HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL—23rd April 1969. 247
OFFICIAL REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS
Sitting of 23rd April 1969
MR PRESIDENT in the Chair
PRESENT
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR (PRESIDENT)
SIR DAVID (CLIVE CROSBIE) TRENCH, GCMG, MC.
THE HONOURABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY
SIR HUGH (SELBY) NORMAN-WALKER, KCMG, OBE
THE HONOURABLE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
MR DENYS TUDOR EMIL ROBERTS, OBE, QC
THE HONOURABLE THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS
MR DAVID RONALD HOLMES, CBE, MC, ED
THE HONOURABLE THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY
SIR JOHN (JAMES) COWPERTHWAITE, KBE, CMG
DR THE HONOURABLE TENG PIN-HUI, CMG, OBE
DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
THE HONOURABLE WILLIAM DAVID GREGG, CBE
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
THE HONOURABLE ROBERT MARSHALL HETHERINGTON, DFC COMMISSIONER OF LABOUR
THE HONOURABLE DAVID RICHARD WATSON ALEXANDER, MBE DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES
THE HONOURABLE GEORGE TIPPETT ROWE
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE
THE HONOURABLE JAMES JEAVONS ROBSON
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
THE HONOURABLE DONALD COLLIN CUMYN LUDDINGTON
DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, NEW TERRITORIES
THE HONOURABLE FUNG HON-CHU, OBE
THE HONOURABLE TSE YU-CHUEN, OBE
THE HONOURABLE KENNETH ALBERT WATSON, OBE
THE HONOURABLE WOO PAK-CHUEN, OBE
THE HONOURABLE WILFRED WONG SIEN-BING, OBE
THE HONOURABLE ELLEN LI SHU-PUI, OBE
THE HONOURABLE WILSON WANG TZE-SAM
THE HONOURABLE HERBERT JOHN CHARLES BROWNE
DR THE HONOURABLE CHUNG SZE-YUEN, OBE
THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL ALEXANDER ROBERT HERRIES, OBE, MC THE HONOURABLE LEE QUO-WEI
THE HONOURABLE ANN TSE-KAI
ABSENT
THE HONOURABLE DAVID HAROLD JORDAN, MBE
DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
THE HONOURABLE KAN YUET-KEUNG, CBE
IN ATTENDANCE
THE DEPUTY CLERK OF COUNCILS
MR DONALD BARTON
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL—23rd April 1969. 248
OATH
MR D. C. C. LUDDINGTON made the Oath of Allegiance and assumed his seat as a Member of the Council.
HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT: —May I welcome Mr LUDDINGTON to this Council, and Mr ANN back to this Council.
PAPERS
The following papers were laid pursuant to Standing Order No 14(2): — Subject LN No
Subsidiary Legislation:
Buildings Ordinance.
Building (Administration) (Amendment) Regulations
1969 ......................................................... .................. 51
Buildings Ordinance.
Building (Construction) (Amendment) Regulations
1969 ......................................................... ................. 52
Buildings Ordinance.
Building (Lifts) (Amendment) Regulations 1969 .............. 53
Buildings Ordinance.
Building (Planning) (Amendment) Regulations 1969 54
Public Order Ordinance.
Military Installations Closed Areas Order 1969 ................ 55
Protected Places (Safety) Ordinance.
Protected Places Declaration Order 1969 ........................... 56 Sessional Papers 1969: —
No 9—Annual Report by the Director of Audit for the financial year ended 31st March 1968.
No 10—Despatch No 476 of 1969 to the Secretary of State on the Report of the Director of Audit for the financial year ended 31st March 1968.
No 11—Certificate of the Director General of the Overseas Audit Service on the accounts of Hong Kong for the year ended 31st March 1968.
Report: —
Report of the Compensation Board 1967.
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL—23rd April 1969. 249
QUESTIONS
Tram brake lights
1. MR FUNG HON-CHU asked the following question: —
Will Government consider legislation to require trams to carry red brake lights at the rear?
