1932-01-28 — Page 1

HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ———————

28th January, 1932.

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PRESENT:―

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR (SIR WILLIAM PEEL, K.C.M.G., K.B.E.).

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING THE TROOPS (MAJOR-GENERAL J. W. SANDILANDS, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.).

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY (HON. MR. W. T. SOUTHORN, C.M.G.).

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (HON. MR. C. G. ALABASTER, K.C., O.B.E.).

THE SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS (HON. MR. E. R. HALLIFAX, C.M.G., C.B.E.). THE COLONIAL TREASURER (HON. MR. E. TAYLOR).

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

HON. MR. E. D. C. WOLFE, C.M.G., (Inspector General of Police).

HON. COMMANDER G. F. HOLE, R.N., (Retired) (Harbour Master).

HON. DR. A. R. WELLINGTON (Director of Medical and Sanitary Services). HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK, KT., K.C.

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

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

HON. MR. J. P. BRAGA.

HON. MR. C. G. S. MACKIE.

HON. MR. S. W. TS'O O.B.E., LL.D.

HON. MR. J. J. PATERSON.

HON. MR. T. N. CHAU.

MR. R. A. C. NORTH (Deputy Clerk of Councils.)

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MINUTES.

The Minutes of the previous meeting of Council were confirmed.

STANDING LAW COMMITTEE.

H.E. THE GOVERNOR.―Gentlemen, as this is the first meeting of the Council this year, it is necessary to appoint the Standing Law Committee. I propose to appoint the following members who have agreed to serve: The Hon. Attorney General (Chairman), the Hon. Secretary for Chinese Affairs, the Hon. Sir Henry Pollock, the Hon. Mr. Shenton and the Hon. Mr. Ts'o.

PAPERS.

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

Notification regarding information as to decorations conferred upon the Hong Kong Residents by His Majesty the King.

Resolution of the Sanitary Board adopted at a meeting of the Board held on the 24th November, 1931.

Additions to Part I of the List of Authorised Auditors under the Companies Ordinance, 1911.

Rule made by the Governor in Council under section 56 (a) of the Trade Marks Ordinance, 1909, on 11th December, 1931.

Regulation made by the Governor in Council under sections 25 (4) and 42 of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899, on 16th December, 1931.

Regulation made by the Governor in Council under section 95 of the Liquors Consolidation Ordinance, 1911, and section 3 of the Tobacco Ordinance, 1916, on 17th December, 1931.

Amoy declared an infectious place under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899, Table L, Quarantine Regulations.

Rule made by the Registrar of Patents under section 11 of the Registration of United Kingdom Patents Ordinance, 1925, on 27th October, 1931.

Regulations made by the Governor in Council under section 23 of the Waterworks Ordinance, 1903, on 22nd December, 1931.

Scale of Fees charged by the Passport Office, Colonial Secretary's Department.

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Regulation made by the Governor in Council under section 3 of the Post Office Ordinance, 1926, on 28th December, 1931.

Rules made by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong with the concurrence of the Governor, under section 4 of the Suitors Funds Ordinance, 1896, on 31st December, 1931.

Prohibition of sale and exposure for sale of any articles of food in any place not being a market in Wong Nei Chung, Tai Hang and Whitfield.

Notification re Convention between the United Kingdom and Sweden respecting Legal Proceedings in Civil and Commercial matters.

QUESTIONS.

HON. MR. J. P. BRAGA asked:―

1.―Will the Honourable the Director of Medical and Sanitary Services kindly inform the Council whether he is satisfied with the adequacy and efficiency of the existing arrangements for water-borne conveyance of infective patients of communicable diseases from the mainland to the Island?

2. If the reply to the first question is in―

(a) the affirmative,

will he explain the failure to secure transportation in the specific case of a patient for whom application for conveyance was made shortly after 8 p.m. on Saturday, the 26th December, and the special launch was not available until 9.10 a.m. on the following day?

(b) the negative,

what special recommendations, if any, he proposes to make for supplementing the present inadequate arrangements for prompt and efficient transportation of infective patients from Kowloon to Hong Kong?

3.―Does the Director of Medical and Sanitary Services consider the present hospital accommodation in Kowloon adequate, in point of buildings and equipment and also of doctors and nursing staff, to cope with any sudden and widespread outbreak of a communicable disease in epidemic form such as is taking place in the Colony at the present time?

4.―Does the Government consider that the provision for hospital accommodation in Kowloon has kept pace with the development of the peninsula and the amazing growth of its population?

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5.―What immediate steps are contemplated to remedy the existing insufficiency of hospital accommodation for the urgent needs of Kowloon residents?

6.―Will the Honourable the Colonial Secretary state whether Government has any intention, and when, of submitting plans to the Finance Committee of the Council for a further extension of the Kowloon Hospital, in addition to the Maternity Wing, in order to meet the requirements of an emergency arising out of an outbreak of disease in a virulent form?

THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND SANITARY SERVICES replied:―

1.―The arrangements are not altogether satisfactory but steps have been taken to see that in future a launch will be available to meet an emergency such as the one referred to by the honourable member.

2.―(a) The question does not arise.

(b) It is recommended that a special ambulance launch be built as soon as the finances of the Colony permit.

