HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 97
23rd August, 1934.
PRESENT:―
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR (SIR WILLIAM PEEL, K.C.M.G., K.B.E.).
HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER COMMANDING THE TROOPS (MAJOR-GENERAL O. C. BORRETT, C.B., C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O.).
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY (HON. SIR THOMAS SOUTHORN, K.B.E., C.M.G.). THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (HON. MR. R. E. LINDSELL).
THE SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS (HON. MR. N. L. SMITH).
THE COLONIAL TREASURER (HON. MR. E. TAYLOR).
HON. MR. E. D. C. WOLFE, C.M.G., (Inspector General of Police).
HON. COMMANDER G. F. HOLE, R.N., (Retired) (Harbour Master).
HON. MR. R. M. HENDERSON, (Director of Public Works).
HON. SIR WILLIAM SHENTON, KT.
HON. MR. C. G. S. MACKIE.
HON. MR. R. H. KOTEWALL, C.M.G., LL.D.
HON. MR. J. P. BRAGA.
HON. MR. S. W. TS'O, O.B.E., LL.D.
HON. MR. T. N. CHAU.
HON. MR. W. H. BELL.
HON. MR. J. OWEN HUGHES.
MR. R. A. C. NORTH, (Deputy Clerk of Councils).
ABSENT:―
HON. DR. A. R. WELLINGTON, C.M.G., (Director of Medical and Sanitary Services). MINUTES.
The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Council were confirmed.
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PAPERS.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid upon the table the following papers:
Regulations under section 37 (2) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899. Companies (Fees) Order, 1934.
Order under section 3 (5) of the Juvenile Offenders Ordinance, 1932, relating to the Magistrate's Court at Ping Shan Land Office being made a Juvenile Court.
Order under section 5 of the Prospecting and Mining Ordinance, 1906.
Order under section 210 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903, relating to blasting within the area of the New Gaol Site at Stanley Peninsula.
Regulations under section 23 of the Waterworks Ordinance, 1903.
Proclamation No. 3.―Merchant Shipping Amendment Ordinance, No. 6 of 1934, to come into operation on 18th August, 1934.
PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS AMENDMENT
ORDINANCE, 1934.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Printers and Publishers Ordinance, 1927". He said: The principal Ordinance, the Printers and Publishers Ordinance, 1927, while empowering the Governor-in-Council by section 3 to make regulations for (inter alia) the keeping and use of printing presses did not extend that power to cover the making of regulations in respect of the licensing of such presses, and provided by section 5 for no more than the issue of printing press licences by the Inspector General of Police, the formalities to be observed before such a licence could be cancelled by the Governor-in-Council and the seizure and forfeiture of unlicensed presses.
It is now deemed advisable to give the Governor-in-Council wider control over printing presses, and this control is secured by the substitution for section 3 (1) of the principal Ordinance of a new sub-section extending the power to make regulations to licensing, to granting exemptions and to prescribing forms.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a first time.
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Objects and Reasons.
The "Objects and Reasons" for the Bill were stated as follows:
1. By section 3 (1) of the principal Ordinance it is lawful for the Governor-in-Council to make such regulations as he may think fit with reference to the regulation of newspapers and their proprietors, printers, publishers and editors, and with reference to the keeping and use of printing presses, and to prescribe fees.
2. This Ordinance substitutes a sub-section which makes it clear that the regulations as to keeping and use of printing presses may deal with the licensing thereof as well as with their registration, purchase, sale or removal.
3. As the definition of "printing press" in section 2 (f) of the principal Ordinance is, purposely, widely framed, the new section 3 (1) provides for granting exemptions.
4. The new section 3 (1) also enables the Governor-in-Council to prescribe forms either in addition to or in substitution for the forms in the Schedule to the principal Ordinance.
5. The provisions of section 5 of the principal Ordinance as to the licensing of printing presses are not altered by this Ordinance.
CORONER'S ABOLITION AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1934.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Coroner's Abolition Ordinance, 1888."
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time. Council then 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.
JURY AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1934.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Jury Ordinance, 1887".
100 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time. Council then 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.
OFFICIAL SIGNATURES FEES AMENDMENT
ORDINANCE, 1934.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Official Signatures Fees Ordinance, 1888".
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time. Council then 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.
MERCHANT SHIPPING AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1934.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the law relating to Merchant Shipping".
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time. Council then 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.
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THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
BETTING DUTY AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1934.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Betting Duty Ordinance, 1931".
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time. Council then 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.
SUPREME COURT AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1934.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend further the Supreme Court Ordinance, 1873."
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time. Council then 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.
ADJOURNMENT.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR.―Council is adjourned sine die. It is not yet decided whether the next meeting will be on September 6th or 13th. It will probably be on the latter, when it is hoped to introduce the Budget.
102 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
HON. SIR WILLIAM SHENTON.―Will Council be adjourned for the customary two weeks before the replies, Sir?
H.E. THE GOVERNOR.―Yes.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
Following the Council a meeting of the Finance Committee was held, the Colonial Secretary presiding.
Votes totalling $91,420, contained in Message No. 11 from H.E. the Governor, were considered.
Item 69.―33, Public Works Department:―Hong Kong. 5― Typhoon and Rainstorm Damages. Item 1―Typhoon and Rainstorm Damages, $81,000.
HON. SIR WILLIAM SHENTON.―Could the Director of Public Works give us some idea as to the distribution of this substantial amount of money?
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.―I have with me a list of the details. The amount for each sub-department is as follows:
Architects' Office......................................................... $ 3,500
Buildings Ordinance Office........................................ 2,500
Drainage Office............................................................ 14,500
Electrical Office........................................................... 200
Roads Office ................................................................ 48,700
Water Works (Maintenance)....................................... 3,600
Water Works (Construction)....................................... 8,000
Item 71.―34, Public Works Extraordinary:―Hong Kong. Miscellaneous. Kau U Fong Theatre―Flush Water Closets $2,500.
HON. SIR WILLIAM SHENTON.―What is the Government interest in this building?
THE COLONIAL TREASURER.―This is leased out by the Government and belongs to them.
HON. SIR WILLIAM SHENTON.―Does it serve any public purpose?
THE COLONIAL TREASURER.―It does to the extent that revenue is derived from it.
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HON. MR. R. H. KOTEWALL.―Is it still used for the purpose of a theatre? THE COLONIAL TREASURER.―Yes.
HON. SIR WILLIAM SHENTON.―How did it fall into the hands of the Government? THE CHAIRMAN.―I do not know. Perhaps Dr. TS'o can tell us.
HON. MR. S. W. TS'O.―It came into the hands of the Government after the original lease for the theatre had expired.
All the votes were approved.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.