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL: —Sir, this proposal was considered in 1962 by the Traffic Advisory Committee which concluded that legislation to oblige tramcars to fix braking lights was not justified.
Such evidence as is available suggests that few, if any, accidents involving tramcars would have been avoided if such lights had been fixed.
The Government therefore sees no reason to differ from the Traffic Advisory Committee's views.
MR FUNG: —Isn't there any greater risk of accident when a tram without a brake light stops at a stop not built with an island, of when it makes an emergency stop to avoid collision with other vehicles or pedestrians?
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL: —In theory perhaps, the danger would seem to be somewhat greater but, as I have said, such evidence as we have suggests that few accidents could be attributed to this. I might perhaps also point out that a tram is a very large object and, even though there may not be braking lights, the vehicle itself is lit up. To impose such an obligation on tramcars would also mean imposing an obligation which does not exist in the case of ordinary motor vehicles either.
Railway terminus
2. MR FUNG: —
With reference to my honourable Friend, Mr ROBSON's reply to the question of taxi congestion at the Kowloon Star Ferry Concourse at the last sitting*, will he give us a progress report on the proposed plan to move the railway terminus to Hung Hom?
MR J. J. ROBSON: —Sir, as a first step in the move of the Tsim Sha Tsui railway terminus to Hung Hom, new railway workshops have been built at Ho Tung Lau north of Sha Tin which are now fully operational. New service facilities, i.e. carriage washing sheds, running
* Page 223.
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL—23rd April 1969. 250
[MR ROBSON] Questions
sheds, turntable, oil storage tanks, etc have also been built in their permanent positions on the reclamation at Hung Hom so that they can serve both the present terminus at Tsim Sha Tsui and the future terminus. In addition arrangements have been made for the temporary and permanent accommodation of the railway staff when their present houses at Hung Horn are demolished. We are thus almost ready to demolish the old railway workshop facilities which will give the land required to realign Chatham Road and divert the main railway line under it to the new terminus on the Hung Hom Reclamation.
Honourable Members will be aware that in order to make maximum use of this valuable site a study was made of the feasibility of building over the new terminus and developing it as a residential area complete with schools, car parks, etc. Following this study the report was considered by Executive Council in 1967 but no firm recommendations could be made pending decisions on the Cross Harbour Tunnel and receipt of the report of the Mass Transport Consultants.
This will be one of the focal points of the Colony's communication systems: a focal point for buses, ferries, railways, the cross harbour tunnel and, if constructed, the underground railway; and it is now quite evident that the area over the terminal should NOT be developed for residential purposes.
Nevertheless, because of its central location there is still a need to make maximum use of the site and a plan has now been prepared within the Public Works Department which shows a possible development over the railway station at a podium level and its relation with and access to the other developments which are planned at Hung Hom.
The firm proposals for the use of the area are the Colony Postal Sorting Office and the railway station building, and it is the likely site of the indoor stadium. The other possible developments, which have yet to be finally agreed, include a bus terminus, a multi-storey car park over the station building and future passenger ferry piers.
Besides the main road link from the podium level to Chatham Road, two further high level road connections are proposed—one over the cross harbour tunnel toll plaza to Austin Road, and the other to Gillies Avenue.
It is hoped to have this plan approved later this year and then, subject to the approval of funds by Finance Committee, the preliminary contracts for the scheme will be let.
MR FUNG: —Thank you, Sir.
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STATEMENTS
Report of the Compensation Board 1967
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY: —Sir, in August, 1967, a Compensation Board was appointed to consider applications for ex-gratia payments from the dependants of persons killed and from persons incapacitated as a result of injuries received, while carrying on their customary work during the disturbances. Later, in February 1968, the Board was invited also to consider applications for ex-gratia payments, on grounds of hardship, for personal injury to those persons not falling within the original terms of reference and for damage to property.
