1957-03-27 — Page 1

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OFFICIAL REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS.

Meeting of 27th March, 1957.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR (PRESIDENT)

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

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR WILLIAM HENRY STRATTON, K.C.B., C.V.O., C.B.E., D.S.O. THE HONOURABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY

MR. EDGEWORTH BERESFORD DAVID, C.M.G.

THE HONOURABLE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

MR. ARTHUR RIDEHALGH, Q.C.

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.

DR. THE HONOURABLE YEO KOK CHEANG, C.M.G.

(Director of Medical and Health Services).

THE HONOURABLE JOHN FORBES, O.B.E.

(Acting Director of Public Works).

THE HONOURABLE DAVID CLIVE CROSBIE TRENCH, M.C.

(Commissioner of Labour).

THE HONOURABLE EDMUND BRINSLEY TEESDALE, M.C.

(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.G. E.D.

THE HONOURABLE KWOK CHAN, O.B.E.

DR. THE HONOURABLE ALBERTO MARIA RODRIGUES, M.B.E., E.D. MR. RONALD THOMPSON (Deputy Clerk of Councils).

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MINUTES.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 20th March, 1957, were confirmed.

PAPERS.

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

Subject. G.N. No.

Dutiable Commodities Ordinance.

Dutiable Commodities (Amendment) Regulations, 1957 ........... A. 23.

REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE

ESTIMATES FOR 1957-58.

Resumption of Debate.

MR. D. C. C. TRENCH: —Your Excellency, my honourable Friend Dr. Chau, in his address last Wednesday, expressed the hope that between now and 1960, when the first of the children resulting from our stepped up birth-rate can be expected to leave school and start seeking employment, something would have been planned to ensure that every young person would have the chance of earning a decent livelihood. My honourable Friend, Mr. Lo expressed a similar hope. In expressing this hope, they have, of course, put their finger on one of the most difficult and intractable problems connected with Hong Kong's rise in population. Houses, reservoirs, hospitals, and so on, are material things which, given money, time, effort and the necessary skills, can be built. But jobs cannot be created in the sense that our material needs of the kind I have just mentioned can be created. Undoubtedly places for our young people must be sought, in the main, in commercial and industrial enterprises. Agriculture and fisheries cannot absorb more than a fraction of them. No one, I think, would advocate artificially absorbing more than were actually needed into the Government Service, though it is undoubtedly true that Government's social services programme calls each year for more and more staff. Commerce and industry therefore must bear the brunt. Planning for jobs,

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then, means planning for the expansion of our commercial and industrial activities; if this is successfully accomplished, increased opportunities for employment necessarily follow.

It is however necessary to be clear about the limitations to which the planning of an expansion in our commerce and industry is subject. Both commerce and industry depend heavily on circumstances outside Hong Kong's control. Commercial relations must be with some party outside Hong Kong and industrial products must, largely, be sent to someone outside Hong Kong. Only one half—our half—of these activities can therefore be planned in any way and the other half—the outside half so to speak—is beyond our power to plan. Although self-evident, this fact is perhaps worth re-stating. Having entered this caveat, however, let it be quickly said that there is much that can be done to plan commercial and industrial expansion and Government is whole-heartedly behind such a policy. The Kun Tong project is an example of such planning. I should like to mention here also the presence of Mr. Bradford in the Colony. Mr. Bradford is an expert on production engineering, who is on loan to us from the I.L.O. He is here to teach us—and particularly managements—some of the modern production engineering techniques which, when properly applied, have produced almost miraculous improvements in industrial methods in other parts of the world. I hope his services and his knowledge will be made full use of while he is here. In a complementary field lies the whole question of vocational and technical training. Training the man does not automatically provide him with a job, but better methods require better trained men to operate them if they are to contribute successfully to our industrial expansion.

Another line of approach by which the expansion of our overseas markets could be achieved lies in enhancing the quality of our goods and ensuring consistent and reliable standards. Again, my honourable Friend Mr. Blaker has mentioned the possibilities in our tourist industry.

To sum up, then, planning jobs for our children is basically a matter of expanding our commerce and our industry. This cannot be done by any kind of a single master plan, but must be approached from a number of different directions. It is a matter in which Government will have to rely heavily on the co-operation of business generally: I am sure this co-operation will, as always before, be forthcoming.

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MR. E. B. TEESDALE: —Your Excellency, the question of low-cost housing was raised by my honourable Friends Mr. Ngan Shing-Kwan and Mr. Kwok Chan, with particular reference to the level of rents to he charged for flats now under construction by the Housing Authority.

The problem of which income group to cater for is, of course, an important and difficult one, and the Housing Authority gave careful consideration to the various factors involved before planning the present schemes at North Point and Cadogan Street. They did not, however, attempt to determine the matter once and for all in regard to future schemes which might be undertaken. The need to re-examine this question in the light of experience is fully appreciated, and, in fact, the basic qualifying conditions for applications will be reviewed by the Authority towards the end of this year. Furthermore a decision has already been taken by the Authority that 75% of the accommodation on the So Uk Estate should be designed to standards which will produce a lower level of rents than those at North Point.

The rents on the Cadogan Street estate, to which my honourable Friend Mr. Ngan referred, have not yet been finally determined. It is true that a somewhat lower standard of accommodation was aimed at, but the rents finally adopted must of course depend upon building costs, since the Authority must recover sufficient revenue to meet its expenditure. Owing to the peculiar nature of the Cadogan Street site, it appears likely that building costs may, comparatively speaking, be slightly higher than at North Point.

Finally I can assure my honourable Friends that members of the Authority are very much aware of the need to employ the cheapest possible methods of construction compatible with the standard of accommodation aimed at, and that the remarks and suggestions of my honourable Friends will receive close attention.

