1960-04-20 — Page 1

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OFFICIAL REPORT TO PROCEEDINGS.

Meeting of 20th April, 1960.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT (PRESIDENT) MR. CLAUDE BRAMALL BURGESS, C.M.G., O.B.E.

HIS EXCELLENCY THE COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR EDRIC MONTAGUE BASTYAN, K.B.E., C.B. THE HONOURABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY

MR. DAVID CLIVE CROSBIE TRENCH, M.C. (Acting).

THE HONOURABLE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

MR. ARTHUR HOOTON, Q.C. (Acting).

THE HONOURABLE THE SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS

MR. JOHN CRICHTON MCDOUALL.

THE HONOURABLE THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY

MR. JOHN JAMES COWPERTHWAITE, O.B.E. (Acting).

THE HONOURABLE ALLAN INGLIS

(Director of Public Works).

DR. THE HONOURABLE DAVID JAMES MASTERTON MACKENZIE, C.M.G., O.B.E. (Director of Medical and Health Services).

THE HONOURABLE COLIN GEORGE MERVYN MORRISON

(Director of Urban Services).

THE HONOURABLE ROBERT MARSHALL HETHERINGTON, D.F.C. (Commissioner of Labour).

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

THE HONOURABLE KWOK CHAN, O.B.E.

THE HONOURABLE DHUN JEHANGIR RUTTONJEE, O.B.E.

THE HONOURABLE FUNG PING-FAN, O.B.E.

THE HONOURABLE RICHARD CHARLES LEE, O.B.E.

THE HONOURABLE KWAN CHO-YIU, O.B.E.

THE HONOURABLE GEORGE MACDONALD GOLDSACK.

MR. ANDREW MCDONALD CHAPMAN (Deputy Clerk of Councils).

ABSENT:

THE HONOURABLE HUGH DAVID MACEWEN BARTON, M.B.E.

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MINUTES.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 6th April, 1960 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.

Nurses Registration Ordinance.

Nurses Registration (Amendment) Regulations, 1960 ............... A. 30.

Telecommunication Ordinance.

Radiocommunication (Amendment) Regulations, 1960 ............ A. 31.

URBAN COUNCIL (COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT) ORDINANCE, 1954.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the following resolution: —

Resolved, pursuant to section 3 of the Urban Council (Commissioner for Resettlement) Ordinance, 1954, that the duration of the said Ordinance be extended for the term of one year with effect from the 30th April, 1960.

He said: The Urban Council (Commissioner for Resettlement) Ordinance, which was enacted in 1954, provides for the Commissioner for Resettlement to be temporarily an ex-officio member of the Urban Council. Section 3 provided that the Ordinance should continue in force for one year from the commencement, but gives power to this Council to extend its duration for periods not exceeding one year at a time. It has been so extended five times.

The Resettlement Department working under the general direction of the Urban Council, continues to make steady progress but, as was said in this Council recently, a great deal of work remains to be done in this field. The Commissioner will clearly have to continue to be a member of the Urban Council for some years to come.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL seconded.

The question was put and agreed to.

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SAMARITAN FUND—RESOLUTION.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the following resolution: —

WHEREAS it is considered advisable to standardize, so far as may be, with those of other similar Funds the conditions relating to the preparation, auditing and submission of the annual statement of the accounts of the Samaritan Fund which were approved by Resolution of this Council dated the 24th May, 1950, confirming and approving the conditions governing the administration of the said Fund, and specified in the Schedule to such Resolution;

NOW THEREFORE be it Resolved by this Council that the Schedule to the said Resolution dated the 24th May, 1950, be amended in the manner specified in the Schedule hereto.

SCHEDULE.

Paragraphs 5 and 6 of the Schedule to the Legislative Council Resolution dated the 24th May, 1950, confirming and approving the conditions governing the administration of the Samaritan Fund are cancelled and replaced by the following new paragraph—

"5. (1) The Principal Almoner shall cause proper accounts to be kept of all transactions of the Fund and shall cause to be prepared for every period of twelve months ending on the 31st day of March in each year a statement of the accounts of the Fund, which statement shall include an income and expenditure account and balance sheet and shall be signed by the Principal Almoner.