At Government's request the Board also considered claims outside its terms of reference and advised what its recommendations would have been had they been covered. Such advice was sought to enable special cases to be sympathetically considered on an ad hoc basis with a view to making separate recommendations to Finance Committee.
On the basis of the Board's recommendations made within its original and additional terms of reference, Finance Committee has approved ex-gratia payments totalling rather over $700,000. With regard to special cases falling outside the Board's terms of reference, Finance Committee has approved ex gratia payments of just under $95,000.
The Government, Sir, is most appreciative of the efficient and painstaking manner in which members of the Board, under the able chairmanship of Judge T. L. YANG, carried out its work. Printed copies of its report have been tabled today for the information of honourable Members*.
Factories and Industrial Undertakings (First Aid
in Registrable Workplaces) Regulations 1968
MR R. M. HETHERINGTON: —Sir, the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (First Aid in Registrable Workplaces) Regulations 1968 were approved by this Council, by resolution, on 23rd August 1968†. One of the regulations requires that, in any registrable workplace, the team of responsible persons in charge of first aid boxes must include at least one person trained in first aid for each 100, or part of 100, employees after the first 100 employees. The date on which this regulation comes into effect was deferred until 1st October 1969 to give adequate time for the training of sufficient first aiders between August of last year and October of this year.
* Page 248.
† 1968 Hansard, pages 361-3
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[MR HETHERINGTON] Factories and Industrial Undertakings (First Aid in Registrable Workplaces) Regulations 1968
I estimated that 2,500 trained first aiders would be required by industry to comply with this regulation. I also estimated that 1,500 qualified persons were already employed. I said that the short-fall of 1,000 could be trained in classes organized by the St John Ambulance Association if candidates came forward fairly evenly throughout the year.
My honourable Friend, Dr CHUNG, disputed my estimates and advanced arguments in support of his calculation of a short-fall of 2,900. While not accepting this higher figure, I suggested in reply, that we both would probably have to revise our figures*. I thought that, about six months later, we should be in a better position to judge the response of managements and the outstanding demands for trained first aiders.
These six months have passed since I spoke but I regret to say that the position is not much clearer. In 1968, there were 558 candidates for first-aid courses and, in the first two months or so of 1969, there were another 385. These, totalling 943, would still not supply, allowing for estimated failures, the lower target of 1,000 which I set. However, I am not able to discover to what extent managements have satisfied themselves that they will be able to comply with the relevant regulation when it comes into operation on 1st October 1969. There is still time for them to examine the position in their factories and to arrange for the training of sufficient candidates in the next five months or so. I appeal to them to do so urgently and to seek advice and help from the Senior Industrial Health Officer of the Labour Department.
There are two factors which may affect the situation. One is the considerable expansion in the industrial labour force since August 1968 which will have increased the number of trained first aiders required by those factories employing more workers. Some factories may now come within the scope of the regulation for the first time by having over 100 workers. Other factories may need more trained first aiders for their larger staffs. The other factor, which is disturbing, is that the failure rate in recent courses has been 57% whereas, in my calculations, an allowance of only 20% was made for failures.
I am sure that it is acceptable to the community that there should be adequate first aid facilities in workplaces. Officers of the Labour Department are willing and eager to assist in ensuring that they are
* 1968 Hansard, page 365.
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL—23rd April 1969. 253
available. If there are any difficulties in providing them, I seek the co-operation of managements in telling me of their problems. Otherwise, the department cannot help. As far as trained first aiders are concerned there is still time to train candidates but they must come forward now. I urge all managements of factories and industrial undertakings to review their arrangements for complying with the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (First Aid in Registrable Workplaces) Regulations 1968 and to seek assistance from the Industrial Health division of the Labour Department where it is required.
MOTION
Supplementary Provisions for the Quarter ended
31st December 1968
Council went into committee to consider the motion standing in the name of the Financial Secretary, pursuant to Standing Order No 58(2).
