1932-02-25 — Page 1

14 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

25th February, 1932.

———————

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. 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.)

ABSENT.

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

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 15

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 report of the Standing Law Committee on the Estate Duty Bill, 1932.

INDUSTRIAL AND REFORMATORY SCHOOLS

ORDINANCE, 1932.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to Provide for and Regulate Industrial and Reformatory Schools." He said:―This Bill repeals the Reformatory Schools Ordinance, 1901, and substitutes new provisions, closely modelled on the English law and the Straits Settlements' Ordinance.

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 was one of the two drafted by the Committee appointed to report on the measures required for the institution of Juvenile Courts in Hong Kong.

2. As stated in the Committee's Report it contains all the main provisions of the old Reformatory Schools Ordinance, No. 11 of 1901, which it repeals, and it provides generally for the institution and regulation of such establishments.

3. It is closely modelled on the English law and the Straits Settlements Ordinance No. 47, with only such amendments as the Committee considered necessary to suit local conditions.

PO LEUNG KUK INCORPORATION AMENDMENT

ORDINANCE, 1932.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Po Leung Kuk Incorporation Ordinance, 1893."

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

16 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Council went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.

Upon Council resuming,

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that the Bill had passed through Committee without amendment, and moved the third reading.

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

CHINESE TEMPLES AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1932.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Chinese Temples Ordinance, 1928."

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

Upon Council resuming,

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that the Bill had passed through the Committee without amendment and moved the third reading.

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

ESTATE DUTY ORDINANCE, 1932.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.―I move that Council go into Committee on the Estate Duty Ordinance, 1932, to consider the report of the Standing Law Committee thereon.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and Council went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.―The Standing Law Committee recommended certain typographical changes, and also the redrafting of Clause 21 of the Bill to meet the representations which had been made on behalf of many Chinese by the Hon. Mr. Kotewall. The redraft gives all the protection that the Estate Duty Commissioner requires, and makes the clause clearer. The Committee recommended that the Bill, with the amendments recommended by them, should be reprinted according to the Standing Orders and substituted for the Bill which was read a second time. It has been reprinted with those amendments, and copies are in the hands of all members.

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 17

I therefore move that the Bill, as was published, be substituted for the Bill which was read a second time, in accordance with the Standing Orders.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and this was agreed to.

H.E. THE GOVERNOR.―There is a small typographical error in the marginal note to Clause 9, paragraph 7.

Upon Council resuming,

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that the Bill had passed through committee with an immaterial amendment, and moved the third reading.

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

ADJOURNMENT.

H.E. THE GOVERNOR.―Council stands adjourned to 10th March.

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Finance Committee was held in the Council Chamber, the Colonial Secretary presiding.

Votes totalling $33,633 (Estimates, 1931) and $24,785 (Estimates, 1932), contained in Message No. 2 from H.E. The Governor, were considered.

All the votes were approved.

———————