MR. J. FORBES: —Your Excellency, my honourable Friend Mr. M. W. Lo and most of the other Unofficial Members, mentioned the Development Office which was authorized last year, its function to be the formation of sites for large development schemes by reclamation, levelling of hills, etc. It is unfortunately true that no progress has been made in forming this office as efforts to recruit professional staff both locally and overseas have

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not yet met with any success. The difficulty must, however, be tackled and there are several ways in which this might be done—all of which are under immediate examination. For example, negotiations are in hand with a firm which has considerable experience of conditions in Hong Kong as to terms under which they would act as Consultants to the Government in undertaking surveys and preparing designs and estimates for such schemes, and it is hoped that it may be possible to bring these negotiations to a successful conclusion in the not very distant future.

In regard to the General Reclamation it is correct that this work has been delayed owing to the fact that no firm here has a dredger available to prepare the foundations of the sea wall, but it appears probable that one will become available to commence work towards the end of this year.

The question of the training of Engineers was also mentioned and I would draw attention to the fact that, with the acceptance of the Hong Kong University B.Sc. degree in Engineering by the Institution of Civil Engineers, as exempting from parts I and II of the Institution examinations, prospects for the local graduate have considerably improved and a certain number of these graduates are being taken on annually by the Public Works Department and by local firms of Civil Engineers for the three years' training required by the Institution after graduation to enable them to become fully qualified.

My honourable Friend Mr. Ngan Shing-Kwan suggested that the road from Tsuen Wan to Shek Kong should be opened to public vehicular traffic; except for lorries. This matter has, of course, been under consideration for some years and a decision was deferred as, in its early days, the road was liable to be blocked by landslips. It is believed, however, that conditions in the high cuttings have now become stabilized and consideration will again be given in consultation with the Military Authorities to this road being taken over as a public road.

Reference was also made to the opening up of the New Territories by branch roads. I am glad to be able to say that not only has a programme of such works been prepared but that a number of roads has already been constructed with Colonial Development and Welfare funds, and I mention in particular the first section over five miles long of a road between Silvermine Bay and Cheung Sha on Lantao Island.

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My honourable Friend Mr. Dhun Ruttonjee mentioned the terracing of hillsides, with water tanks on the top of the hills, so that squatters could be resettled on these terraces and grow their own food. This suggestion, while attractive, cannot, I fear, even be considered until the water supply situation is very considerably improved. Even after the completion of the Tai Lam Chung Scheme in about 1960, and of the fairly large scale irrigation schemes now being carried out, there will not be sufficient water to meet all the needs of the urban areas or agriculture.

Reference was also made to faulty control in regard to the digging up of streets. In this respect perfection is not claimed. Private utility companies and Government sub-departments have to plan their programmes to suit the funds provided and it is not easy therefore to get perfect coordination since all parties concerned may not be able to undertake all their work at the same time. Further, stated delivery dates for cable and pipe supplies seldom are adhered to, and programmes are upset. Constant efforts are made, however, to coordinate the laying of underground services and cooperation between the utility companies and the Public Works Department on the whole is good.

Road construction and resurfacing programmes are always brought to the notice of public utility companies and Public Works sub-Departments in advance, and inspection of the initial stages of any roadwork will show that full advantage of such notice is taken for the relaying and repair of underground services before the new road surfacing is laid.

Except for emergency repairs no road openings are made without prior permission from the Public Works Department and last year some 8,000 permits were issued. This figure shows the magnitude of the problem.

The intensive redevelopment taking place in the city areas demands more and more from the public utilities but final requirements—and hence the size of the utility underground services—are difficult to assess in advance.

It will be appreciated that roadworks cannot be indefinitely delayed until all sites in an existing street are redeveloped and as redeveloped sites require new and bigger connexions to the underground services, a certain amount of reopening or reconstructed roads is unavoidable.

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I would stress that requests for permits to open newly constructed or resurfaced roads are, by standing instruction, all referred to me, and I can assure you that permission is not given lightly. Only nine such cases have been approved during the last twelve months and these were mostly for small openings necessitated by faults which had developed in underground services and which could not have been foreseen.

The subject of planning, particularly Town Planning, was raised by my honourable Friends Messrs. M. W. Lo, Ngan Shing-Kwan, Dhun Ruttonjee and Dr. Rodrigues, with special emphasis on the lack of progress in the replanning of our congested urban areas. This is by no means a new subject for complaint and the points raised are fully appreciated by Government, but the solution is not an easy one.

For example on the question of staff, our difficulties have been greater than anticipated. It is true as my honourable Friend Dr. Rodrigues has said, that the officer transferred to the new post of Road Planning Engineer last year, had to be taken off the preparation of a master road plan after a few months' work. This was made necessary by the urgency of providing roads and drainage for new resettlement schemes as otherwise these vitally important projects would have been seriously delayed. I do not imagine any honourable Member would have condoned such avoidable delay. A study is now being made of the priorities allocated to the Public Works Programme with a view to making possible the return of the Roads Planning Engineer to his duties in the Planning Section. This may mean some delay on approved works. Additional posts of Assistant Planning Officer, Assistant Surveyors, Assistant Engineers and Draughtsmen have been asked for and included in next year's estimates but recruitment may be difficult as already we have vacancies for Assistant Surveyors which we cannot fill in spite of repeated advertisements in the local press.

Next there is the problem of acquisition of the necessary land. Practically all land required for street improvement in built up areas is privately owned and has to be resumed, and to make matters worse, much of it belongs to different owners in narrow strips, each sufficient for one tenement house only.

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In regard to use zoning and density control, it must be kept in mind that many old leases are unrestricted and the Chief Building Surveyor must approve plans for redevelopment so long as they comply with the requirements of the Buildings Ordinance—the only form of control which we at present have in these cases. Any legislation used to enforce density and zoning control might involve very heavy capital expenditure in resumptions and compensation. This matter is receiving the attention of Government, and proposals which will indicate the formidable financial implications will in due course be submitted to Members.

