1940-08-29 — Page 1

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29th August, 1940.

PRESENT:―

HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT (LIEUT.- GENERAL E. F. NORTON, C.B., D.S.O., M.C.).

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING THE TROOPS, (MAJOR GENERAL A. E. GRASETT, C.B., 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).

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. H. J. PEARCE, M.C. (Director of Public Works, Acting).

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

HON. MR. J. J. PATERSON.

HON. MR. LO MAN-KAM.

HON. MR. S. H. DODWELL.

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

HON. DR. LI SHU-FAN.

HON. MR. A. L. SHIELDS.

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

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

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MINUTES.

The Minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

PAPERS.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Officer Administering the Government, laid upon the table the following papers:―

Regulations made by the Governor in Council under section 7 of the Fire and Marine Insurance Companies Deposit Ordinance, 1917, Ordinance No 32 of 1917, dated 16th July, 1940.

Regulations made by the Governor in Council under section 34 of the Life Insurance Companies Ordinance, 1907, Ordinance No. 11 of 1907, dated 16th July, 1940.

Order made by the Officer Administering the Government under section 3A of the Public Revenue Protection Ordinance, 1927, Ordinance No. 9 of 1927, as enacted by the Public Revenue Protection Amendment Ordinance, 1931, Ordinance No. 37 of 1931, dated 16th July, 1940.

Order made by the Officer Administering the Government under regulation 36 of the Defence Regulations, 1940, stopping portion of public roadway south of Kowloon Marine Lot No. 32 and west of Tai Kok Tsui Road, dated 19th July, 1940.

Order made by the Controller of Trade under regulation 50 of the Defence Regulations, 1940, with the consent of the Officer Administering the Government, prohibiting the export, except by licence, of tea, dated 19th July, 1940.

Order made by the Controller of Food under the Defence Regulations, 1940, with the consent of the Officer Administering the Government, fixing the standard price for certain articles of food, dated 19th July, 1940.

Order made by the Governor under regulation 55 of the Defence Regulations, 1940, dated 20th July, 1940.

Amendment made by the Governor in Council under section 3 of the Dogs Ordinance, 1927, Ordinance No. 21 of 1927, dated 23rd July, 1940.

Resolution made and passed by the Legislative Council under section 4 of the Law Revision Ordinance, 1939, Ordinance No. 33 of 1939, on the 25th of July, 1940.

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Resolution made and passed by the Legislative Council under sections 4 and 5 of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, 1931, Ordinance No. 36 of 1931, on the 25th July, 1940.

Order made by the Financial Secretary under regulation 4A of the regulations in the Schedule to the Miscellaneous Licences Ordinance, 1933, Ordinance No. 25 of 1933, prescribing the premium of half per cent. for Hong Kong copper cents, dated 22nd July, 1940.

Appointments and directions made by the Superintendent of Imports and Exports under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, 1931, Ordinance No. 36 of 1931, dated 25th July, 1940.

Assessment of duty and drawback on Liquors and Tobacco made by the Superintendent of Imports and Exports under section 20 of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, 1931, Ordinance No. 36 of 1931, dated 25th July, 1940.

The Trading with the Enemy Ordinance, 1914, Second Amendment Regulations, 1940, made by the Officer Administering the Government under section 1 (2) (d) of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Acts, 1939 and 1940, as applied to this Colony by the Emergency Powers (Colonial Defence) Orders in Council, 1939 and 1940, dated 27th July, 1940.

Order made by the Controller of Trade under regulation 50 of the Defence Regulations, 1940, with the consent of the Officer Administering the Government, prohibiting the movement of motor trucks, arms, ammunition, railway materials and petrol, dated 27th July, 1940.

Order made by the Governor in Council under section 3 (1) (a) of the Opium Ordinance, 1932, Ordinance No. 7 of 1932, fixing the prices of Grade 2 opium, dated 26th July, 1940.

Amendment made by the Governor in Council under section 16 of the Essential Commodities Reserves Ordinance, 1939, Ordinance No. 38 of 1939, and section 4 of the Stamp Ordinance, 1921, Ordinance No. 8 of 1921, to the regulations, dated 27th July, 1940.

Order made by the Controller of Trade under regulation 50 of the Defence Regulations, 1940, with the consent of the Officer Administering the Government, prohibiting the export and re-export, except by licence, of goods to certain countries in Europe, dated 2nd August, 1940.

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Order made by the Controller of Food under the Defence Regulations, 1940, with the consent of the Officer Administering the Government, fixing the maximum prices for certain articles of food, dated 2nd August, 1940.

