1933-08-03 — Page 1

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 71

3rd August, 1933.

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 O. C. BORRETT, C.B., C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O.).

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY (HON. MR. D. W. TRATMAN, C.M.G.).

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

THE SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS (HON. MR. A. E. WOOD).

THE COLONIAL TREASURER (HON. MR. M. J. BREEN).

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

HON. DR. A. R. WELLINGTON, (Director of Medical and Sanitary Services). HON. COMMANDER J. B. NEWILL, D.S.O., R.N., (Retired) (Harbour Master). HON. MR. A. G. W. TICKLE, (Director of Public Works).

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

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

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

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

HON. MR. J. J. PATERSON.

HON. MR. T. N. CHAU.

HON. MR. PAUL LAUDER.

MR. A. W. G. H. GRANTHAM, (Deputy Clerk of Councils).

ABSENT:―

HON. MR. J. P. BRAGA.

72 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

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:―

Regulation under section 5 of the Ferries Ordinance, 1917, relating to the exclusion of certain ferries from the operation of that Ordinance.

Notification under section 210 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903.

Rescission of the Order of the 9th January, 1933, published in the Gazette of the 13th January, 1933, as Government Notification No. 15, declaring Swatow to be an infected place.

Amendments of the regulations under section 4 of the Nurses Registration Ordinance, 1931, relating to registration and retention fees.

New Stanley Cemetery.

Order for the closing of Stanley Cemetery and the Christian Chinese Cemetery, Stanley.

Regulation under section 15 of the Wild Birds Ordinance, 1922, relating to the close season.

Report on the Assessment for the year 1933-1934.

Report of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs for the year 1932.

QUESTIONS.

HON. MR. R. H. KOTEWALL asked:―

In view of the complaints received that water does not reach the third and higher floors of many houses on account of insufficient pressure whenever restrictions are imposed, will the Government grant permission to such property-owners as may apply for it, to have the water-pipes laid first to the top-most floors and thence downwards, instead of from the ground floors and upwards as at present? If not, what are the Government's reasons?

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 73

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied:―

There is no departmental objection to the proposal, and ordinarily the Water Authority would not refuse connections to services of the design referred to, subject to the materials and fittings being of approved quality. The lay-out of the inside service is a matter which chiefly concerns the landlord.

The alteration would, however, not provide a satisfactory solution of the difficulty. With the pipes installed as suggested, the supply of water to the top floor might, because of the height of the building, be in some cases curtailed from lack of pressure, with the result that very much less water would reach the whole house than with the usual type of service, providing draw-off points on the up-going pipe.

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. 6 of June 22, and moved that it be adopted.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and this was agreed to.

MOTIONS.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER:―The resolution standing in my name is intended to regularise the excess of expenditure incurred in 1932 on the Aberdeen Valley Water Scheme over the quota allocated for that year. This sum was by a Resolution of this Council taken on December 10th, 1931, fixed at $347,000. The actual expenditure however amounted to $405,487.20, an excess of $58,487.20 over the quota approved. $33,509.25 of the excess was due to the work being proceeded with more rapidly than had been anticipated, and the balance, $24,977.95, represents the cost of administration which it was subsequently decided should be charged to the work.

I therefore move "That this Council approves of the additional expenditure of $58,487.20 on the Aberdeen Valley Water Scheme during the financial year 1932, which sum shall be met from a future loan and shall meanwhile be charged as an advance from the surplus balances of the Colony."

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.

HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK:―Sir, As the owner of a house over-looking the Aberdeen Reservoir I am very much dismayed to find a great deal of water, which is the overflow of that Reservoir into what was formerly known as the Paper Mill Reservoir, has been

74 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

allowed to run to waste. I understand from the Hon. Director of Public Works, to whom I have spoken on this matter, that that may possibly be due to the fact that the Government is cleaning up the silt at the bottom of the Reservoir, but I do submit that it is very wasteful at the present time when we have a considerable overflow to allow it to run to waste. I venture to urge the Government that as we are something like fourteen inches of rain below the average that this is a very wasteful policy to pursue and I strongly urge that the Government stop the cleaning out of the bottom of the Paper Mill, and that the water which overflows from the Aberdeen Reservoir be left in the Paper Mill Reservoir and impounded instead of wasted.