3.―The present scheme for control of epidemic disease provides that all Kowloon cases of infectious disease which require hospital isolation and treatment shall be conveyed to the infectious diseases hospital in Victoria. Such being the case no provision has been made for hospital treatment of such cases in Kowloon. The medical and nursing staff when at full strength is adequate to deal with any outbreak of communicable disease in epidemic form such as was taking place in the Colony at the time these questions were drawn up.

4.―Hospital accommodation in Kowloon is inadequate.

5.―A new two storied building is nearing completion. It is proposed for the time being to use the upper floor for nurses' quarters and the lower floor for the accommodation of women and children suffering from non-infectious diseases.

6.―The Government does not propose at present to establish an infectious diseases hospital in Kowloon. Plans for the further extension of the Kowloon Hospital are under consideration and it is hoped that the financial position will permit of definite proposals being brought before the Legislative Council during the current year.

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FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. The Governor, laid upon the table the reports of the Finance Committee, Nos. 14 and 15 of 17th and 30th December, 1931 respectively and moved that they be adopted.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and this was agreed to.

SANITARY BOARD BY-LAWS.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY:―

Sir,―I rise to move―

"That the By-laws made by the Sanitary Board under section 16 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903, on the 8th day of December, 1931, be adopted."

THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the resolution was agreed to. ESTATE DUTY ORDINANCE, 1932.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend and consolidate the law relating to Estate Duty." He said.―Most of this is consolidation with slight amendments indicated in the table of correspondence at the end. There are a few typographical errors which will be corrected in Committee on the second reading.

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

The "Objects and Reasons" for the Bill were stated as follows:―

This Bill consolidates the Ordinances relating to Estate Duty, Ordinance No. 16 of 1915 and Ordinance No. 6 of 1931 with slight amendments which are indicated in the Table of Correspondence attached to it.

JUVENILE OFFENDERS ORDINANCE, 1932.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to make provision for Proceedings in reference to Juvenile Offenders." He said.―This Bill has been drafted by the Committee appointed to consider the question and is in the form recommended by them, subject to minor corrections as to re-arrangements, except that their recommendation with regard to associating Justices of the Peace with Magistrates, has not been included.

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

The "Objects and Reasons" for the Bill were stated as follows:―

1. This Ordinance represents generally the Bill drafted by the Committee appointed to report on measures required for the institution of Juvenile Courts in Hong Kong. The provisions recommended by the Committee, in the matter of associating Justices of the Peace with the Magistrates for the trial of juvenile offenders have been omitted from section 3, as it was felt by the Government after careful enquiries that the time is not ripe for prescribing such association and in particular that the Colony is not yet ready for the appointment of women Justices of the Peace. Section 19 (4) has also been enlarged to make provision for the detention of remanded or convicted persons only in places suited to receive them.

2. The Ordinance is based partly on the relevant provisions of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1907, the Children Act, 1908, the Juvenile Courts (Metropolis) Act, 1920, and the Criminal Justice Act, 1925, and partly on a model Bill which has been recommended by similar Committee in England.

POLICE FORCE AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1932.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Police Force Ordinance, 1900." He said.―The Object is explained in the memorandum at the foot.

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

The "Objects and Reasons" for the Bill were stated as follows:―

1. This Ordinance substitutes a new section for section 32 of the principal Ordinance which made provision for the appointment by the Governor, on the application of any householder, of any member of the force to do special police duty in and upon the premises of the applicant on payment for the same of the whole of the pay and allowances of the member of the force so appointed.

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2. Applications for such services are not always made by householders, they are sometimes made by clubs or institutions on occasions where such services are required.

3. The detailing of members of the force for such purposes seems rather a matter for the Inspector General of Police than for the Governor.

4. Moreover, the provision as to the payment of the whole of the pay and allowances of a member of the force who might be detailed only for a few hours special duty seems unreasonably restrictive.

ADJOURNMENT.

H.E. THE GOVERNOR.―Council stands adjourned to 11th February.

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

Following the Council, a meeting of the Finance Committee was held, the Colonial Secretary presiding.

Votes totalling $37,320, contained in Message No. 1 from H.E. the Governor, were considered.

Item 171: Post Office and Wireless (B).―Other Charges. Incidental Expenses.

HON. MR. KOTEWALL.―Do you happen to know what these documents are? Could you say why they could not be printed locally? I think the work can be done much cheaper here.

THE CHAIRMAN.―They could not be printed locally. They are publications, not forms.

Item 2: Harbour Department and Air Services. Personal emoluments.

HON. MR. BRAGA.―Can you please inform the Committee how do we stand in regard to Tsun Wan Bay? Is there a full time inspector of junks there?

THE CHAIRMAN.―I cannot tell you off hand but I think not. It does not seem to me to arise from this question.

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HON. MR. BRAGA.―No, but from the explanatory note attached, under Paragraph 2, this is apparently a good investment on the part of the Government, because at the cost of an Assistant Junk Inspector's salary, you will be getting in some revenue that before had escaped collection, and as far as I have been able to notice on my frequent visits to Tsun Wan recently, the junk traffic there is growing all the time. I put forward as a suggestion, that in order to be able to collect all the revenue that we can lay our hands on, an appointment might be considered valuable by the harbour authorities.

THE CHAIRMAN.―I shall certainly have it investigated. Thank you very much, Mr. Braga.

HON. MR. BRAGA.―It is certainly worth while looking into.

All the votes were approved.