It must not be thought Sir, however, that nothing is being done in regard to the planning of urban areas. A large number of street improvement plans have been and still are being prepared for the city areas of Hong Kong, and new Buildings in these streets are being set back to the new road lines, and the necessary land resumed for this public purpose under the Crown Lands and Resumptions Ordinance. It must be admitted that this is a slow method of widening streets, but the alternative is to expend enormous sums of public funds in resuming at one time all the land required for each road improvement scheme and in paying compensation for the buildings thereon. The rehousing of the tenants displaced would in itself present a serious problem. The whole question is, however, also now under urgent consideration, including a study of the necessity for new legislation which would enable Government to obtain land at more favourable terms and authorize the exhibition of plans to the public.

In addition to the street widening plans referred to, the Town Planning Section has produced plans showing layout and permissible land use for four town planning areas and those have been exhibited to the public and objections considered. Plans for many other areas are in various stages of preparation.

In undeveloped areas the problem is of course, very much simpler as little or no resumption of private building land is necessary, and in areas such as Kun Tong roads are being planned on generous lines.

Subways to allow pedestrians to cross under streets, clear of vehicular traffic, have been investigated but unfortunately the need for these is greatest in the streets near the water front, to burrow under which would put much of the work below water level resulting in extreme engineering costs.

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With the abandonment of the idea of subways our thoughts have turned towards going over instead of under. A first and small contribution was the construction of the elevated mail conveyor across Connaught Road Central to the Post Office. Plans have also been drawn for an overhead pedestrian way for ferry passengers to cross Connaught Road to and from the new Star Ferry Pier.

In connexion with the construction of the new airport we have constructed several overhead bridges to separate the contractor's traffic from the normal flow and reduce the competitive demand for space in already overcrowded and narrow roads. The success and contribution to road safety of these measures leads us to think that there is scope for fly overs of a similar type at some of our busier traffic intersections. One which lends itself to such consideration is as suggested by honourable Members from Murray Road across Queen's Road to Garden Road, and tentative schemes for this are being considered.

The car parking problem was also mentioned and in this connexion I would draw attention to the fact that where appropriate in all new leases a clause is being inserted requiring adequate parking inside the lot. Government has shown a good example in this respect by providing parking space under the new Government Offices. With old leases Government had no powers to compel the owner to provide such parking space unless a modification of lease conditions is required when opportunity is taken to obtain parking space in the lot. Measures to alleviate the parking position in the central area of Hong Kong including the provision of multi-storey car parks have for some time been receiving the attention of Government.

In conclusion, Sir, I must stress that shortage of professional staff for the present is seriously handicapping the work of the Public Works Department— and perhaps accounts for the fact that we have not provided estimates with the degree of accuracy required by my honourable Friend the Financial Secretary. I trust therefore that my honourable Friends will bear with tolerance any apparent shortcomings of a Department which, to my mind, has grown too large and is trying to achieve the impossible—and doing it well!

DR. YEO KOK CHEANG: —Your Excellency, I am extremely gratified by the interest my Friends the honourable Unofficial Members have shown in the operation of the Medical Department

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and for the suggestions they have made for the improvement of services to the Colony. Taking the various questions raised in turn, I will deal first with suggestions made by my colleague the honourable Senior Unofficial Member.

Tuberculosis is undoubtedly our greatest health problem, and we have the unenviable reputation of having one of the highest infection rates in the world. Fortunately the local population has a considerable resistance to this disease and our mortality rate does not parallel the infection rate. The death rate from this disease for the year 1956 is lower than any previously recorded and the deaths from tuberculosis in infants expressed as a percentage of the total deaths from this disease has fallen over the past 6 years from 38% to 25%. However, with a death rate of 107 per 100,000 we have no grounds for complacency, but with the substantial improvements effected we have been encouraged to redouble our efforts, proceeding along the same lines as at present.

The control programme at present in operation is the protection of infants by the use of B.C.G. vaccination, and control of known cases by ambulatory chemotherapy, plus the admission to hospital of those who do not respond to outpatient treatment, and who require further treatment, usually of a surgical nature, to control their disease—about 10 - 15% of the total treated.

With regard to B.C.G. vaccination which is carried out on a voluntary basis, efforts have been concentrated on the vaccination of newborn babies. The principal hospitals in the Colony are visited twice weekly by official vaccinators, and last year 43% of all babies born in these hospitals were vaccinated. At the same time free vaccine is made available to private practitioners, and to midwives, both government and private who have been trained in its administration. Of all babies born last year, totalling more than 96,000, about 25% were vaccinated and the percentage is still increasing month by month. I think I can safely say that there is no community in the world of comparable size where as large a proportion of babies is given this protection.

With regard to treatment we have had of necessity to recognize that the isolation of active cases of tuberculosis on the scale of the existing hospital beds could benefit only a very small group of the total cases and could contribute little to the

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solution of the overall problem, and that the possibility of ever having sufficient beds for this purpose is beyond our means. Therefore, as long ago as 1950 ambulatory treatment was started in the government clinics and has been steadily expanding since, so that this method has now become the spearhead of our attack, the hospital beds occupying a secondary, but very essential role in the treatment scheme. Outpatient clinics are divided into two types, the first, in the densely populated areas being designed of a sufficient size to necessitate the provision of a full time X-ray department which is kept fully employed, the second, in the less densely populated areas with an insufficient number of patients to justify the provision of a full time X-ray department, being supplied with these facilities according to a fixed schedule by the mobile X-ray unit. It is felt that patients who suffer from tuberculosis have on the whole little money to spend on travelling expenses, and that every consideration should be given to their convenience as treatment may last up to two years.

At present we have two large full time clinics with both day and evening sessions, as well as eight branch clinics which have no X-ray on the premises. An additional large full time clinic at Shek Kip Mei is expected to be in operation in autumn this year, and another one at Sai Ying Pun next year. During the year 1956 over 34,000 new patients attended the Government Chest Clinics. These were all investigated and approximately 10,000 found actually to be suffering from tuberculosis. A small proportion of these were not in need of active treatment, but in the outcome nearly 8,000 cases received continuous treatment during the year, in addition to about 1,700 cases carried forward from the previous year. This is a very creditable performance for the staff engaged on this work.