(2) The accounts of the Fund and the signed statement of the accounts shall be audited by an auditor appointed by the Governor and the auditor shall certify the statement subject to such report, if any, as he may think fit.

(3) A copy of the signed and audited statement of account together with the auditor's report, if any, and a report by the Principal Almoner on the administration of the Fund during the period covered by the audited accounts shall be laid on the Table of the Legislative Council not later than the 30th day of September next following the end of such period or so soon thereafter as the Governor, in his absolute discretion, may allow. ".

He said: Sir, the Director of Audit has suggested the standardization of the wording of the provisions relating to account and audit in the legislation and other instruments providing for the administration of trust and other similar funds. This resolution accordingly proposes amendments to this end to the resolution of this Council dated 24th May, 1950, confirming and approving the conditions governing the administration of the Samaritan Fund.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.

The question was put and agreed to.

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URBAN COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1960.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the First reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance further to amend the Urban Council Ordinance, 1955."

He said: Clause 4 of this Bill amends section 55 of the principal Ordinance to make it clear that the functions of the Urban Services Department are not limited solely to matters over which the Urban Council exercises control. The Urban Services Department has in fact, in the past, exercised such additional functions; for example in the maintenance of certain Government properties and in work on behalf of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. It has recently been decided, however, to extend the activities of the Urban Services Department to the New Territories, and this decision has made it desirable to put the relationship of the Urban Council and the Urban Services Department beyond doubt. The amendments to section 56 and section 58 of the principal Ordinance contained in clauses 5 and 7 respectively, are consequential changes which stem from the same decision.

Clauses 3 and 6 of the Bill amend sections 3 and 57 of the principal Ordinance to provide for the ex officio appointment to the Council of the Deputy Director of Medical & Health Services in place of the Assistant Director. This change arises from the secondment of an Assistant Director of Medical & Health Services to the staff of the Urban Services Department, in accordance with the recommendations of the Salaries Commission, and to replace the former Assistant Director on the Council with a more senior member of the Medical Department.

The proposed amendments have been agreed by the Urban Council. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL seconded.

The question was put and agreed to.

The Bill was read a First time.

Objects and Reasons.

The "Objects and Reasons" attached to the Bill were stated as follows: —

Amendment of the Urban Council Ordinance, 1955 (the principal Ordinance) has become necessary in two respects.

2. Firstly. By virtue of the provisions of section 3 of the principal Ordinance, the Assistant Director of Health Services is Vice-Chairman of the Urban Council and, by virtue of the provisions of section 57 of that Ordinance, he is the professional adviser to the Council in all medical matters, including matters of public health and sanitation,

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and is responsible for the enforcement and observance of all enactments relating to public health. With effect from the 1st April, 1960, the establishment of the Medical and Health Department has been changed by the creation of three posts of Assistant Director of Medical and Health Services in lieu of the two posts of Assistant Director of Health Services and Assistant Director of Medical Services. One of the new Assistant Directors of Medical and Health Services will be seconded to the Urban Services Department and will, inter alia, be responsible for those duties of the former Assistant Director of Health Services which pertained to the work of the Urban Council and of that Department. It is not considered appropriate that this Assistant Director of Medical and Health Services, who will be on the staff of the Urban Services Department, should be the Vice-Chairman of the Urban Council, and it has been decided that the Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services shall, for the future, be the Vice Chairman of, and the professional adviser to, the Council. The effect of the provisions of clause 3 is to provide that the Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services shall be an ex officio member, and Vice-Chairman, of the Council in lieu of the Assistant Director of Health Services, and the effect of the provisions of clause 6 is that that officer shall be the professional adviser to the Council in the matters with respect to which the Assistant Director of Health Services is at present the adviser. It will be observed that the provisions of section 57 relating to the superintendence of the enforcement and observance of enactments relating to public health have been omitted. The Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services will not be responsible for these matters, and, since an Assistant Director of Medical and Health Services will in future be on the staff of the Urban Services Department, it is considered unnecessary to make statutory provision in that regard.

