1951-06-27 — Page 1

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 185

27th June, 1951.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR

SIR ALEXANDER WILLIAM GEORGE HERDER GRANTHAM, G.C.M.G. HIS EXCELLENCY THE COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES

LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIR ERIC CARDEN ROBERT

MANSERGH, K.B.E., C.B., M.C.

THE HONOURABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY

MR. JOHN FEARNS NICOLL, C.M.G.

THE HONOURABLE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

MR. MAURICE HEENAN (Acting).

THE HONOURABLE THE SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS

MR. RONALD RUSKIN TODD.

THE HONOURABLE THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY

MR. ARTHUR GRENFELL CLARKE, Acting.

DR. THE HONOURABLE ISAAC NEWTON

(Director of Medical and Health Services).

THE HONOURABLE PATRICK CARDINALL MASON SEDGWICK

(Acting Chairman, Urban Council).

THE HONOURABLE THEODORE LOUIS BOWRING, O.B.E.

(Director of Public Works).

THE HONOURABLE CHAU TSUN-NIN, C.B.E.

DR. THE HONOURABLE CHAU SIK-NIN, C.B.E.

THE HONOURABLE LEO D'ALMADA E CASTRO, K.C.

THE HONOURABLE PHILIP STANLEY CASSIDY.

THE HONOURABLE CHARLES EDWARD MICHAEL TERRY.

THE HONOURABLE LO MAN WAI, O.B.E.

THE HONOURABLE LAWRENCE KADOORIE

MR. ROBERT WILLIAM PRIMROSE (Deputy Clerk of Councils).

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MINUTES.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 13th June, 1951 were confirmed.

PAPERS.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by Command of His Excellency the Governor, laid upon the table the following papers: —

Subject. G.N. No.

Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, 1931.

Amendments to the Regulations ............................................... A. 98

Public Order Ordinance, 1948.

Frontier Closed Area Order, 1951 ............................................. A. 100

Defence Regulations, 1940.

Price Control Order, 1946—Amendments to the Schedule A. 101

Landlord and Tenant Ordinance, 1947.

Notification under section 32 (1) ............................................... A. 102

Importation and Exportation Ordinance, 1915.

Exportation (Prohibition) (Specified Articles) Order, 1951 A. 103

Importation and Exportation Ordinance, 1915.

Importation (Prohibition) (Specified Articles) Order, 1951 A. 104

Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance, 1934.

Amendment to the First Schedule ............................................. A. 105

Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, 1935.

Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Application) Order, 1951 .......... A. 106

Dogs and Cats Ordinance, 1950.

Dogs and Cats (Amendment) Regulations, 1951 ...................... A. 107

Dogs and Cats Ordinance, 1950.

Declaration under Regulation 2 ................................................. A. 108

Defence (Finance) Regulations, 1940.

Possession of Gold (Goldsmiths) (Amendment) (No. 6) Order, 1951 ................................................................................... A. 109

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Cremation Ordinance, 1934.

Notification under section 3 ....................................................... A. 110 Quarantine and Prevention of Disease Ordinance, 1936.

Declaration under section 18 ..................................................... A. 111 Quarantine and Prevention of Disease Ordinance, 1936.

Declaration under section 18 ..................................................... A. 112

LAND TRANSACTIONS (ENEMY OCCUPATION)

(AMENDMENT) BILL, 1951.

THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the First reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend further the Land Transactions (Enemy Occupation) Ordinance, 1948." He said: Sir, it will be seen that this Bill is a short one. As published and as it rests in the hands of Honourable Members, the Bill has set out upon it Objects and Reasons which explain fully the reasons for its introduction and the objectives of the amendments therein contained. I feel, therefore, Sir, that further explanatory remarks are not called for on my part.

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: —

Section 4 of the Land Transactions (Enemy Occupation) Ordinance, 1948, the principal Ordinance, originally provided that certain entries termed "green ink entries", made by the Land Officer in the Land Office Registers for the purpose of recording transactions effecting land which took place during the Japanese occupation, should be deleted on the 16th of July, 1950.

2. As a consequence of representations made to Government by the Incorporated Law Society of Hong Kong, the Land Transactions (Enemy Occupation) (Amendment) Ordinance, 1950, was enacted, the effect of which was to defer the deletion of the entries referred to in paragraph 1 for a further year.

3. Considerable progress has been made in deleting "green ink entries", but the representations made by the Incorporated Law Society of Hong Kong in 1950 remain just as pertinent today

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because relevant litigation is still pending and delays still occur by reason of difficulties encountered in tracing proposed defendants and securing their attendance before the Courts.

4. Accordingly, the object of this Bill is to meet the existing conditions by the appropriate amendment of sections 3 and 4 of the principal Ordinance so as to defer the deletion of "green ink entries" from the Land Office Registers for a further period of two years, which will avoid unnecessary re-registration of transactions in land at present protected only by such entries.

ORDER OF ST. JOHN BILL, 1951.

HON. L. KADOORIE moved the Second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to further and protect the activities in Hong Kong of the Venerable Order of St. John of Jerusalem and to incorporate the Chairman, the Vice Chairman and the Secretary of the Council of the Order of St. John in Hong Kong for the time being as Custodian Trustees."

HON. C. E. M. TERRY seconded, and the Bill was read a Second time. Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause. Council then resumed.

HON. L. KADOORIE reported that the Order of St. John Bill, 1951 had passed through Committee without amendment, and moved the Third reading.

HON. C. E. M. TERRY seconded, and the Bill was read a Third time and passed into law.

ADDRESS BY THE GOVERNOR.

H.E. THE GOVERNOR: —Gentlemen, there is one matter I would like to mention before we adjourn, and that is, next week Dr. Newton proceeds on pre-retirement leave. I am sure you would like me, on behalf of yourselves and the whole Colony of Hong Kong, to thank him for many years of valuable Service which he has given us here. During the time he has been here improvements have been made in our medical and health services, especially since 1947 when he took over the post of Director of Medical and Health Services. I hope, in his retirement, he will

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have a feeling of satisfaction in work well done and work which, I can assure him, is very fully appreciated. So I say to him: Good Luck. (Applause).

ADJOURNMENT.

H.E. THE GOVERNOR: —When it is your pleasure that we should meet again? THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL: —I suggest, Sir, a fortnight from today. H.E. THE GOVERNOR: —Council will adjourn to this day fortnight.