On the bases of outpatient plus hospital treatment where necessary, it is estimated that eight patients can be treated at the same cost as one patient on orthodox hospital treatment. It is therefore considered essential that when the number of clinics is increased, the necessary bed provision, which is well within the means of the Colony to provide, should be increased accordingly to enable this scheme to go forward without undue delay.

My honourable Colleague, Dr. Chau, has also suggested that we utilize the services of private practitioners who are prepared to work part-time for the Government. This offer has

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been noted and is much appreciated and in the event of the necessity arising, all due consideration will be given to it. I would however emphasize that doctors whose full time services are at the disposal of Government are to be preferred.

Turning now to the question of the radiotherapy facilities in Government, I would like to assure my honourable Colleagues, the Senior Unofficial Member and Dr. Rodrigues that the necessity for the expansion of this department has not been overlooked. One of the problems facing us at the moment is the shortage of space. It is practically impossible to provide any more space for the Radiological Department without penalizing other equally important services. However, space has been found for an additional deep X-ray therapy machine for which funds have been provided in these Estimates. In addition, $36,000 have been spent on the purchase of radium during the past year and this radium will be available for use in the treatment of cancer very shortly. Arrangements have also been made to increase the strength of the cobalt source in the tele-curie therapy unit. The cobalt source now on order will be more than double the strength of the existing one and this will enable the actual time of treatment of each patient to be reduced and thus allow for the treatment of more patients. The question of constructing an extension to Queen Mary Hospital is now under consideration and when this is completed, additional space will be available for the X-ray department and additional beds will be available for patients undergoing radiotherapy. It is also hoped that the new centre at Sai Ying Pun will be completed in 1958 and the X-ray section in this building will include provision for both diagnostic and superficial therapeutic services. In addition, diagnostic X-ray units will be provided in the Chest Clinics at Sai Ying Pun and Shek Kip Mei. Finally, provision has been made in these Estimates for the purchase of an additional mobile mass miniature X-ray unit and the staff necessary to operate it. This will supplement the unit now in service which was presented to this Colony by UNICEF some years ago.

Turning now to the question raised by my honourable Friend Mr. Terry regarding the quacks preying on gullible members of the public who have the misfortune to suffer from diseases of the eye, I would like to say that I fully agree with him and will investigate the possibility of introducing suitable legislation to curtail the activities of these charlatans.

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My honourable Colleague Dr. Rodrigues has suggested that we should provide a flying squad to administer blood transfusions to patients in non Government hospitals and homes in order to save beds required under the present system whereby some of these cases are taken to Government hospitals.

At present any hospital in the Colony can obtain blood of the group required from either the Queen Mary or the Kowloon Hospital providing they have the facilities for cross-matching the blood received with that of the patient. All hospitals make use of this service and during the quarter ended 31st December, 1956, the non-Government hospitals used about 40% of the blood available in the blood bank. It is worth noting that over 80% of our present supply of blood comes from the armed services. To establish the scheme suggested by Dr. Rodrigues a considerable increase in the supply of blood available would be required. Since the present supply of blood is still very inadequate, I do not consider that this proposed service would be feasible.

Dr. Rodrigues has also proposed that resuscitation and oxygen apparatus should be provided in the ambulances. Although the ambulance service is no longer the responsibility of the Medical Department, I understand that resuscitation untis are kept in every fire station and are put on board ambulances answering calls for which the units are likely to be required. The possibility of making these resuscitation units part of the standard equipment of every ambulance will be considered.

Turning now to Dr. Rodrigues' final question, the School Health Service. This matter is at present under active consideration by a working party, consisting of a Deputy Financial Secretary as the Chairman and representatives of the Education and Medical depeartments.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY: —Your Excellency, my honourable Friend, Dr. S. N. Chau, stated in the course of his speech that it behoves our medical authorities to give voluntary agencies every financial encouragement to construct and to maintain hospitals. I think it is worth pointing out that Government indeed has already adopted this policy. It has made available to the Anti-Tuberculosis Association the sum of $5¼ millions, part grant and part loan, for the construction of a sanatorium at Wong Chuk Hang. As I mentioned in this Council four weeks ago,

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it has also promised a loan of $2 millions for the reconstruction of the Canossa Hospital. The Tung Wah Hospitals receive an annual grant from Government. So do the Ruttonjee Sanatorium and the Freni Memorial. So does the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital. Government is perfectly prepared to follow this policy if we can find the voluntary agencies who will take the initiative.

My honourable Friend also made one statement which I think I had better quote. He said: "It is the prerogative of the sick to demand and to receive adequate medical care, and Government has an obligation to ensure that no person, no matter how poor, is deprived of proper attention."

It is Sir, very difficult, if not impossible, to take exception to this statement. But my honourable Friend has not mentioned the important point of who is to pay. The United Kingdom has gone a long way on the road to social security, but in that country everybody has to pay his contribution each week to the Health Service, whether he likes it or not, and whether he uses it or not. There is no suggestion by my honourable Friend that anything of the sort should be done here, and he almost seems to imply that any person should have the right to medical attention regardless of whether he contributes to its cost or not. This is a proposition which Government cannot yet accept. We are doing our best to improve facilities for medical treatment in clinics, and to provide more hospital beds, but the principle of payment for use of these facilities is one that has not yet really been given consideration. Facilities are still so far from adequate that at this stage all we can do is to go ahead and do what we can for the sick, but I foresee that as time goes on, and as costs continue to mount, the question is bound to come up in an acute form, whether a proper compulsory insurance scheme should be introduced, or whether the cost is to continue to be borne by the general taxpayer.

I trust that my honourable Friend will forgive me for making this point.

I find it extremely difficult to believe that my honourable Friend, Mr. Terry, is quite so naive about financial matters as he would have us believe. It would almost seem that he suggests that we should invest our cash in our own loans. Surely he cannot mean that we should lend money to ourselves and then pay interest to ourselves?