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved that: —This Council approves the Proposes set out in Paper No 14 /1A.
He said: —Sir, the schedule of supplementary provision for the third quarter of the 1968-69 financial year $38.2 million. Of this sum $23.5 million was required for Public Works Non-Recurrent, of which $5.6 million was required for new projects and $13.3 million for accelerated progress on a wide range of other projects. An extra $2.2 million was required for the relief and public assistance vote of the Social Welfare Department as a consequence of changes in qualifying conditions and benefits. $1.4 million was voted to meet the cost of the newly formed Transport Department which was formerly a branch of the Colonial Secretariat.
All the items in the schedule have been approved by Finance Committee and the covering approval of this Council is now sought.
Question put and agreed to.
Council then resumed.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY reported that the motion had been agreed to in committee without amendment.
Question agreed pursuant to Standing Order No 58(4).
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Public Latrines (Cancellation) By-laws 1969
MR D. R. W. ALEXANDER moved the following resolution: —
Resolved, pursuant to section 144 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, that the Public Latrines (Cancellation) By laws 1969, made by the Urban Council on the 1st day of April 1969 under section 35 of that Ordinance, be approved.
He said: —Sir, the purpose of the Public Latrines (Cancellation) By-laws 1969, which were made by the Urban Council on 1st April, is to rescind outdated By-laws which relate to a situation which no longer exists—whereby public latrines were operated by private contractors.
Question put and agreed to.
BANK NOTES ISSUE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1969
BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1969
RESETTLEMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1969
Bills read the first time and ordered to be set down for second reading pursuant to Standing Order No 41(3).
BANK NOTES ISSUE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1969
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the second reading of: —"A bill to amend further the Bank Notes Issue Ordinance."
He said: —Sir, for a number of years it has been the practice of some banks as well as certain other commercial concerns such as department stores to sell what are known as "gift cheques" or "gift coupons". These provide a convenient and attractive method of making cash gifts on special occasions. When they are issued by other than banks they cause no concern, but the special nature of banks can give them a special status which has caused a degree of concern. But, again, when issued by banks payable to a named person and not negotiable, no exception can be taken to them as they are no more than cashier cheques. The potential trouble arises when they are issued by banks to bearer or with no payee's name inserted. They then take on the nature of banknotes and can circulate as currency.
There is a further point that cheques bear stamp duty of 20 cents whereas banknotes properly attract a duty of 1½% which would perhaps be rather high for gift coupons; although, in that like more generally
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recognized banknotes, these gift cheques afford the issuer an interest free loan during their currency, they should properly bear the same rate of duty as the fiduciary issues of the note-issuing banks.
The Bank Notes Issue Ordinance regulates the issue of banknotes in the Colony. Apart from the small fiduciary issues, all notes must be backed by assets made available to the Exchange Fund, which maintains a backing of 105%. However, it is uncertain whether the present definition of a banknote in this Ordinance covers these gift coupons or cheques and the purpose of this amending bill is to put it beyond doubt that the Ordinance does apply so as to control them. There is, of course, no intention of permitting the issue of banknotes under the Ordinance by any other than the existing three note-issuing banks.
In introducing this amendment, I am not suggesting that in practice, at present at least, the issue of bearer gift coupons by banks constitutes any grave danger of currency inflation. But the Banking Advisory Committee has advised, and we agree, that it is undesirable as a matter of principle to allow their continued issue.
There are three other points. Firstly, in order to give banks which are at present issuing gift coupons and cheques in favour of bearer time to comply with the amended legislation, it is provided that the amendment should come into operation on a date to be appointed by Your Excellency and notified in the Gazette. Secondly, the three note-issuing banks have undertaken not to make use of their note-issuing powers to issue gift coupons or cheques in favour of bearer in addition to their ordinary banknotes; none of them have in fact ever done so. Thirdly, the amending legislation does not affect gift coupons and cheques issued by banks in favour of named persons nor gift coupons in any form issued by firms or persons which are not banks.
