1939-12-14 — Page 1

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 249

14th December, 1939.

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. E. GRASETT, D.S.O., M.C.).

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

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (HON. MR. C. G. ALABASTER, O.B.E., K.C.). THE SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS (HON. MR. R. A. C. NORTH). THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY (HON. MR. H. R. BUTTERS, Acting).

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

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

HON. DR. P. S. SELWYN-CLARKE, M.C., (Director of Medical Services). HON. MR. A. B. PURVES (Director of Public Works).

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

HON. MR. S. H. DODWELL.

HON. MR. LO MAN-KAM.

HON. MR. A. L. SHIELDS.

HON. MR. T. E. PEARCE.

HON. MR. LI TSE-FONG.

HON. MR. W. N. T. TAM.

MR. C. B. BURGESS (Deputy Clerk of Councils).

ABSENT:―

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

250 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:―

Amendment made by the Urban Council under section 5 of the Public Health (Food) Ordinance, 1935, Ordinance No. 13 of 1935, to the by-laws under the heading "Markets" and sub-heading "Market Stalls" on the 7th day of November, 1939, and approved by the Legislative Council on the 7th day of December, 1939.

Order made by the Controller of Food under the Defence Regulations, 1939, with the consent of the Governor, fixing the standard prices of certain articles of food, dated 8th December, 1939.

QUESTION.

HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK asked:―

In view of the statement made in Government Notification No. S. 646, in the Government Gazette of the 8th December, 1939, to the effect that Hong Kong is declared an infected port on account of cholera in the following places, namely: Bangkok, Siam, Tientsin, the Netherlands Indies, Singapore, the Federated Malay States, Amoy, Egypt, Palestine, Tsingtao, Shanghai and the Philippine Islands, will the Government state how many cases of cholera have been reported in this Colony during each of the five weeks up to the 9th December, 1939?

THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL SERVICES replied:―

Your Excellency, one case and two deaths from cholera were reported in the Colony during the week ending the 11th of November, 1939, and one further case was reported during the following week ending the 18th of November, 1939. Since then no cases of cholera have been discovered in the Colony.

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. 9), dated 7th December, 1939, and moved that it be adopted.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY seconded, and this was agreed to.

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 251

MOTIONS.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved:―

Resolved pursuant to section 3 of the Public Officers (Changes of Style) Ordinance, 1937, that the style of the office of "Monopoly Analyst" be changed to that of "Government Chemist (Monopoly)" and of "Government Analyst" to "Government Chemist," for all purposes, and that the following addition be made to the Schedule to the said Ordinance―

Old style of officer, office or department.

New style of officer, office or department.

————————————————— ————————————————— Monopoly Analyst. Government Chemist

(Monopoly).

————————————————— ————————————————— Government Analyst. Government Chemist.

He said: Owing to the unification of the Colonial Medical Services, we have decided to have titles similar to those in other Colonies and corresponding with the actual work of the officers concerned.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was carried. VAGRANCY AMENDMENT BILL, 1939.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Vagrancy Ordinance, 1897."

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time. RATING (NO. 2) AMENDMENT BILL, 1939.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend further the Rating Ordinance, 1901."

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time. VOLUNTEER (NO. 3) AMENDMENT BILL, 1939.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend yet further the Volunteer Ordinance, 1933."

252 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

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

On the motion of the Attorney General, seconded by the Colonial Secretary, Council then went into committee to consider the following bills clause by clause:―

VAGRANCY AMENDMENT BILL, 1939;

RATING (NO. 2) AMENDMENT BILL, 1939.

VOLUNTEER (NO. 3) AMENDMENT BILL, 1939.

Upon Council resuming,

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that the Vagrancy Amendment 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.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that the Rating (No. 2) Amendment 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.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that the Volunteer (No. 3) Amendment 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.

PREVENTION OF EVICTION CONSOLIDATION AND

AMENDMENT BILL, 1939.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the third reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the Prevention of Eviction Ordinances, 1938 and 1939." He said: The Bill to consolidate and amend the Prevention of Eviction Ordinances, 1938 and 1939, which passed through committee with certain amendments, has since been published as amended in the Gazette, and I now move that it be read a third time and passed.

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

ADJOURNMENT.

H.E. THE GOVERNOR.―Council stands adjourned sine die.