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He seems to imply that we are neglecting local investment. Does he consider that the airport, and the many waterworks schemes that we have in hand, do not represent local investment? Does he not remember that we are prepared to make available to the Housing Authority annually, if it is able to spend such a figure, the sum of $40 millions for low-cost housing, to say nothing of the vast resettlement schemes in which we are involved? Surely these items represent the best type of investment in the Colony that Government can undertake.

Or does he propose that we should invest our surplus funds in local Companies? I think that even if such a course were permissible to Government, and it is not, it would be most undesirable. But I would however invite my honourable Friend's attention to one specific instance where Government did assist local commercial investment. That was in 1952, when the Hong Kong Telephone Company was in urgent need of new capital and was apprehensive that a new issue on the terms proposed by Government might not be successful. On that occasion, after the Company had placed its difficulties before Government, we underwrote the new issue. In the event the apprehensions of the Company proved unfounded and Government had to take up only a few shares, but at least we did ensure the development of the local telephone system.

Nor do I agree with my honourable Friend when he suggests that we keep too much of our money outside the Colony. Other things being equal, we keep our money where it can earn good rates of interest, and especially where a proportion is readily available at short notice if we should need it. If he had pursued his research into the Report of the Accountant General outside the two pages 62 and 63, to which he referred, he would find from pages 61 and 67 that the total of Government cash, current accounts, and deposit accounts in the Colony on the 31st March, 1956, was $75½ millions. If he had pursued his research a little further, and referred to the financial statements for the month of December 1956, which were published in the Government Gazette of the 8th March last, he would have found that the total had increased on that date to $111 millions.

If he would care to do yet further research I will put him on the right lines. Reference to the Treasury Report, and to the Commerce and Industry Department's Report, for the financial

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year 1950/51, will show that on the 31st March, 1951, Government cash, current accounts and deposits, totalled $79 millions; and, in addition, there was a credit balance of over $112 millions in the accounts which had then to be kept for the financing of trade with Japan. That is, a total of over $190 millions was lying in the bank. Incidentally, at the same time we had money tied up locally in stocks of food and fuel to the value of over $61 millions. The remarks made by the Chairman of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation which were quoted by my honourable Friend have relevance in this connexion. During the years following the war Government was involved—much against its will—in trading in foodstuffs and fuel, and in financing trade with Japan. Rice was the particular problem, because we had to pay for it with sterling in London, and we sold locally for Hong Kong dollars. The result of these activities was a tendency, which had to be constantly checked, to keep on swelling our local bank balances and to run down our sterling balances, but the full story can be followed from the Colony's regular financial statements and from the balance sheets of the Supplies Division of the Commerce and Industry Department. The point of all this is that the large local balances that we then kept were of great value in promoting the rehabilitation and development of the Colony, because they formed a significant proportion of the funds available to our banks.

As time went on and we succeeded in divesting ourselves of our direct responsibility for purchasing food stuffs and for financing trade, so our local balances were reduced. This happened at much about the same time as a restrictive credit policy in other parts of the world began to develop. The Bank reviewed its policy, and, almost two years ago commenced to restrict credit especially for speculative purposes, such as Stock Exchange operations. Government is in agreement with the Bank that the result has been fairly satisfactory; close consultation was maintained and the situation was kept constantly under review. Due to the factors which were set forth by the Chairman of the Bank, it came about that the restriction of credit reached the stage where not only was credit not available for speculative purposes, a most desirable result, but it was in certain cases not available for productive purposes.

Accordingly Government brought back from London at intervals since December 1955, a total of £ 4½ millions in order to ease the situation.

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This is part of the reason for the increase in our local funds to its present figure of $111 millions. The transfer of money from London to the Colony has adversely affected public revenue, in that the rate of interest earned on local balances is lower than that obtainable in London. But Government takes the view that it has a dual responsibility in this matter. On the one hand it is our duty to maintain revenue; on the other hand it is also our duty to see, if we can, that the development and the prosperity of the Colony are not unduly prejudiced by the non-availability of credit. A nice balance has to be preserved between the two, and if the situation continues, it may well give rise to Government requiring a much greater say in credit policy.

I cannot presume of course to say what was in the mind of the Chairman of the Bank when he made the remarks quoted by my honourable Friend, but I have outlined very briefly the history so far as Hong Kong is concerned. I trust that they will make the position a little clearer.

My honourable Friend also expressed some doubts about the advisability of having separate budgets for capital and recurrent expenditure, and he made the very important point that Government operates essentially on a cash basis. He is quite correct in this. Another point is that in commercial accounting there is a link between capital expenditure and recurrent expenditure by reason of the fact that capital expenditure is amortized over a period of years. This, so far as can be ascertained, is not proposed in the new system, and there will therefore be no such direct link between the two budgets. This may, or may not, be considered by honourable Members as a disadvantage, but, as I have said, a decision has not yet been taken.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY: —Your Excellency, in winding up this debate it remains for me to deal as briefly as I can with the various matters raised which have not already been covered by my colleagues. My honourable Friend, Dr. S. N. Chau, mentioned the desirability of giving a wide circulation to our Annual Report for 1956 in order that a proper knowledge and appreciation of our refugee problem should be given in quarters where it might be of the greatest use. As all honourable Members are aware, the first chapter of that Report which gives a comprehensive review of that problem has already been reprinted in the form of a pamphlet, and steps are being taken to give the widest circulation to that pamphlet. I have today received

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confirmation that copies are being made available to every member of Parliament in the United Kingdom, to the press in that country, as well as to Her Majesty's posts both in foreign and in Commonwealth countries; and in addition, arrangements are being made for copies to be on sale by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in the United Kingdom.

