1933-08-31 — Page 1

78 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

31st 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.

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 79

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 2 of the Public Places Regulation Ordinance, 1870, relating to Children's playgrounds in Kowloon.

Regulation under section 2 of the Public Places Regulation Ordinance, 1870, relating to surfboarding at Repulse Bay.

Regulation under section 5 of the Forest Officers Ordinance, 1923, relating to amendment to the Schedule of the Ordinance.

Regulations under sections 34 and 88 of the Liquors Ordinance, 1931, amending the Brewery Regulations.

Regulation under section 3 (1) of the Opium Ordinance, 1932, relating to the selling price of Kamshan Opium.

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

THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and this was agreed to.

MOTIONS.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER.―Honourable Members will recollect that the Honourable Colonial Secretary, when presenting the 1933 Budget, emphasised the importance of keeping a sum of $10,000,000 in Surplus Balances and explained that the Public Works programme was definitely restricted so that this figure be maintained. The proposals he submitted would involve a reduction of the Surplus from $11,812,803, which he estimated would be the opening figure of the year, to $10,616,131 at its close. It turned out, however, that 1933 opened with $12,847,062 or $1,034,259 better than was anticipated, and as the financial position during the current year has remained reasonably favourable there is available for further expenditure during the year this sum of $1,034,259. The Supplementary Estimates now submitted amount to $631,658 which allows a substantial margin for eventualities.

80 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The object of this resolution is to place further funds at the disposal of the Public Works Department during the current year for the purpose of undertaking the additional urgent works recommended by the Honourable Director of Public Works and enumerated in the list before Honourable Members. The proposals were laid unofficially before the Finance Committee of this Council in April last approved by them and have now been sanctioned by the Secretary of State.

I therefore beg to move that this Council approves the recommendations made by the Director of Public Works and laid before Council and resolves that a sum of $631,658, distributed as follows:

Head 32 Public Works Department $ 61,740.00 Head 33 Public Works Recurrent 60,000.00 Head 34 Public Works Extraordinary 509,918.00

$ 631,658.00

be charged upon the Revenue and other funds of the colony in addition to the sums already provided in the Estimates for 1933 for the purpose of carrying out these recommendations.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.

THE HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK.―I should like to ask where the Upper Levels Police Station is to be and in item 34 I should also like to have some further information about the construction of a rubble mound at Kun Tong, first section.

THE HON. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.―The Upper Level Police Station is on the site of the old Police Training School in Caine Road. With regard to the rubble mound at Kun Tong, certain proposals are being submitted to the Government very shortly and if they are approved work will be put in hand in the near future.

HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK.―I would like more information about the Kun Tong mound.

H.E. THE GOVERNOR.―This is in connection with the dredging in the Harbour which has been mentioned before at a finance committee meeting, to facilitate approach to Number Five Wharf on the other side of the harbour. It is Number Five Wharf, is it not, Mr. Paterson?

HON. MR. J. J. PATERSON.―The new wharf really has no number. I am afraid I do not know the Government numbers.

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 81

H.E. THE GOVERNOR.―In connection with the dredging, it was decided to seek some place where the silt might be placed and it is proposed to place it at Kun Tong, beyond Kai Tak. In order to allow the dredgings to be placed there, it has been found necessary to carry out some works there to create an area necessary to receive deposits.

HON. MR. J. J. PATERSON.―Number Five wharf, as a matter of fact is the wharf at which passengers ordinarily arrive. It is the one nearest this side.

H.E. THE GOVERNOR.―It is the new long one at the north end to which I refer.

HON. MR. C. GORDON MACKIE.―I notice one item for widening Magazine Gap Road. May I ask when this will be completed?

H.E. THE GOVERNOR.―It is proposed to put in a sum of money in next year's estimates in the hope that it will be completed next year.

The resolution was agreed to.

BETTING DUTY AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1933.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled, "An Ordinance to amend the Betting Duty Ordinance, 1931." He said:―In this Bill Clause 4 is superfluous, because the Ordinance will in any event come into operation on the 1st September. It can be deleted in committee.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and the Bill was read a second time. Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.―I move that Clause 4 be deleted.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.

Upon Council resuming,

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that the Bill had passed through Committee with an immaterial amendment which did not affect the Ordinance in any way, and moved the third reading.

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

82 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

PONTIFICAL FOREIGN MISSIONS INSTITUTE

INCORPORATION ORDINANCE, 1933.

HON. MR. R. H. KOTEWALL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to provide for the incorporation of the Procurator in Hongkong of the Pontifical Foreign Missions Institute."

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

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

Upon Council resuming,

HON. MR. R. H. KOTEWALL reported that the Bill had passed through the Committee without amendment and moved the third reading.

HON. MR. S. W. TS'O 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 $65,900 contained in Message No. 8 from H.E. the Governor, were considered.

All the votes were approved.