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OFFICIAL REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS
Meeting of 9th November, 1955.
PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR (PRESIDENT)
SIR ALEXANDER WILLIAM GEORGE HERDER GRANTHAM, G.C.MG. HIS EXCELLENCY THE COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR CECIL STANWAY SUGDEN, K.C.B., C.B.E. THE HONOURABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY
MR. EDGEWORTH BERESFORD DAVID, C.M.G.
THE HONOURABLE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
MR. ARTHUR HOOTON, Q.C. (Acting).
THE HONOURABLE THE SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS
MR. BRIAN CHARLES KEITH HAWKINS, C.M.G., O.B.E.
THE HONOURABLE THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY
MR. ARTHUR GRENFELL CLARKE, C.M.G.
THE HONOURABLE DOUGLAS JAMES SMYTH CROZIER
(Director of Education).
DR. THE HONOURABLE YEO KOK CHEANG
(Director of Medical and Health Services).
THE HONOURABLE HAROLD GILES RICHARDS, O.B.E.
(Director of Urban Services).
DR. THE HONOURABLE CHAU SIK NIN, C.B.E.
THE HONOURABLE CHARLES EDWARD MICHAEL TERRY, O.B.E. THE HONOURABLE LO MAN WAI, C.B.E.
THE HONOURABLE NGAN SHING-KWAN, O.B.E.
THE HONOURABLE DHUN JEHANGIR RUTTONJEE.
THE HONOURABLE CEDRIC BLAKER, M.C., E.D.
THE HONOURABLE KWOK CHAN, O.B.E.
DR. THE HONOURABLE ALBERTO MARIA RODRIGUES, M.B.E., E.D. MR. ROBERT WILLIAM PRIMROSE (Deputy Clerk of Councils).
ABSENT:
THE HONOURABLE THEODORE LOUIS BOWRING C.M.G., O.B.E.
(Director of Public Works).
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MINUTES.
The Minutes of the Meeting held on 26th October, 1955, were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by Command of His Excellency the Governor, laid upon the table the following papers: —
Subject. G.N. No.
Sessional Paper: —
No. 28—Annual Report by the Quartering Authority for the year 1954-55.
Penicillin Ordinance (Chapter 137).
Penicillin (And Other Substances) (Amendment) Regulations, 1955 ........................................ ........................................ ...... A.112
Ferries Ordinance (Chapter 104).
Excluded Ferries (Tsun Wan, Tsing I Island and Tai O)
Regulations, 1955 ........................................ ......................... A.113
SCAVENGING (AMENDMENT) BY-LAWS, 1955.
MR. H. G. RICHARDS moved the following resolution: —
Resolved that the Scavenging (Amendment) By-laws, 1955, made by the Urban Council on the 25th day of October, 1955, under section 4 of the Public Health (Sanitation) Ordinance, 1935, be approved.
He said: Sir, the purpose of these by-laws is set out in the explanatory note. They represent part of the amendments to laws which are considered necessary to protect the new refuse dump at Gin Drinkers Bay, the other parts being the Bills the First reading of which my honourable Friend the Director of Public Works and I moved at the last meeting of this Council.
THE COLONIAL SECREITARY seconded.
The question was put and agreed to.
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PROMISSORY OATHS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1955.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the First reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Promissory Oaths Ordinance, Chapter 90."
He said: Sir, this Bill seeks, in accordance with a suggestion made by the Secretary of State, to revise the wording of the oaths of fidelity and secrecy taken on appointment by Executive Councillors and the Clerk of Councils. Its object is to clarify the matters which are covered by these oaths.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
The question was put and agreed to.
The Bill was read a First time.
Objects and Reasons.
The "Objects and Reasons" for the Bill were stated as follows: —
It is considered that the present Oath of Fidelity contained in the Second Schedule to the Promissory Oaths Ordinance, Chapter 90, (hereinafter referred to as the principal Ordinance) does not fully achieve the object for which it was intended. In consequence, clause 3 of the Bill amends the Oath of Fidelity on the lines of a model form received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
2. Opportunity has also been taken to bring the principal Ordinance up to date by altering the reference to the Sovereign (see clauses 2 and 3), and to make consequential amendment to the Oath of Secrecy in the Second Schedule.
SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION (1954-55) BILL, 1955.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the First reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to authorize a supplementary appropriation to defray the charges of the financial year ended the 31st day of March, 1955."
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He said: Sir, this Bill represents the final stage in disposing of the accounts of the last financial year. Its effect is formally to confirm all the supplementary appropriations which have already been approved by resolution in this Council.
The original approved provision for the financial year 1954/55 was $388,262,050. The additional provisions which have been authorized total $45,886,845, so that the total approved provision for the year was $434,148,895. But most of the additional provisions authorized were against savings on the original provision and moreover many votes, particularly that for Public Works Non-Recurrent, were considerably underspent. The actual expenditure for the year was $373,343,609 representing a shortfall of $60,805,286 on the gross provision authorized.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
The question was put and agreed to.
The Bill was read a First time.
PUBLIC RECLAMATION AND WORKS
(GIN DRINKERS BAY) BILL, 1955.
MR. H. G. RICHARDS moved the Second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to validate an undertaking for reclamation and other works over and upon unleased Crown foreshore and seabed situate at Gin Drinkers Bay, and to authorize, subject to the definitive approval of the Governor in Council, a further undertaking for reclamation and other works in the same situation."
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 4 and the Schedule were agreed to.
Council then resumed.
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MR. H G. RICHARDS reported that the Public Reclamation and Works (Gin Drinkers Bay) Bill, 1955 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.
PUBLIC HEALTH (SANITATION) (AMENDMENT)
BILL, 1955.
MR. H. G. RICHARDS moved the Second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Public Health (Sanitation) Ordinance, 1935."
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.
MR. H. G. RICHARDS reported that the Public Health (Sanitation) (Amendment) Bill, 1955 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.
DENTISTS REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1955.
DR. YEO KOK CHEANG moved the Second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Dentists Registration Ordinance, Chapter 156".
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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 16 were agreed to.
Council then resumed.
DR. YEO KOK CHEANG reported that the Dentists Registration (Amendment) Bill, 1955 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.
MENTAL HOSPITALS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1955.
DR. YEO KOK CHEANG moved the Second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Mental Hospitals Ordinance, Chapter 136".
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 5 were agreed to.
Council then resumed.
DR. YEO KOK CHEANG reported that the Mental Hospitals (Amendment) Bill, 1955 had passed through Committee without amendment and moved the Third reading.
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THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
The question was put and agreed to.
The Bill was read a Third time and passed.
CONTROL OF PUBLICATIONS CONSOLIDATION
(AMENDMENT) BILL, 1955.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the Second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Control of Publications Consolidation Ordinance, 1951".
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 7 and the Schedule were agreed to.
Council then resumed.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that the Control of Publications Consolidation (Amendment) Bill, 1955 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.
ADJOURNMENT.
H. E. THE GOVERNOR: —That concludes the business, Gentlemen. When is it your pleasure that we should meet again?
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL: —Sir, I suggest this day four weeks.
H. E. THE GOVERNOR: —Council will adjourn to this day four weeks.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.