I turn now, Sir, to the suggestion made by my honourable Friend Mr. Ruttonjee that the area available for agriculture could be expanded by turning over available hills to squatters for terraced cultivation, the Government providing water tanks on the hill-tops as a first step. My honourable Friend the Director of Public Works has already disclaimed ability to provide the water which would be required but there are other difficulties. In as far as this proposal refers to the suburban areas or areas within easy reach of them, it has to be remembered that the ban on cultivation in the reservoir catchment areas inevitably rules out an enterprise of this kind over a very large area of the Colony. Moreover, it is generally true that land which can be used for agriculture can equally be used for building; the only exception to this generalization is probably the hill slopes at Tai Hang and these are already being cultivated. The fact is, I am afraid, that it is simply not possible to produce large areas of new land for cultivation in the Colony as a whole let alone adjoining the built-up areas. Efforts are, however, being made now to settle pioneer groups in remote areas of the New Territories though even in those areas only limited acreage can be found.

My honourable Friend Mr. Ruttonjee also raised a number of questions concerning assistance and the provision of services to farmers in the New Territories. He suggested that it was desirable to extend the Agricultural Department's experimental farm to include a plant for the production of vaccines against disease in poultry and other animal diseases. A scheme of this very kind was recommended by the Poultry Disease Specialist of the Food and Agricultural Organization, Dr. Lancaster, when he visited the Colony in the latter part of 1955. His report proposed a combined vaccine laboratory for the production of ample supplies of vaccines to combat Newcastle Disease, Swine Fever, Rinderpest and Fowl-Pox. These vaccines are at present obtained from laboratories at Bangkok. The

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capital cost of a project of this nature was estimated to be about $200,000 and the annual expenditure in the neighbourhood of $70,000. There would, however, be a return from the sale of the vaccines which it is hoped would exceed the annual cost of running the plant. This project has been approved in principle but in the absence of the trained staff who would be required to operate it, it has not yet been possible to proceed with it. It is proposed, however, to re-examine the project in connexion with the Draft Estimates for 1958/59 by which time we hope that the difficulty about trained staff will have been overcome.

Another matter raised was financial assistance to the farmers in the New Territories. As honourable Members are aware, the principal sources from which funds can be made available to farmers are the J. E. Joseph Trust Fund, the Vegetable Marketing Organization Loan Fund and the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Association Fund. The first two of these provide short term loans on a low rate of interest for productive purposes, primarily but not exclusively, to members of the co-operative societies. The Vegetable Marketing Organization Fund loans are made solely for the support of vegetable farmers. Honourable Members may be interested to know the sums which have been disbursed from these various funds during the current financial year. Up to the 26th February, over $800,000 was lent from the J. E. Joseph Trust Fund to co-operative societies which in turn lent this money to 3,252 of their members. During the same period over $700,000 was received by the Fund in loan repayments and it is satisfactory to record that no bad debts have been incurred since the Fund started its operations. During the same period, loans made from the Vegetable Marketing Organization Loan Fund totalled over $400,000 and repayments were just under that figure. The number of farmers benefiting from these loans amounted to 1,314. During the calendar year 1956 3,091 loans, totalling $364,000 were approved by the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Association and the actual sum disbursed by the Association during this period was $399,000, this figure including some loans approved during the previous year. Repayments to the Association during this period totalled $320,000. Most of these loans were for less than $2,000 a piece. 70% were for the purchase of feed and housing of livestock and about 20% for the purchase of seed and fertilizers by paddy and vegetable farmers. Loans outstanding at the end of the year amounted to $291,000.

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I think honourable Members will agree that these figures represent a fairly substantial turnover and I warmly acknowledge the assistance from the gentlemen whose names are associated with two of these funds. Whether additional monies are necessary from Government sources to supplement these funds in order to meet the needs of the farmers is certainly a matter which will be examined. As honourable Members are aware, it had been hoped shortly to carry out a social and economic survey of the New Territories but unfortunately the expert invited to carry out this survey, with whom negotiations have been conducted, has recently had to withdraw and it may not be easy to find someone to take her place who has the necessary qualifications and the available time. I do, however, assure honourable Members that the needs of the people in the New Territories are very much in our minds and that they will not be overlooked.

On the subject of medical services in the New Territories, although it is unlikely that we shall be able to provide flying doctors in the near future, I am very glad to be able to advise honourable Members that we do hope to provide a floating doctor. The Jockey Club has generously offered to have built, as a cost of about half a million dollars, and present to the Medical Department a launch, fully equipped, which will serve as a floating clinic for those parts of the New Territories which are accessible by sea and not by road. Honourable Members will shortly be asked to endorse the acceptance of this scheme. The Jockey Club has also made a gift of over half a million dollars to cover the cost of a health centre at Taipo, which will include a general clinic, a maternity and child health centre, and 24 maternity beds. This clinic should be ready in May.

A health centre containing a general clinic, maternal and child health centre, with 24 maternity beds—a considerable improvement on the present facilities—is also included in the Un Long District Branch Office scheme which, as honourable Members are aware, will be coming up for reconsideration to the Public Works Sub-Committee. A further health centre embracing similar facilities for Shataukok has been assigned to Category B by the Public Works Sub-Committee, which has recommended that a private architect be commissioned for the project. I might also mention that the Government has accepted a scheme put up by the North Lamma Rural Committee to build a clinic with assistance from the New Territories Administration

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which will also be handed over in due course to the Medical Department. This clinic, which will open next month, will replace the one that has been most successfully operated by Miss Robertson of the New Zealand Presbyterian Mission and which has recently had to close on her retirement. Provision in the clinic will be made for six maternity beds. A number of other proposals for improving the medical facilities at various places in the New Territories are included in the 15 year programme for development prepared by my honourable Friend the Director of Medical and Health Services which is at present being examined.

Reference was also made to the requirements for secondary education in the New Territories. There are, in fact, two Government secondary schools already operating in the New Territories, one at Un Long and one at Cheung Chau. There are in addition two subsidized middle schools and seven private secondary schools including one English secondary school.

