-ground for Kowloon children? Will the Government also inquire into the possibility of various unbuilt-on pieces of land abutting on Nathan Road being temporarily used for the purposes of children's play-grounds?

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY―Pending its use by the Government for other purposes, a small area can be reserved as a children's play-ground at the junction of Salisbury and Middle Roads. There is, however, in the opinion of the Government, no area at Tsimshatsui which is really suitable for permanent reservation as a children's playground: and none of the undeveloped area adjoining Nathan Road appears to be suitable for conversion to children's play-grounds.

HON. SIR HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK―Will the Government consider the advisability of a simple granite Memorial being erected on the Praya Wall, between Queen's Pier and the Star Ferry Wharf, in order to commemorate the fact that the late Sir Paul Chater was the originator of two important Reclamations on the South side of the Harbour, namely, one from the Royal Naval Yard Westward to West Point, and the other from the Royal Naval Yard Eastward to East Point?

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY―The question of a memorial to Sir C. P. Chater is in the hands of a representative Committee whose plans originally included a Statue for which Government was prepared to grant a site. It is understood that the idea has been abandoned in favour of the endowment of scholarships at the University: but if the Committee desire a memorial of the nature suggested in the question, Government is still prepared to consider the grant of a suitable site.

HON. MR. J. OWEN HUGHES―What information can the Government lay before the Council as to the partially prepared site for the new prison situated in Kowloon Bay?

What are the daily average of prisoners in 1927 in:―

(a) Victoria Gaol.

(b) Lai Chi Kok Gaol.

Does the Government consider these prisons to be overcrowded?

If yes, when is it proposed to proceed with increased accommodation?

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY―The work on the new gaol at Ngau Shi Wan was suspended after a meeting on the site of members of both Executive and Legislative Councils with His Excellency. The site adjoins the Airport site at Kowloon Bay and will be required in connection with the development of that project and will not be used for the construction of a prison.

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 31

The daily average of prisoners in Victoria Gaol in 1927 was 774 and in Lai Chi Kok Gaol, 415.

Victoria Gaol is overcrowded. Lai Chi Kok Gaol is not overcrowded. On the other hand Lai Chi Kok can hardly be called a prison. There is no cellular accommodation and little opportunity for employing the prisoners on labour.

Increased accommodation cannot be provided at Victoria Gaol. Government is at present investigating possible sites on which to build a new prison.

FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid upon the table the report of the Finance Committee No. 4 of April 5th and moved that it be adopted.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the report was adopted. CHINESE TEMPLES ORDINANCE, 1928.

HON. SIR SHOU-SON CHOW―I have just received a petition from 22 keepers of the To Yuen―which means Taoist monasteries―in which they claim that the passing of the Chinese Temples Ordinance, 1928, will affect them. In order to give the matter further consideration I beg to move that the second reading of this Bill be postponed.

HON. DR. R. H. KOTEWALL seconded, and this course was agreed to.

H.E. THE GOVERNOR―Council adjourns until Thursday next, April 26th, at 2.30.

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

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

The items of expenditure, totalling $14,399 outlined in H.E. the Governor's message No. 5 were considered.

All the votes were approved.