Amendment made by the Governor in Council under section 4 of the Stamp Ordinance, 1921, Ordinance No. 8 of 1921, to heading 36 in the Schedule to the said Ordinance, dated 2nd August, 1940.

Order made by the Controller of Food under the Defence Regulations, 1940, with the consent of the Officer Administering the Government, fixing the standard price for certain articles of food, dated 9th August, 1940.

Amendment made by the Governor in Council under section 11 (6) of the Compulsory Service Ordinance, 1939, Ordinance No. 32 of 1939, to the Hong Kong Defence Reserve Regulations, 1939, dated 14th August, 1940.

Amendment made by the Officer Administering the Government under the Emergency Powers (Colonial Defence) Orders in Council, 1939 and 1940, to the Regulations for the control of fishing, dated 9th August, 1940.

The Blackout Order, 1940, made by the Officer Administering the Government under regulations 37, 44 and 64 of the Defence Regulations, 1940, dated 15th August, 1940.

Order made by the Officer Administering the Government under regulation 37 of the Defence Regulations, 1940, dated 9th August, 1940.

The Trading with the Enemy (Specified Persons) (Amendment) (No. 7) Order, 1940, made by the Officer Administering the Government under section 3 (2) of the Trading with the Enemy Ordinance, 1914, Ordinance No. 25 of 1914, as amended by regulation 2 of the Trading with the Enemy Ordinance, 1914, Amendment Regulations, 1939, dated 12th August, 1940.

Amendment made by the Governor in Council under section 29 of the Waterworks Ordinance, 1938, Ordinance No. 20 of 1938, to the regulations in the Schedule to the said Ordinance, dated 17th August, 1940.

The Trading with the Enemy (Specified Persons) (Amendment) (No. 8) Order, 1940, made by the Officer Administering the Government under section 3 (2) of the Trading with the Enemy Ordinance, 1914, Ordinance No. 25 of 1914, as amended by regulation 2 of the Trading with the Enemy Ordinance, 1914, Amendment Regulations, 1939, dated 21st August, 1940.

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Proclamation No. 8.―Law Revision.

Proclamation No. 9.―The Crown Rents (Apportionment) Ordinance, 1936, Ordinance No. 4 of 1936, to come into operation as regards certain lots as from 16th August, 1940.

QUESTIONS.

HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK asked:―

1.―To what cause does the Government attribute the recent serious cracks in the Stubbs Road, near Magazine Gap, which have necessitated the suspension of motor traffic on that portion of the Stubbs Road and the building of a temporary bridge to enable such traffic to be resumed?

2.―What is the estimated cost of

(i) The necessary repairs to that portion of the Stubbs Road:

(ii) Of building such temporary bridge as aforesaid?

3.―With reference to Regulation 134 of the Vehicles and Traffic Regulations (as set out on page 757 of Volume II of Mr. J. A. Fraser's Regulations of Hong Kong) which empowers any European Police Officer to require the driver of a motor vehicle which is laden to drive such vehicle or to cause it to be driven or brought to any weighing machine in order that the weight of the vehicle and load may be ascertained, will the Government state on what dates, since the First day of January, 1935, any European Police Officer has weighed in a weighing machine, "in order that the weight of the vehicle and its load may be ascertained,"

(i) Any commercial motor vehicle;

(ii) Any Army motor vehicle?

Will the Government also state whether in any of such cases, the weight or the load of such motor vehicle or of the load therein were found to be excessive, and, if so, what action was taken in consequence?

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY replied:―

1. The movement is attributed to the alteration of the composition of the soil on which the retaining wall is founded, due to the percolation of water. The record rainfall recently experienced has undoubtedly reached depths hitherto untouched. A contributing cause is of course vibrations set up by fast moving traffic.

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2. (i) It is not possible to give this figure until exhaustive examination of the soil has been undertaken, since the form of reconstruction cannot be decided until such examination has been completed.

(ii) The approximate cost of the temporary bridge is estimated at $8,000.

3. (i) Between 1st January, 1935, and 30th June, 1940, 4,282 vehicles were weighed at the weighbridges under instructions from European and Native Traffic Officers. In most cases they were found to be overloaded, prosecutions were undertaken and fines amounting to $24,443.95 were imposed. Not all of these vehicles were commercial motor vehicles; a small percentage were tricycles.

(ii) No Army motor vehicles have been weighed for overloading. Their maximum net load is much below what the Police Department would allow. The Traffic Inspector states that from his observation Army motor vehicles do not overload.

FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Officer Administering the Government, laid upon the table the Report of the Finance Committee (No. 6), dated 25th July, 1940, and moved that it be adopted.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY seconded, and this was agreed to.

MOTIONS.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the following resolution:―

Whereas application has been made by the Urban Council to the Governor under section 52 of the Public Health (Sanitation) Ordinance, 1935, for the erection of a Public Flush Latrine on a site at the Triangular Fruit Market, Wing Lok Street:

And whereas such application has been duly approved by the Governor and a notification of the intention to erect a Public Latrine at such site has been duly published in three successive numbers of the Gazette:

And whereas certain occupiers of premises in the vicinity of the said proposed Public Latrine have objected to its erection:

And whereas such objection and the grounds in support thereof have been duly considered:

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It is hereby resolved by this Council that the above mentioned site and the erection thereon of a Public Flush Latrine be and the same are hereby approved.

He said: The objection to which reference is made in this resolution came, as members have been informed by circulation, from certain occupiers of premises in the vicinity, and was based on four grounds:―

(a) that the situation of the proposed latrine is a busy thoroughfare, containing traffic which may cause accidents to those who use the latrine;

(b) that the proposed latrine will be detrimental to the appearance of the locality;

(c) that offensive smells emanating from the proposed latrine will be prejudicial to the health of the people in this thickly populated area;

(d) that there is already a public latrine in the market nearby.

To the first of these objections the Commissioner of Police replies that danger from traffic does not constitute a valid objection to the proposed latrine.

To the second, third and fourth objections the Urban Council replies:―

(a) that the proposed latrine will be water flushed and of modern design with glazed interior wall faces;

(b) that the proposed latrine will have no smell outside its walls;

(c) that it will replace an existing latrine which is situated inside the south block of the Western Market in unsatisfactory proximity to market stalls (12 feet away) and which is inadequate for local needs;

(d) that when accommodation for the fruit stalls at present on the proposed site is provided in the new south block of the Western Market, (about March of next year), the site will become vacant; and

(e) that the Urban Council and its technical advisers are unanimously of the opinion that the erection of a latrine represents the best use to which the site can be put.

Sir, I beg to move.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL seconded, and this was agreed to.

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THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the following resolution:―

That Rules I and II made by the Board of War Taxation under section 58 (1) of the War Revenue Ordinance, 1940, on the 9th day of July, 1940, be approved. He said: The rules, which will be numbered 1 and 2, prescribe the method of ascertainment and determination of profits in businesses of chartering and owning ships and aircraft, and of profits of Hong Kong branches of banks whose head office is outside this Colony, respectively.

These rules are for the information of the public and the guidance of the Commissioner of War Taxation and indicate the basis on which profits of the corporations or businesses concerned will be assessed for tax.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and this was agreed to.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the following resolution:―

Resolved, pursuant to section 4 of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, 1931, that the duties on liquors imposed by Resolution of this Council on the 25th July, 1940, published as Government Notification No. 841 in the Gazette No. 40 of the 26th July, 1940, be varied so that the initial duty on concentrated beer if of Hong Kong origin shall be reduced from 80 cents to 60 cents per gallon, if of Empire origin shall remain at 80 cents per gallon and if of other origin shall be increased from 80 cents to one dollar per gallon, and that the initial duty on other beer except cider and perry if of Hong Kong origin shall be reduced from 70 cents to 50 cents per gallon, if of Empire origin shall remain at 80 cents per gallon and if of other origin shall be increased from 80 cents to one dollar per gallon. He said: The proposed adjustments of the duty on beer are primarily intended to protect a deserving local enterprise against competition in its home market from enterprises in foreign countries which are protected in their own home markets by high tariff walls and which in some cases enjoy the benfits of a depreciated exchange. To a certain extent the adjustments will also act as an exchange control measure. I would emphasize that the new rates of duty are not intended to increase the revenue derived from beer and that it is not anticipated that the revenue will show an appreciable gain or loss as a result of the adjustments.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and this was agreed to.

BUILDINGS AMENDMENT BILL, 1940.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Buildings Ordinance, 1935." He said: The object of this Bill is stated in the Memorandum of Objects and Reasons attached to the Bill.

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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 85 of the Buildings Ordinance, 1935, as amended by Ordinance No. 58 of 1936 is as follows:―

85. For the purpose of sections 82 and 84, re-erection includes every alteration of an existing building in such a manner as to make the resulting building a new building or in such a manner as to make the resulting building or any part thereof an exceptional building, but the erection of reinforced concrete stairs, roofs, lintels or kitchen or bathroom floors only, in an existing building shall not be deemed to make such building an exceptional building and

Provided that:―

(1) In the case of an existing building which is provided by the owner with an open space in the rear or partly in the rear and partly on the side exclusively belonging to such building, equal in area to not less than one-third of the roofed-over area of such building, the erection of reinforced concrete floors only shall not be deemed to make such building an exceptional building.

