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OFFICIAL REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS
Meeting of 11th August, 1954.
PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE
GOVERNMENT (PRESIDENT)
MR. ROBERT BROWN BLACK, C.M.G., O.B.E.
HIS EXCELLENCY THE COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL CECIL STANWAY SUGDEN, C.B., C.B.E.
THE HONOURABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY
MR. CLAUDE BRAMALL BURGESS, O.B.E. (Acting).
THE HONOURABLE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
MR. ARTHUR RIDEHALGH, Q.C.
THE HONOURABLE THE SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS
MR. RONALD RUSKIN TODD.
THE HONOURABLE THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY
MR. ARTHUR GRENFELL CLARKE, C.M.G.
THE HONOURABLE THEODORE LOUIS BOWRING, O.B.E.
(Director of Public Works).
DR. THE HONOURABLE YEO KOK CHEANG
(Director of Medical and Health Services).
THE HONOURABLE LEONARD GEOFFREY MORGAN
(Acting Director of Education).
THE HONOURABLE HAROLD GILES RICHARDS, O.B.E.
(Director of Urban Services).
DR. THE HONOURABLE CHAU SIK NIN, C.B.E.
THE HONOURABLE LAWRENCE KADOORIE.
THE HONOURABLE LO MAN WAI, O.B.E.
THE HONOURABLE NGAN SHING-KWAN.
THE HONOURABLE DHUN JEHANGIR RUTTONJEE.
DR. THE HONOURABLE ALBERTO MARIA RODRIGUES, M.B.E., E.D. THE HONOURABLE JOHN ARTHUR BLACKWOOD.
MR. ROBERT WILLIAM PRIMROSE (Deputy Clerk of Councils).
ABSENT:
THE HONOURABLE KWOK CHAN, O.B.E.
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MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 28th July, 1954, were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by Command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, laid upon the table the following papers: —
Subject G. N. No.
Sessional Paper, 1954: —
No. 14—Annual Report by the Commissioner of Rating and Valuation for the year 1953/ 54.
Unclaimed Balances Ordinance, Chapter 122.
Order under section 3…………………………………………………………A.98
LAUNDRIES (AMENDMENT) BY-LAWS, 1954.
MR. H. G. RICHARDS moved the following resolution: —
"Resolved that the Laundries (Amendment) By-laws, 1954, made by the Urban Council on the 20th day of July, 1954, under section 4 of the Public Health (Sanitation) Ordinance, 1935, be approved."
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
The question was put and agreed to.
RATING (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1954.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the Second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Rating Ordinance, Chapter 116". He said: Sir, I should add that I propose to move three amendments to the Bill in committee, and I think honourable Members have received copies. Two of them are designed to remove administrative difficulties and ambiguities,
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but the third will have the effect of reducing the rates of 12, 11 and 10 per cent proposed in the Bill to 11, 10 and 9 per cent respectively. This is as a result of representations which have been received from the residents of the New Territories with whom Government has been in consultation. There is no desire on the part of Government to inflict hardship, and it is felt that this reduction is fair and reasonable.
I would also, Sir, like to repeat the assurance that I gave on the occasion of the First reading of this Bill, that consideration will be given to increasing the minimum assessment figure below which a tenement shall not be rateable. This figure will be such as to have the effect of exempting from rates the small type, village house in the New Territories, and before the final decision is made, the views of the District Commissioner will be sought.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
The question was put and agreed to.
The Bill was read a Second time.
Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause. Clauses 1 to 10 were agreed to.
Clause 11.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY: —Sir, I move that this clause be amended as set forth in the paper before honourable Members.
Clause 11, as amended, was agreed to.
Clause 12.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY: —Sir, I move that this clause be amended as set forth in the paper before honourable Members.
Clause 12, as amended, was agreed to.
Clause 13 was agreed to.
Clause 14.
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THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY: —Sir, I move that this clause be amended as set forth in the paper before honourable Members.
Clause 14, as amended, was agreed to.
Clauses 15 to 19 were agreed to.
Council then resumed.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY reported that the Rating (Amendment) Bill, 1954, had passed through Committee with amendments and moved the Third reading.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
The question was put and agreed to.
The Bill was read a Third time and passed into law.
MINING BILL, 1954.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the postponement of this item.
He said: —With regard to the next item of Government Business, that is the Mining Bill, I beg to move that further consideration of this item be postponed until the next meeting of this Council. Sir, the position is this, that yesterday I received from Mr. Blackwood on behalf of the General Chamber of Commerce, certain representations in relation to the Bill and in my judgement I formed the view that those representations deserve closer consideration than could be given in the time available. That is the reason for my request that this item be postponed. I should like to say that I would not wish to attribute any blame to Mr. Blackwood or the General Chamber of Commerce, because this Bill which is rather an intricate and lengthy one was only read for a first time two weeks ago this day.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
The question was put and agreed to.
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SUPREME COURT (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1954.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the Second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Supreme Court Ordinance, Chapter 4"
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
The question was put and agreed to.
The Bill was read a Second time.
Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill Clause by clause. ` Clauses 1 and 2 were agreed to.
Council then resumed.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that the Supreme Court (Amendment) Bill, 1954, had passed through Committee without amendment and moved the Third reading.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
The question was put and agreed to.
The Bill was read a Third time and passed into law.
FIRE BRIGADE BILL, 1954.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the Second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to make better provision as to the constitution, duties and powers of the Fire Brigade and as to the discipline of members thereof and to make provision for a welfare fund: and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid".
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
The question was put and agreed to.
The Bill was read a Second time.
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Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause. Clauses 1 to 23 and Schedules 1 to 4 were agreed to.
Council then resumed.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that the Fire Brigade Bill, 1954, had passed through Committee without amendment and moved the Third reading.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
The question was put and agreed to.
The Bill was read a Third time and passed into law.
ADJOURNMENT.
HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT: —That concludes the business for today, Gentlemen. Council will adjourn to this day fortnight.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.