1940-09-12 — Page 1

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 133

12th September, 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. DR. LI SHU-FAN.

HON. MR. A. L. SHIELDS.

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

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

ABSENT:―

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

134 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 Officer Administering the Government, laid upon the table the following papers:―

Order made by the Governor in Council under section 12 of the Rope Company's Tramway Ordinance, 1901, Ordinance No. 21 of 1901, dated 26th August, 1940.

Resolution made and passed by the Legislative Council on the 29th day of August, 1940, under section 4 of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, 1931, Ordinance No. 36 of 1931.

Rules I and II made by the Board of War Taxation under section 58 (1) of the War Revenue Ordinance, 1940, Ordinance No. 13 of 1940, on the 9th day of July, 1940, and approved by the Legislative Council on the 29th day of 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 maximum prices for certain articles of food, dated 30th August, 1940.

Order made by the Governor in Council under section 38A of the Rating Ordinance, 1901, Ordinance No. 6 of 1901, relating to the refund of rates on vacant floors for the period 1st July, 1940, to 31st March, 1941, dated 30th August, 1940.

The Ching To She declared an unlawful society by the Governor in Council under section 4 of the Societies Ordinance, 1920, Ordinance No. 8 of 1920, dated 30th August, 1940.

Amendment made by the Governor in Council under section 2 of the Emergency Regulations Ordinance, 1922, Ordinance No. 5 of 1922, to the regulations, dated 4th September, 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 6th September, 1940.

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. 7), dated 29th August, 1940, and moved that it be adopted.

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 135

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY seconded, and this was agreed to.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the following resolution:―

That Rule III made by the Board of War Taxation under section 58 (1) of the War Revenue Ordinance, 1940, on the 3rd day of September, 1940, be approved. He said: The scale of depreciation laid down by the Rule was fixed by the Board after they had had the benefit of the views of a special Committee appointed by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce to confer with the Commissioner of War Taxation on the subject.

PENSIONS (WAR SERVICE) BILL, 1940.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to regulate the pension rights of officers in the public service released for service with His Majesty's Forces in time of war." He said: This is a standard Bill, the equivalent of which will be passed throughout the Colonial Empire.

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:―

This Bill is in accordance with a draft Ordinance, issued by the Secretary of State with his Circular despatch of the 26th February, 1940, to make provision, in accordance with principles determined by the Secretary of State, governing the pension rights of Colonial public officers released for military service with the approval of the Governor of the territory in the service of which the officers in question were last employed.

BUILDINGS AMENDMENT BILL, 1940.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Buildings Ordinance, 1935."

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time. PUBLIC LIGHTING AMENDMENT BILL, 1940.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Public Lighting Ordinance, 1914."

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

136 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

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

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend further the War Revenue Ordinance, 1940."

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:―

BUILDINGS AMENDMENT BILL, 1940.

PUBLIC LIGHTING AMENDMENT BILL, 1940.

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

Upon Council resuming,

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that the Buildings 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 Public Lighting 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 War Revenue (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.

ADJOURNMENT.

H.E. THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT.―Council stands adjourned sine die.