Though it is not intended that this change in the constitution of the Urban Council shall be long delayed, it is desired that there shall be as little interruption as possible in the continuity of the experienced advice which is available to the Council in medical matters. For this reason, it is not possible to forecast with certainty when it will be most opportune to make this change. Clause 8 of the Bill provides, therefore, that clauses 3 and 6 shall not come into operation until the day appointed by the Governor.

3. Secondly. It has been decided that the Urban Services Department shall assume responsibility in the New Territories for all those matters for which it is responsible in the urban areas of the Colony. With effect from the 1st April, 1960, the Department has assumed responsibility for such of those matters as do not require statutory authority, and it will assume responsibility for matters which require such authority as and when it is administratively convenient and the necessary legislation is enacted. This enlargement of the functions of the Urban

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Services Department has necessitated the amendment of certain sections of the principal Ordinance which make provision with respect to the functions, administration and officers of that Department.

(a) Section 55 of the principal Ordinance. Doubts have arisen as to whether, as this section stands, the Urban Services Department may perform any functions other than functions in relation to matters over which the Urban Council exercises control. It was never intended that the section should be restrictive of the functions of that Department which is, and has always been, a department of Government in no different position from any other such department, though a particularly close relationship has always obtained between the Department and the Urban Council. It is not intended that there shall be any change whatever in this close relationship, but it is considered desirable, in view of the proposed extension of its activities, to amend this section in order to make it clear that the Department is not restricted to the performance of functions in respect of matters over which the Urban Council exercise control. Clause 4 makes the necessary provisions by the repeal and replacement of this section.

(b) Section 56 of the principal Ordinance. This section provides, inter alia, for the appointment of health officers, health inspectors and other officers of the Urban Services Department. Some of these officers will, in future, be carrying out duties in the New Territories, and it is considered no longer suitable that they should be appointed under the principal Ordinance. Clause 5 amends this section by the deletion therefrom of the provisions which provide for the appointment of these officers. No statutory authority is necessary to authorize their appointment, and it is not intended to replace these provisions.

(c) Section 58 of the principal Ordinance. This section provides, inter alia, that the Chairman of the Urban Council shall be responsible for the general administration of the Urban Services Department. Since the jurisdiction of the Urban Council does not extend beyond the urban areas, the exercise by that Department of functions in the New Territories cannot be subject to control and direction by the Chairman of the Council. Clause 7 amends this section by the deletion therefrom of these provisions.

REGISTRATION OF PERSONS BILL, 1960.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the First reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to provide for the registration of persons in the Colony, for the issue of identity cards and for purposes connected therewith."

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He said: Sir, this legislation when enacted will enable a new Hong Kong Registration of Persons scheme to be brought into effect.

The Registration of Persons system has now come to be well accepted in Hong Kong and, judging by the voluntary manner in which applicants come forward in large numbers for registration it would appear that the existence of Identity Cards is found to be useful and valuable. The need to improve the present system was, however, recognized by the Government some time ago; following which, much detailed work was required. The preparations necessary for the introduction of the new scheme have, however, now been made, and the Bill now before Council will enable the new arrangements to go ahead.

The intention is to carry out a complete re-registration of the population over a period of 3-4 years. Registration will be compulsory, and all persons registered will receive a new type of identity card, laminated in plastic, which will be simple, durable and convenient to handle in place of the present coloured cards issued by the Commissioner of Registration. Under the new scheme, employers will be relieved of their responsibilities in connexion with the registration of their employees. Arrangements have been made to extend exemption to the immediate families of members of Her Majesty's Forces and to the aged and infirm, and the general intention is to provide a much more convenient service to the public through a number of small offices to be provided in the urban areas. The Commissioner will also eventually have at his disposal three specially-designed mobile registration and photography units. One each of these vehicles will regularly visit sites in the urban areas of Hong Kong and Kowloon, and a third will be used exclusively for residents of the New Territories. All offices will be open for business throughout the day and it is probable that, once the new arrangements have been introduced, it will be possible to extend the normal working hours further.