(2) Proviso (1) shall only be effective for a period expiring on the 31st December, 1940.

2. The object of this Bill is to extend the effect of Proviso (1) until the 31st December, 1941. The Prevention of Eviction Legislation (Ordinance No. 6 of 1938, Ordinances Nos. 5, 19 and 44 of 1939 and Ordinance No. 14 of 1940) has hindered some building owners in taking advantage of the proviso, so it has been considered equitable to extend its operation for a further year.

PUBLIC LIGHTING AMENDMENT BILL, 1940.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Public Lighting Ordinance, 1914." He said: This amendment adds certain words to the principal Ordinance to make it clear that the lights to which that section applies extends to traffic lights as well as to ordinary street lamps.

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:―

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1. Section 2 of the principal Ordinance is as follows:―

2. It shall be lawful for the Director of Public Works to cause a sufficient number of posts, standards and brackets for the lighting of the public or private streets, roads, ways and thoroughfares of the Colony to be provided and to be set up, fixed or erected in all suitable situations for such lighting, whether in any of the said streets, roads, ways or thoroughfares or in any place adjacent thereto or upon or against the wall of any house or building or the side of any wall or fence, or elsewhere, as he may think proper; and it shall also be lawful for him to cause to be provided and put up and affixed upon the said posts, standards and brackets such a number of lamps and of such sizes and sorts respectively as may be found requisite for the lighting of the said streets, roads, ways and thoroughfares respectively.

2. In view of the fact that when the Ordinance was passed, motor traffic was in its infancy and no provision was made for the beacons and traffic control lights which are now such a common feature of street lighting, doubts have been expressed as to whether the section is wide enough to cover such additional lights which are however, like the ordinary lamp-post, intended to give greater protection to the public users of thoroughfares.

3. Clause 2 of this Bill is intended to remove those doubts by the addition of suitable words wherever required in the section.

WAR REVENUE (NO. 2) AMENDMENT BILL, 1940.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend further the War Revenue Ordinance, 1940." He said: The object of this Bill, in the main, is to restore what is believed to be the intention of the Committee which was responsible for this Bill. There are certain other amendments affecting payments by instalments which have been represented to Government by various bodies.

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. The proviso to section 8 of the War Revenue Ordinance, 1940, exempted four classes of income from the Salaries Tax imposed by that section. Experience has shown that the exemptions are insufficiently elastic to cover certain special cases to which exemption may be reasonably extended. Thus exemption (ii), which covers the official emoluments of consuls, vice-consuls, and persons employed on the staff of any consulate, who are subjects or citizens of the States which they represent, is insufficiently elastic to cover the case of the Treasury Representative of a State whom it may be considered desirable or politic to exempt.

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2. Consequently clause 2 of this Bill adds a paragraph to cover such cases where exemption has been granted by the Governor in Council.

3. The principal Ordinance, No. 13 of 1940, was drafted by a large Committee as a substitute for Income Tax and as a special measure for raising additional revenue during the War. Necessarily it had to be prepared against time to make it effective for the financial year 1940-1941; but the size of the Committee and the various interests and views they represented as to the nature and incidence of the special new taxes tended to obscure any clear decision on details borrowed in part from the Revenue Laws of other States and Colonies. This obscurity has arisen especially in those portions of the principal Ordinance which use the income or profits of the year preceding the year of assessment as a convenient statutory yard-stick for the computation of the income or profits for the year of assessment. It seems clear that the Committee did not intend the Ordinance to be retrospective in operation so as to raise taxes for the previous year, and it seems equally clear that they did not intend the yard-stick of income or profits to be used also as a yard-stick of residence so as to require a person, who was in the Colony for six months in a year of assessment and for the whole of the year preceding, to pay salaries tax on one year's income or even on one and a half year's income, instead of one-half of a year's income.

4. The amendments effected by clauses 3 and 5 of the Bill are intended to remove obscurities and to restore what is believed to have been the intention of the War Revenue Committee in relation to Salaries Tax and to Profits Tax. A similar obscurity in relation to Property Tax was removed by the Amending Ordinance No. 21 of 1940.

5. Clause 4 of the Bill applies the proportionate rule for allowances in section 11 also to the exemption of incomes under four thousand eight hundred dollars in the proviso to section 8.

