1957-11-06 — Page 1

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 257

OFFICIAL REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS.

Meeting of 6th November, 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 EDRIC MONTAGUE BASTYAN, K.B.E., C.B. 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. JOHN CRICHTON MCDOUALL.

THE HONOURABLE THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY

MR. JOHN JAMES COWPERTHWAITE (Acting).

THE HONOURABLE EDMUND BRINSLEY TEESDALE, M.C.

(Director of Urban Services).

THE HONOURABLE ALLAN INGLIS

(Director of Public Works).

DR. THE HONOURABLE GEORGE GRAHAM-CUMMING

(Acting Director of Medical and Health 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 DHUN JEHANGIR RUTTONJEE, O.B.E.

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. MAURICE DEREK SARGANT (Deputy Clerk of Councils).

ABSENT:

THE HONOURABLE DAVID CLIVE CROSBIE TRENCH, M.C.

(Commissioner of Labour).

THE HONOURABLE NGAN SHING-KWAN, O.B.E.

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 258

MINUTES.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 16th October, 1957, 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 Papers, 1957: —

No. 37—Annual Report by the Director of Commerce and

Industry for the year 1956/57.

No. 38—Annual Report by the Registrar, Supreme Court

for the year 1956/57.

No. 39—Annual Report by the Commissioner of Registration of Persons for the year 1956/57.

No. 40—Annual Report by the Commissioner of Rating and

Valuation for the year 1956/57.

Commonwealth Countries and Republic of Ireland (Immunities and Privileges) Ordinance, 1956.

Commonwealth Countries and Republic of Ireland (Immunities and Privileges) (Amendment of Schedules) Order, 1957 ........ A. 86.

Regulations governing the award of the Air Efficiency Award to Members of the Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force and the

Hong Kong Women's Auxiliary Air Force ....................................... A. 88.

Stamp Ordinance.

Stamp (Bank Authorization) (No. 3) Order, 1957 ........................... A. 89.

SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS FOR THE QUARTER ENDED 31ST MARCH, 1957.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the following resolution: —

Resolved that the Supplementary Provisions for the quarter ended 31st March, 1957, as set out in Schedule No. 5 of 1956/57 (Final), be approved.

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He said: This Schedule is the last one for the financial year 1956/57.

The figure of nearly $20 million seems high but the final schedule of the year is normally a large one because many of the recurrent votes on which expenditure is particularly difficult to estimate in advance become exhausted towards the end of the year. In this particular instance the sum is further swollen by a figure of $6 million for unallocated stores in the Stores Department; this does not represent final expenditure but an increase in stocks, particularly of building steel. Other major sums worthy of mention are $1,149,000 for special departmental expenditure in consequence of the Kowloon Disturbances and $2,440,000 for Tai Lam Chung work on which progressed rather faster than expected.

All the items have already been approved by the Finance Committee and the covering approval of this Council is now required.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.

The question was put and agreed to.

SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS FOR THE QUARTER ENDED 30TH JUNE, 1957.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the following resolution: —

Resolved that the Supplementary Provisions for the quarter ended 30th June, 1957, as set out in Schedule No. 1 of 1957/58, be approved.

He said: This is the first Schedule of the current financial year.

The only item of special interest is the provision of $1,750,000 for the purchase of two helicopters and equipment for their maintenance.

All the items have already been approved by the Finance Committee and now require the covering approval of this Council.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.

The question was put and agreed to.

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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 fortnight, Sir? H. E. THE GOVERNOR: —Council will adjourn to this day fortnight.