In the general field of education my honourable Friend Dr. S. N. Chau said that he would welcome a statement on Government plans for the further development of teacher training facilities. The present plans are concerned with the expansion of Northcote Training College which has at present just under 100 students. A site for a new college at the junction of Victoria and Sassoon Roads has been selected and it is hoped that this college will be ready by September, 1958. This college will accommodate 400 full time students, half of whom will take the two year course and the other half either a one year course similar to that now offered by the Grantham Training College or the special course for graduate of approved post-secondary colleges. In anticipation of this expansion, enrolment in the present college is to be increased in September this year by the temporary use of a 12 classroom school which is to be built in Caine Road. While it will no doubt be necessary to contemplate further expansion of teacher training facilities in a few years' time, any more rapid expansion beyond what is now planned would be limited as much by the availability of suitable lecturers as by financial and other considerations.

My honourable Friend Mr. Kwok Chan referred to the importance of siting new schools in the areas where they are most needed. The proper distribution of schools in the areas

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that they have to serve is constantly borne in mind but it has to be remembered that the choice of sites is limited owing to the increasing difficulty of finding suitable sites in the right places and in particular in industrial districts.

My honourable Friend Dr. Chau invited attention to the future status of the post-secondary colleges. This is a matter on which preliminary discussions have already been held by the Director of Education with the Heads of certain of these colleges. It is realized that their position and their relationship to the educational system of the Colony will need to be more clearly defined. This is, however, a matter as much for the colleges themselves as for the Government and it cannot be expected that final decisions can be reached in a short time. This is also one of the important questions which the Director of Education will be discussing with the Secretary of State's Educational Adviser, Sir Christopher Cox, who is at present on a visit to the Colony.

My honourable Friend, Dr. Rodrigues referred once again to the continued retention of La Salle College as a military hospital. Government has always very much regretted the great inconvenience which has been caused to the college authorities by this unfortunate necessity and, as I indicated in by Budget Speech last year, efforts have been made to find a solution to this problem both by providing more satisfactory temporary accommodation for the college on the one hand and by pursuing the possibility of other arrangements with the Army on the other. The proposals made in the first direction were not, however, acceptable to the college authorities who felt that the acceptance of such an offer might prejudice the early return of the college to them and, on the other side, it has not yet been found possible to meet the Army's requirements elsewhere. I can, however, assure honourable Members that Government will not relax its efforts to try and find a solution in consultation with the military authorities to this so far intractable problem.

This brings me on to the subject of military lands and in particular the question of recovering part of the large areas occupied by the Services in the central district of Hong Kong which was mentioned by my honourable Friend Mr. Blaker, I cannot make any statement on this subject at the moment beyond saying that negotiations with the military authorities are proceeding and I have every hope that a satisfactory solution will not now be long delayed. The recovery of the Murray

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Parade Ground in particular is pertinent to the many aspects of the increasing traffic problem in the central part of Hong Kong to which several honourable Members referred and to which my honourable Friend the Director of Public Works has already replied. There is, however, one outstanding point mentioned by my honourable Friend Mr. Ngan Shing-Kwan and that is the composition of the Traffic Advisory Committee. He suggested that the membership might with advantage be increased to provide for greater representation. I am sure that Your Excellency will be prepared to consider this suggestion and, if thought advisable, to authorize some slight increase in the membership of this Committee but I am doubtful whether any significant increase would be justified, particularly as we must avoid making the membership so large as to make the Committee unwieldy and stultify its deliberations. It can hardly be said that it is badly lacking in representation of the views of residents since it already includes, apart from a representative of the Automobile Association, a nominee of the Kowloon Residents Association as well as a member of the Urban Council who is normally a resident of the Island.

While on the subject of traffic congestion, I turn now to two other matters raised, the first of which concerns a method of reducing the congestion of population in the streets and the second with increasing it. The first is the subject of family planning and the second is the encouragement of tourists. On the first, the Social Welfare Office is naturally interested in any measures that will assist families in difficult circumstances and fully recognizes that family planning can help in this connexion. Applicants for relief are already being told where they can obtain information on family planning if their circumstances suggest that this may be of help to them. The Social Welfare Office itself, however, does not have staff trained for this purpose and as a matter of policy it is considered that this kind of service is more appropriately provided by voluntary agencies. Any help given by the Government will accordingly continue to take the form of assistance to the Family Planning Association which already has the requisite knowledge and experience.

On the second subject of tourism, I have to admit that the measures required to establish a Tourist Association on the lines recommended by the Committee have not proceeded as fast as they might have done. Once again it has been a matter of

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priorities—particularly in the drafting of the necessary legislation. That is not to say that nothing has been done. The legislation is now in draft and will, I hope, shortly be brought before this Council. There has also been correspondence with Sir Arthur Morse, who, as honourable Members will be aware, is now Chairman of the British Travel and Holidays Association. Sir Arthur has furnished some helpful advice and has offered the assistance of his Association in the future—in particular he is making inquiries regarding a suitable Executive Officer for the Association, if the Board decides that such an officer is required. I agree with my honourable Friend Mr. Blaker that if the tourist traffic is to be substantially expanded—and it is by no means negligible at the present time—then the provision of adequate hotel accommodation is a pre requisite. I am, however, by no means persuaded that this cannot be provided without Government investment, as suggested by my honourable Friend. It has to be remembered that Government has a very heavy programme and almost unlimited commitments in financing other forms of much more badly needed accommodation. The possibility of assistance from the Colonial Development Corporation was explored just under a year ago but without success. Nevertheless, this is a matter on which the Government will be very ready to hold discussions with the Board of the Association should it so desire.

Another matter raised by my honourable Friend Mr. Blaker was the possibility of extending the provisions of the New Buildings Ordinance to cover the New Territories and of similar arrangements being introduced whereby architects can clear their plans direct with the technical departments concerned instead of through the District Commissioner. If there have been specific instances of delays in the approval of plans which have given rise to this suggestion, I shall be very glad to look into them if the honourable Member will be good enough to furnish me with details. I shall also be very ready to look into the suggestion for revising the present administrative arrangements on the lines he suggests though at first sight I am doubtful whether this will, in fact, help in speeding up consideration of building plans in the New Territories.