New arrangements for the registration of children and young persons under the age of 17 will be introduced with the new scheme. At present children are registered at the age of 12 and a card bearing a photograph is issued at this age. Experience has however shown that these cards are often of little value as permanent identity documents, since during the years of adolescence facial characteristics change rapidly, and names are commonly changed during the same period. Under the new scheme the age for first compulsory registration has been fixed at six years and a small and very much simplified card has been specially designed for children between the ages of 6 and 17 years. Parents may however register their children voluntarily below the age of 6 years, the purpose of this being to allow a whole family to register at the one time. On attaining the age of 17 years a young person will complete an application form for him or herself and obtain an adult identity card, bearing a photograph.

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Two difficulties always present themselves in recording Chinese names in Hong Kong. In the first place, it is quite normal customarily to use more than one name in everyday life and, second, there is the difficulty of varying romanizations. To overcome these two difficulties, an adult will be asked to choose the name in which he wishes to be registered and which he wishes to use for "formal" purposes: this name will be shown on the new card, and he will thereafter be expected to use this name in all his official dealings with Government. It is hoped that strengthening the value of the Identity Card by this device will make it possible to simplify gradually a number of the forms, licences and so on which are currently needed. In the second place, while the identity card will show a Chinese name spelt in the Roman letters chosen by the owner, the official record of the name will be made using the Chinese Telegraph Code, the numbers of which will also appear on the card.

In addition to these improvements, it is also intended that the present procedure prescribed by the Emergency (Registration of British Subjects) Regulations should be amended. These Regulations require British subjects to complete a separate form and register with the Director of Manpower. The new Registration of Persons legislation will enable all the information required by the Director of Manpower, as well as the Commissioner of Registration, to be completed at the same time on one form.

The new form on which application for registration must be made is intended to include as much useful information as possible, not only for registration purposes, but also for jury service and electoral purposes.

The cost of this new scheme is going to be heavy, but I feel the improvements which come into effect as the scheme gradually settles down will merit the increased cost. Considerable extraneous use of the Identity Cards, not connected with any official matter, is now made; and in view of this and the heavy expense, it is now felt that the time has come to make some charge for Identity Cards. I would further point out that the more expensive but much more durable Card which will now be issued will relieve many people from the necessity of replacing worn-out Cards at considerable cost. Accordingly, a fee of $1 is proposed for every Adult Identity Card issued under the new scheme. Provision is, however, included for waiving the fee in suitable cases, and, moreover no charge will be made for the registration of children below 17 years of age.

The enactment of the Bill, Sir, will enable these changes to be put into effect, and it is intended that the new scheme should begin as from 1st June, 1960. I must emphasize however that in the first instance it will in practice apply only to those adults who are not yet registered

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(that is, new arrivals in the Colony and young persons living here who reach the age of 17 years), and to persons who require to replace or renew their existing cards. In the meantime cards issued under the present legislation will remain valid until they are replaced.

As experience is gained the scheme will be applied progressively to other groups of persons until the whole re-registration has been effected. Arrangements will be made to keep the public fully informed of what is required of them, and I stress that, for the present and until informed to the contrary, no one who has an Identity Card already need take any action whatever.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 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: —

In the year 1955 Government appointed an Ad Hoc Committee to consider, amongst other things, the following—

(a) the whole existing Registration of Persons system and the making of recommendations for its improvement, including amendments to the Registration of Persons Ordinance, Chapter 177, and subsidiary legislation made thereunder;

(b) all other existing systems of personal identification and to make recommendations as to what extent they can be simplified for the convenience of the public by coupling them with the Registration of Persons system.

2. Towards the end of 1955, the Committee recommended that the present registration system was faulty and required radical revision. A gradual re registration over a 3 to 3½ year period was recommended, based on the issue of a new type of identity card, laminated in plastic to prevent damage and to discourage forgery by amendment. The introduction of identity cards for children, the charge of a small fee for the issue of adults' cards, the elimination of registration through employers and the maximum use of photographic methods of record-keeping were amongst other major recommendations.

