1932-03-17 — Page 1

18 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

17th March, 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. COMMANDER G. F. HOLE, R.N., (Retired) (Harbour Master).

HON. DR. A. R. WELLINGTON (Director of Medical and Sanitary Services). HON. MR. T. H. KING, (Inspector General of Police).

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).

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 19

MINUTES.

The Minutes of the previous meeting of Council were confirmed.

NEW MEMBER.

The Inspector General of Police, Hon. Mr. T. H. King, took the oath of allegiance, and his seat as a member of the Council.

PAPERS.

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

Notification under section 6A (2) (a) of the New Territories Regulation Ordinance, 1910, respecting the Tai O Cemetery.

Notification under section 6A (2) (b) of the New Territories Regulation Ordinance, 1910. No person to bury or deposit any human remains in or upon any part of Tai O outside the Tai O Cemetery.

Order made by the Governor in Council under section 12 of the Rope Company's Tramway Ordinance, 1901, on the 4th January, 1932.

The Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899, Table L, Quarantine Regulations―Shanghai declared an infectious place.

Notification under section 4 of the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance, 1896.

Regulation made by the Governor in Council under sections 3 (1) and 4 (1) of the Tobacco Ordinance, 1931, on the 11th January, 1932.

Regulations made by the Governor in Council under section 88 of the Liquors Ordinance, 1931, on the 12th January, 1932.

The Air Navigation Directions (Hong Kong), 1932, (No. 1) Regulation made by the Governor in Council under section 3 of the Importation and Exportation Ordinance, 1915, on the 19th January, 1932.

The Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899, Table L, Quarantine Regulations―Pakhoi declared an infectious place.

Regulations made by the Governor in Council under section 3 of the Vehicles and Traffic Regulation Ordinance, 1912, on the 12th January, 1932.

20 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899, Table L, Quarantine Regulations―Sourabaya declared an infectious place.

Order made by the Governor in Council on the 28th day of January, 1932, under regulation No. 25 of the Emergency Regulations.

Jurors List for 1932. (Sessional Paper No. 1 of 1932).

FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. The Governor, laid upon the table the report of the Finance Committee, No. 2 of 25th February, 1932, and moved that it be adopted.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and this was agreed to.

KAI TAK AERODROME.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.―With the consent of the Council, I wish to postpone the motion standing second in my name. It has been found necessary to amend the figure, and certain details are not yet ready.

Consent was given and the motion was accordingly postponed.

LIQUORS ORDINANCE RESOLUTION.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER moved:―

"Resolved under section 39 of the Liquors Ordinance, 1931, that the Resolution of the 22nd day of October, 1931, assessing the duty to be paid on spirituous liquors other than intoxicating liquors be rescinded and that duty be assessed and paid on such spirituous liquors in accordance with the following table:―

TABLE.

per gallon.

On perfumed spirits and toilet preparations other than spirituous liquors classified by the Superintendent as Medicated Spirits ................................ $ 10.00

On Medicated Spirits classified by the Superintendent as such:―

(a) containing more than 10% by weight of pure alcohol but less than 21 % $ 2.50 (b) containing 21% by weight of pure alcohol but less than 38% ................... $ 5.00 (c) containing 38% by weight of pure alcohol but less than 63% ................... $ 7.50

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 21

(d) containing not less than 63% by weight of pure alcohol ............................ $ 10.00

Provided that the dollars and decimals thereof stated in the Table shall be conventional dollars reckoned as the equivalent one shilling and eightpence sterling; and consequently to at the actual amount payable in Hong Kong currency the conventional dollar stated in the Table shall be multiplied by 20 and divided by a figure settled by the Colonial Treasurer from time to time representing the average opening selling rates for the previous month of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation for demand drafts on London and until so settled the figure shall be 17.24.

He said:―

The object of this resolution is to assess duty on medicated spirits by the alcoholic content and not as heretofore charging as though the contents were 100% alcohol. The amounts of alcohol shewn in the Table may appear arbitrary but they represent the equivalent in alcohol by weight to the standards of the B. P. which are given in volume. The effect will be that the duty on medicinal preparations such as tinctures, liquid extracts, etc., will be somewhat less.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the resolution was agreed to. OPIUM ORDINANCE, 1932.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend and consolidate the law relating to opium." He said.―This Bill consolidates Ordinances on this subject and amends them, in the manner indicated in the Table of Correspondence which Honourable Members will find on pages 19 and 20 of the Bill. The principal amendment is the new Clause 14, which will prevent the sale to or purchase by a minor of any prepared opium. This clause has been inserted in consequence of decisions made at the Bangkok Opium Conference.

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 Ordinance consolidates and to some extent amends the law relating to Opium. A Table of Correspondence is attached which indicates the source of the various sections and the nature of the amendments.

22 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

INDUSTRIAL AND REFORMATORY SCHOOLS

ORDINANCE, 1932.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to Provide for and Regulate Industrial and Reformatory Schools."

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.

ADJOURNMENT.

H.E. THE GOVERNOR.―Council stands adjourned to 7th April.

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

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

Votes totalling $47,987, contained in Message No. 3 from H.E. The Governor, were considered.

All the votes were approved.

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