6. Clause 6 of the Bill adds a sub-section to section 46 of the principal Ordinance enabling the Commissioner to accept payment by instalments where hardship would result from payment in a single amount.

7. Clause 7 implements clause 2 by conferring on the Governor in Council a general power of exemption.

8. Clause 8 makes the amendments retrospective and provides for refunds.

FIRE AND MARINE INSURANCE COMPANIES DEPOSIT

AMENDMENT BILL, 1940.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Fire and Marine Insurance Companies Deposit Ordinance, 1917."

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THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time. LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES AMENDMENT BILL, 1940.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Life Insurance Companies Ordinance, 1907."

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time. (1939 SUPPLEMENTARY) APPROPRIATION BILL, 1940.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to authorize the Appropriation of a Supplementary sum of two million four hundred and eighty-four thousand nine hundred and ninety-one dollars and forty-seven cents to defray the charges for the year 1939, and also to appropriate a sum of eighty thousand three hundred and thirty-one dollars and twenty-five cents from the Waterworks Renewals and Improvements Fund in the said year."

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:―

FIRE AND MARINE INSURANCE COMPANIES DEPOSIT

AMENDMENT BILL, 1940.

LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES AMENDMENT BILL, 1940.

(1939 SUPPLEMENTARY) APPROPRIATION BILL, 1940.

Upon Council resuming,

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that Fire and Marine Insurance Companies Deposit 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 Life Insurance Companies 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

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passed.

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THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY reported that the (1939 Supplementary) Appropriation 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 OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT.―Council stands adjourned until this day fortnight.

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

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

Votes totalling $969,412, contained in Message No. 8 from H.E. The Officer Administering the Government, were considered.

Item 114.―5, Charitable Services:―23, Relief of Refugees, $288,000.

HON. MR. DODWELL.―Have we any record as to how long these refugees are with us. We cannot keep them forever. Do they come and go or are we keeping them for years?

THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL SERVICES.―A careful record is kept of all refugees admitted to Government camps. We keep a card for each one with his name, place of origin, occupation, and so on. Investigations are made as to whether their villages or towns are actually in the fighting zone. If they are not, a sub-committee of the camp committee proceeds to make arrangements to repatriate them. There is a turnover in the camps every day.

HON. MR. DODWELL.―What surprised me was that Chinese refugee orphans were evacuated. Is it not a fact that since we had a scare in the Colony the refugees at Fanling disappeared entirely?

THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL SERVICES.―I am sorry to say that is not so. Some proportion of them did actually go back to China, but many were taken into the urban areas, including the Italian Convent.

HON. MR. PATERSON.―Are the sexes segregated or do the destitutes procure more destitutes?

THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL SERVICES.―The living huts are arranged on the basis of children, orphaned children, family huts and old derelicts, male or female. With the

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exception of several hundred children transferred from Po Leung Kuk to the King's Park

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camp, the majority of the refugees have been here for only a short time. There are, of course, a number of Hongkong destitutes who cannot be sent back to China.

HON. MR. SHIELDS.―Have you any power to stop destitutes from coming to the Colony?

THE CHAIRMAN.―I would like notice of that question. We have, of course, a quick way of getting rid of vagrants, but at present there are no laws to stop destitutes coming in except the $20.

HON. MR. SHIELDS.―I always understood that under the agreement under which we took over the Colony there should be no interference in the coming and going of Chinese. We are up against a very difficult problem with this influx, which may be with us for a long time. Something should be done.

THE CHAIRMAN.―This question is at this moment being very carefully investigated by Government. We have an officer working specially on it, and he has just put up a plan which, I hope, will be brought into activity within the next few weeks.

HON. MR. DODWELL.―Is it a fact that a number of these refugees evade going to the camps and try to get into the Colony and become vagrants?

THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL SERVICES.―It is a fact that there are quite a number of refugees who come to the Colony and sleep on the streets. We try to pick them up at night and put them in the camps. Of course they know this is one way to repatriate them.

Item 131.―30, Public Works Extraordinary:―Port Works. Diversion of Nullah at Kai Tak―1st Section, $200,000.

HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK.―Can the Director of Public Works tell us when this work is likely to be completed?

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.―It will extend well into the next financial year. I cannot tell when, as the work depends on weather conditions.

HON. SIR HENRY POLLOCK.―Isn't there a contract for the work? Can you not tell from that?

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.―I would like notice of that question. There is a contract for the work, but I haven't that date with me.

THE CHAIRMAN.―The tenders were called in May.

All the votes were approved.