I have, Sir, two final matters to deal with. The first is the suggestion of my honourable Friend Mr. Ruttonjee that a reference library should be established in this building so that

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the ordinary citizen may have access to Government publications without the need to buy them. It will, of course, be one of the functions of the City Hall, when it has been built, to provide facilities of precisely this kind. Until that time comes, I am afraid that we must do the best we can with our existing resources. On the ground floor of this building there is a Secretariat library which contains all the publications which my honourable Friend has in mind, together with a small reading room. Although the number of members of the public who could be accommodated here would naturally be very limited, the officer in charge will be very ready to do his best to give facilities to any serious student of Government publications who will get in touch with him in advance.

The second is the suggestion of my honourable Friend Dr. Rodrigues that leave in the United Kingdom should be given to local officers of long service. I am glad to be able to tell him that a scheme of this kind has already been initiated whereby meritorious local officers of long service can spend their vacation leave in the United Kingdom and at the same time take some course of study connected with their duties. One officer went to the United Kingdom last year under this scheme and another will be going this year. This, of course, supplements the ordinary arrangements for study leave outside the Colony. More than twenty local officers went abroad on study leave during the current financial year and more than thirty will be due to go, mostly to the United Kingdom, during the forthcoming financial year.

If I may sum up, Sir, this debate has ranged over a very wide field and Unofficial Members have made a number of valuable and constructive suggestions. A certain emphasis has been laid in the course of the debate on the need for adequate planning. I would only say on this that a balance has to be maintained between planning and action and maintained in two ways. Firstly, when there is so much to be done, and done urgently, the division of available resource—particularly in technical staff—between current works and future planning is not easy. The day to day pressure and emphasis inevitably falls on the former. Secondly, planning takes time and it is not possible to hold up current action while the most meticulous

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future planning is being carried out. Planning and speedy action are uneasy yoke-fellows. Nevertheless, we will try and ensure that a proper balance is maintained between them.

Perhaps I may conclude, Sir, on the theme which has been the key-note of this debate, which has informed the speeches of all my Unofficial Friends and which was set by Your Excellency in your Budget address—a Problem of People. When all has been said in this debate, when the debate has concluded, when the Council Chamber has emptied, the lights are turned off and the doors are closed, the measure of our success will lie not in the speeches we have made to-day, it will not lie in the plans which we may hammer out on paper tomorrow, nor even in the figures which form the subject of this motion. The measure of our success will lie in the real and effective contribution which we can make during the coming year to the wellbeing and happiness of the people who live within our borders and to the solution of their problem. It is, Sir, in no spirit of complacency I say that to this end we shall continue to bring our steadfast and unremitting endeavours.

The question was put and agreed to.

RESOLUTION REGARDING THE ESTIMATES OF

REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE FOR 1957-58.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the following resolution: —

Resolved that the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for 1957-58 as amended by the Report of the Select Committee be approved.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.

The question was put and agreed to.

SOLICITORS (FEES) ORDER, 1957.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the following resolution: —

Resolved that the Solicitors (Fees) Order, 1957, made by the Chief Justice on the 15th day of March, 1957, under section 9(2) of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance, Chapter 221, be approved.

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He said: Your Excellency, I rise to move the Resolution standing first in my name, which seeks the approval of this Council to an order made by the Chief Justice under the Criminal Procedure Ordinance. This Order and the one mentioned in the next Resolution concern fees payable to Counsel and Solicitors in criminal cases in which prisoners are granted legal aid under the rules made under the Criminal Procedure Ordinance. The purposes of the two Orders are stated in the explanatory notes thereto, and there is nothing I wish to add.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.

The question was put and agreed to.

COUNSEL (FEES) (AMENDMENT) ORDER, 1957.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the following resolution: —

Resolved that the Counsel (Fees) (Amendment) Order, 1957, made by the Chief Justice on the 15th day of March, 1957, under section 9(2) of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance, Chapter 221, be approved.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.

The question was put and agreed to.

APPROPRIATION (1957-1958) BILL, 1957.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the First reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to apply a sum not exceeding five hundred and sixty-one million, one hundred and fifty-seven thousand, two hundred and eighty dollars to the Public Service of the financial year ending the 31st day of March, 1958."

He said: Sir, the purpose of this Bill is to set the seal of legislative approval to the Estimates of Expenditure which have just been approved.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.

The question was put and agreed to.

The Bill was read a First time.

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THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY: —As this is the last meeting of Council before the close of the financial year, it is desirable that Standing Orders should be suspended in order to enable this Bill to pass through all its remaining stages today. If, Sir, you are of that opinion I would beg leave to move the suspension of Standing Orders.

H. E. THE GOVERNOR: —I am of that opinion.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the suspension of Standing Orders to allow of the Appropriation (1957-58) Bill, 1957, being read a Second and Third time.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.

The question was put and agreed to.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the Second reading of the Appropriation (1957-58) Bill, 1957.

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, the preamble and the Schedule were agreed to. Council then resumed.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY reported that the Appropriation (1957-58) Bill, 1957 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.

PENSIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1957.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the Second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Pensions Ordinance, Chapter 89."

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THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 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 COLONIAL SECRETARY reported that the Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 1957 had passed through Committee without amendment and moved the Third reading.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL seconded.

The question was put and agreed to.

The Bill was read a Third time and passed.

BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION

(AMENDMENT) BILL, 1957.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the Second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance, Chapter 174."

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.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that the Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) Bill, 1957 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.

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REGISTRAR GENERAL (ESTABLISHMENT)

(AMENDMENT) BILL, 1957.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the Second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Registrar General (Establishment) Ordinance, Chapter 100."

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 Registrar General (Establishment) (Amendment) Bill, 1957 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: —May I suggest this day two weeks, Sir. H. E. THE GOVERNOR: —Council will adjourn to this day fortnight.