3. Legislation designed to meet the above, and other requirements, had been drafted and held in readiness pending the arrival, and experience gained in the handling of, the necessary machinery. Those responsible for putting the machinery in motion are now conversant with its working and the enactment of the Registration of Persons Ordinance, 1960, and the Registration of Persons Regulations, 1960, made thereunder is now considered necessary.

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4. Clause 1 contains the usual citation and commencent provision.

5. Clause 2 empowers the Governor to make appointments of officers for the purposes of the Bill.

6. Clause 3 provides for the compulsory registration of persons. It also permits the Governor, if administrative convenience so requires, to direct that such registration of all persons shall be effected progressively in the manner stated in the clause.

7. Clause 4 facilitates the admissibility in any court of documents and photostat copies as evidence.

8. Clause 5 is an innovation which requires a person of the appropriate age to use in all dealings with Government the personal name and surname by which he elected to be registered.

9. Clauses 6 and 7 deal with powers of search and arrest, which are considered necessary provisions in legislation of this nature.

10. Clause 8 empowers the Governor in Council to make regulations and prescribe penalties for infringements.

11. Clause 9 gives the Legislative Council power to suspend or revive the operation of the Bill.

12. Clause 10 repeals the present Registration of Persons Ordinance, Chapter 177, and contains provisions to cover the period of transition.

EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS FUND (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1960.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the First reading of a Bill intituled “An Ordinance to amend the Education Scholarships Fund Ordinance, 1955.”

He said: Sir, the amendments proposed by this Bill are directed towards standardizing the wording of the provisions relating to account and audit contained in the Education Scholarships Fund Ordinance with those contained in other trust and similar funds established by legislation.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.

The question was put and agreed to.

The Bill was read a First time,

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Objects and Reasons.

The "Objects and Reasons" for the Bill were stated as follows: —

The purpose of this Bill is to introduce amendments to the Education Scholarships Fund Ordinance, 1955, in order, so far as may be, to standardize with those of other similar funds the provisions relating to the preparation, auditing and submission of the annual statement of accounts of the Education Scholarships Fund.

2. The principal amendment, other than as to form, will be to transfer the ultimate responsibility for the preparation and submission of the annual statement of the accounts of the Fund from the treasurer to the trustee of the Fund where it should properly lie.

ARMS AND AMMUNITION (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1960.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the First reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance further to amend the Arms and Ammunition Ordinance, Chapter 238."

He said: Sir, the Arms and Ammunition Ordinance forbids the possession and carriage of firearms and certain other deadly weapons by members of the public unless they have a permit from the Commissioner of Police. This of course is a very necessary provision for the preservation of public order.

Sir, in recent times new instruments capable of being used as deadly weapons when perpetrating crimes of violence have been produced and indeed have so been used in this Colony. These weapons are sometimes referred to as "spring" knives and the purpose of this Bill is to outlaw them in the same way as the other deadly weapons to which the Ordinance already applies. In clause 2 they are referred to as "flick knives" and "gravity knives". A "flick knife" is defined as "a knife which has a blade which opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in or attached to the handle of the knife". A "gravity knife" is defined as "a knife which has a blade which is released from the handle or sheath thereof by the force of gravity or the application of centrifugal force and which, when released, is locked in place by means of a button, spring, lever, or other device". These definitions follow those contained in the Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act, 1959, which prohibits the making and disposal of these knives in the United Kingdom. If this Bill becomes law, as I trust it will in approximately one month's time, the unauthorized possession of flick knives and gravity knives will be an offence punishable with life imprisonment, and therefore persons now in possession of them may be strongly advised to hand them in to the nearest police station as

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soon as possible. Dealers holding stocks of these knives may of course, in the alternative, make arrangements for their export from the Colony in the interval before the Bill becomes law.

The opportunity has also been taken in this Bill to suggest certain minor amendments to the principal Ordinance including empowering the Commissioner of Police to grant days of grace, not exceeding 15, for the renewal of licences and also making the provisions concerning the issue of search warrants for arms and ammunition applicable to aircraft.

