1938-04-20 — Page 1

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 25

20th April, 1938.

PRESENT:—

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR (SIR G. A. S. NORTHCOTE, K.C.M.G.).

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING THE TROOPS (MAJOR GENERAL A. W. BARTHOLOMEW, C.B., C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O.).

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY (HON. MR. N. L. SMITH, C.M.G.).

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (HON. MR. J. A. FRASER, M.C., Acting).

THE SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS (HON. MR. R. A. C. NORTH). THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY (HON. MR. S. CAINE).

HON. COMMANDER G. F. HOLE, R.N. (Retired), (Harbour Master).

HON. MR. R. M. HENDERSON (Director of Public Works).

HON. MR. T. H. KING (Commissioner of Police).

HON. DR. P. S. SELWYN-CLARKE, M.C., (Director of Medical Services). HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK, KT., K.C., LL.D.

HON. MR. J. J. PATERSON.

HON. MR. CHAU TSUN-NIN, C.B.E.

HON. MR. LO MAN-KAM.

HON. MR. S. H. DODWELL.

HON. MR. LEO D'ALMADA E CASTRO, JNR.

MR. B. C. K. HAWKINS (Deputy Clerk of Councils).

ABSENT:—

HON. DR. LI SHU-FAN.

HON. MR. M. T. JOHNSON.

26 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MINUTES.

H.E. THE GOVERNOR.—One item in the Minutes has been altered from the draft sent to Honourable Members for their approval. It refers to the Vaccination Amendment Ordinance, and I will ask the Clerk of Councils to read that particular minute.

After the minute had been read the Minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed. PAPERS.

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

By-laws under the heading "Reconstituted Milk and Reconstituted Cream" made by the Urban Council under sections 5 and 6 of the Public Health (Food) Ordinance, 1935, Ordinance No. 13 of 1935, on the 29th day of March, 1938.

QUESTIONS.

HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK asked:—

By permission of Your Excellency, I beg leave to put the following question, of which I have given too short notice for it to be included in the Orders of the Day:—

With reference to the Report of the Commission on Rents which was published as a Sessional Paper No. 5/1938, will the Government state what steps has the Government taken, or does it propose to take, for the purpose of dealing with the present rent situation?

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY replied:—

At the meeting of this Council held on 9th March, 1938, when the appointment of the Commission in question was announced, Your Excellency said:—

"Should the report of that Commission—and I hope that it will be able to reach its conclusions rapidly—convince Government that action is necessary along the lines which I have mentioned, a bill will be put before you with all possible expedition."

The recommendations of the Commission have been accepted by the Government including the general position that no case has been made for immediate legislative action in the matter of rent restriction.

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 27

At the same time the possibility of such action becoming necessary in the future, as is suggested in the final paragraph of Part VI of the Report, will be borne in mind. In particular the Government is keeping a close watch on the statistics of arrivals and departures as the present abnormal increase in the population of the Colony is clearly the chief factor in the situation which called for the appointment of the Commission.

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. 3), dated the 13th April, 1938, and moved that it be adopted.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY seconded, and this was agreed to.

VACCINATION AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1938.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Vaccination Ordinance, 1923."

HON. MR. T. N. CHAU.—Sir,—The Hon. Director of Medical Services was good enough to consult the Chinese members of the two Councils about this Bill before its introduction in this Council, and in view of the serious epidemic of small-pox this year, with the attendant heavy loss of life, which we all greatly deplore, we agreed to give the Bill our support.

Past experience has proved that with the approach of warmer weather, this disease will gradually die out, but if and when it should become necessary for Government to take any action under the new law, we request that there should be as little interference as possible with the Chinese home life, in order that not only would no resentment of any kind be created, but the full co-operation of the people might be enlisted. Knowing the tact of the Hon. D. M. S. as we do, we feel confident that the law, if and when it comes into operation, will be administered with every regard to the convenience of the public.

THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL SERVICES.—Your Excellency,—I shall be very happy to give the assurance the Hon. Member requires.

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,

28 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

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 stands adjourned sine die.