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:―It is anticipated that the quantity of silt to be removed from the lower Reservoir will be completed within the next week or two after which the lower Reservoir will be used for impounding water. If we have heavy rains in the meantime we shall close down our works and make use of the rainfall from the catchment area.

The resolution was agreed to.

BETTING DUTY AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1933.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled, "An Ordinance to amend the Betting Duty Ordinance, 1931." He said:―The object of this Bill is firstly to reduce the duty on totalisator and pari mutuel bets from 3 to 2½ per cent., and secondly to add eight words at the end of the long title.

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. Section 2 of this Ordinance adds, at the suggestion of the Secretary of State in his despatch of the 26th February, 1932, eight words to the long title of the principal Ordinance, No. 40 of 1931.

2. The existing long title expresses the primary object of the principal Ordinance, which was to make provision for the taxation of bets on authorised totalisators or pari-mutuels and on contributions or subscriptions towards authorised cashsweeps; but to effect that purpose section 9 of the principal Ordinance contained provisions amending the Gambling Ordinance.

3. Section 3 reduces from three per cent. to two and a half per cent. the duty on totalisator or pari-mutuel bets authorised under the principal Ordinance.

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 75

4. Section 4 brings this amending Ordinance into operation before the opening of the Autumn racing reason.

PONTIFICAL FOREIGN MISSIONS INSTITUTE

INCORPORATION ORDINANCE, 1933.

HON. MR. R. H. KOTEWALL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to provide for the incorporation of the Procurator in Hongkong of the Pontifical Foreign Missions Institute." He said: This Bill follows the form usual in incorporation ordinances of this nature, such as the Jesuit Order Incorporation Ordinance, 1927; the Jesuit Order (Portuguese Province) Incorporation Ordinance, 1929; and the Salesian Society Incorporation Ordinance, 1931.

Incorporation in this case is considered desirable now that the education of adults to priesthood for the purpose of Mission work in Hong Kong, Central China, and certain other places, has been entrusted to the Pontifical Foreign Missions Institute with certain powers.

Clause 3 of the Bill empowers the Institute, subject to the provisions of sub-section 2 thereof, to acquire, hold, sell or mortgage lands and buildings, and also to invest monies upon mortgage of lands and buildings.

Clause 4 provides for passing to the successor of the Procurator the legal estate in any property transferred to the Corporation, in the event of the death of the Procurator or in the event of his ceasing to hold office as such Procurator.

Clause 5 deals with the appointment of the Procurator, while clause 6 provides for the execution of deeds and other instruments requiring the seal and signature of the Corporation.

Clause 7 is the usual saving clause of the rights of the Crown and of certain other persons.

I beg to move that the Bill be read the first time.

HON. MR. S. W. TS'O seconded and the Bill was read a first time.

Objects and Reasons.

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

1. The education of adults to priesthood for the purpose of the Mission work having been entrusted to the Institute by the Holy See in Bengal, Burma and other cities in India, the Shan States,

76 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Hong Kong and Central China the acquisition of land and other hereditaments and premises for the erection and maintenance of a seminary is necessary for the purpose aforesaid and incorporation is considered desirable.

2. The Bill follows the form usual in Incorporation Ordinances of this nature particularly Ordinances Nos. 18 of 1927, 27 of 1929 and 9 of 1931.

OPIUM AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1933.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the law relating to Opium."

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 sine die.

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

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

Votes totalling $114,473 contained in Message No. 7 from H.E. the Governor, were considered.

Item 48. Miscellaneous Services:―Civil Service List, $725.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.―With regard to item 48, I wish to say by direction of H.E. the Governor, that the Civil Service list for next year will be carefully examined and pruned of any superfluous material.

Item 54. Public Works Extraordinary, Kowloon Buildings, Kowloon Hospital Additions, $90,000.

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 77

HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK.―With regard to item 54, I am sure Honourable members will be glad to hear we are making more progress than anticipated. Can the Honourable Director of Public Works tell us which part of the work has been advanced?

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.―This work referred to is "C" Block, Nurses Quarters and the Second Medical Officer's house.

HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK.―Will that be finished this year?

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.―The contract runs until next May. All the votes were approved.