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: —

The Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act, 1959, (7 and 8 Eliz. 2, c. 37) was enacted in England on the 14th May, 1959, to amend the law in relation to the making and disposing and importation of flick knives and other dangerous weapons.

2. As there is a danger that flick knives and gravity knives in the hands of unscrupulous persons may be employed for unlawful purposes, it is considered advisable to bring such knives within the ambit of the Arms and Ammunition Ordinance, Chapter 238. Such purpose is achieved by expanding the definition "arms" in subsection (1) of section 2 of the Ordinance and the addition of two new definitions. This is effected by clause 2.

3. In order to permit the Commissioner of Police to grant days of grace in respect of renewal of licences, clause 3 amends section 3.

4. Opportunity has also been taken by clause 4 to insert the word "aircraft" in the appropriate place in subsection (4) of section 4 in order to correct an obvious omission and to substitute the word "nation" for the word "state" to conform with the expression used in section 17 of the Ordinance.

5. The amendments made to sections 15(1), 17, 22 and 32 by clauses 5, 6, 7 and 9 respectively are primarily for the purpose of making the provisions of these sections applicable to aircraft. Subsection (1) of section 15 has, however, been recast to make it easier to read. As "port of Victoria" is not defined in the Ordinance, clause 6 introduces a definition thereof.

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6. The amendment effected by clause 8 brings the local legislation into line with section 23(5) of the Firearms Act, 1937 (1 Edw. 8 and 1 Geo. 6 c. 12).

7. Clause 10 makes consequential amendments to the sections of the Ordinance enumerated therein because of the amendments contained in clauses 5, 6 and 7.

DANGEROUS DRUGS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1960.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the Second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, Chapter 134."

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 9 were agreed to.

Council then resumed.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill, 1960 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.

J. E. JOSEPH TRUST FUND (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1960.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the Second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the J. E. Joseph Trust Fund Ordinance, 1954."

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 and 2 were agreed to.

Council then resumed.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that the J. E. Joseph Trust Fund (Amendment) Bill, 1960 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.

WEDDING GIFT FOR HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE

PRINCESS MARGARET.

MR. NGAN SHING-KWAN moved the following resolution: —

Resolved that this Council do approve the allocation from public funds of the sum of $50,000 for the purchase of a gift to be presented by the Colony for the acceptance of Her Royal Highness the Princess Margaret on the occasion of her marriage.

He said: Sir, there is little which I need add to the sentiments underlying this resolution, which has the support of all my Unofficial Colleagues and which I am confident will be entirely acceptable to this Council.

The approaching marriage of Her Royal Highness the Princess Margaret has given rise to great rejoicing throughout the Commonwealth, and it is fitting therefore that this loyal Colony should mark so auspicious an occasion in an appropriate manner. My Unofficial Colleagues and I accordingly propose that a suitable presentation should be made which will serve to emphasize the loyal congratulations of the residents of Hong Kong and their continuing good wishes for the future: also that Her Royal Highness should be invited to indicate the manner in which the sum provided should be expended.

In asking Your Excellency to accept this motion and, if accepted, to present the Colony's gift to Her Royal Highness, my Unofficial Colleagues and I would like to express the wish—which is shared by the whole Colony—that Her Royal Highness may find in her married life, all the happiness which she has so amply deserved.

MR. DHUN J. RUTTONJEE seconded.

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H. E. THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT: —Honourable Members, before I put this motion to the vote I should simply like to say that Government accepts it wholeheartedly and I am sure that the motion well expresses the sense of loyalty which Hong Kong feels to Her Majesty and to the members of her family. If this motion is carried I shall endeavour to ascertain as soon as possible the wishes of Her Royal Highness the Princess Margaret in the matter and, whatever those wishes may be, I am confident that Hong Kong's present will be accompanied by the warmest of good wishes for the enduring happiness of Her Royal Highness in her married life.

The question was put and agreed to.

ADJOURNMENT.

H. E. THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT: —That concludes our business for today, gentlemen. When is it your pleasure that we should meet again?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL: —Sir, may I suggest this day fortnight.

H. E. THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT: —Council stands adjourned to this day fortnight.