Question proposed.
Motion made (pursuant to Standing Order No 30). That the debate on the second reading of the bill be adjourned—THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.
Question put and agreed to.
Explanatory Memorandum
The object of this Bill is to remove doubt as to whether gift coupons payable to bearer on demand which are issued by a number of banks in the Colony are bank notes for the purposes of section 4 of the Ordinance. Section 4 makes it unlawful for any bank "to make, issue, or circulate within the Colony bank notes payable to bearer on demand, except with the sanction of
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Bank Notes Issue (Amendment) Bill—second reading
[Explanatory Memorandum]
the Secretary of State signified through the Governor". It is considered desirable that gift coupons payable to bearer on demand should be brought within the ambit of section 4. This would be achieved by the amendment in this Bill which seeks to apply section 4 of the Ordinance to any bill of exchange or promissory note payable to bearer on demand.
BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1969
MR J. J. ROBSON moved the second reading of: —"A bill to amend further the Buildings Ordinance."
He said: —Sir, the objects and reasons of the bill before Council to amend the Buildings Ordinance are so adequately covered by the explanatory memorandum that I think it is only necessary for me to enlarge upon its most important features.
The amendment to section 16 of the Buildings Ordinance described in clause 3 of the bill makes reference to Buildings (Planning) Regulation 49. On May the 3rd this regulation will be revoked and replaced by a new regulation which states that, unless exempted by the Building Authority, no building shall be used both for domestic purposes and for either the manufacture or storage of substances and articles classified as dangerous goods under the Dangerous Goods Ordinance, or for certain other uses specified in the regulation. In granting exemptions under this regulation the Building Authority may prescribe structural or other requirements designed to safeguard the rest of the building.
With the passing of this amending bill therefore and the coming into force of the new Buildings (Planning) Regulation 49, the Building Authority will not only have powers to prevent properties being used both for domestic purposes and the dangerous uses specified, but will also be able to reject plans for new building works when it appears to him that the proposed use of the building would contravene Planning Regulation 49.
Honourable Members will be aware of the need for these powers, but I should like to assure them that other than in exceptional circumstances it would not be my intention to force existing dispensaries and motor repair shops out of premises which are also used domestically.
There have been a number of occasions in recent years when site formation, excavation for foundations or piling has undermined the adjacent street causing it to collapse. Clause 4 of the bill provides that
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in future the Building Authority can insist that the measures described in the Buildings Ordinance for safeguarding adjoining property, when building work is in progress, will also be adopted to safeguard adjoining streets.
Clause 5 provides that a temporary occupation permit may be issued in respect of the whole of a building. It is thought desirable for the Building Authority to give such permission in cases where, for example, the approved plans show a number of buildings as part of a comprehensive scheme and one or more of the buildings is completed first. There would also be no objection to the issue of a temporary occupation permit where, for example, a building had been completed but site formation or street works common to all development on the site, but not relating to the building in question, were outstanding.
Clause 7 provides that compensation shall be paid by Government to the owner of a building who is required to alter or remove any projection such as a balcony, erected over a public street or unleased Crown land. At present compensation is only payable in respect of projections over private streets. The need for this amendment came to light when considering objections under the Street (Alterations) Ordinance to the construction of an elevated road in Tsing Fung Street which requires the removal of the lower balconies of certain buildings. A number of elevated roads and flyovers are now under construction and more are planned for the future and this amendment will enable compensation to be paid when the balconies of adjacent properties are affected.
Question proposed.
Motion made (pursuant to Standing Order No 30). That the debate on the second reading of the bill be adjourned—THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.
Question put and agreed to.
Explanatory Memorandum
Clause 2 amends section 4 of the principal Ordinance by providing a simplified procedure for the appointment of an alternative authorized architect in cases where the authorized architect originally appointed is temporarily unable to act through illness or absence from Hong Kong.
Clause 3 amends section 16 of the Ordinance—
(a) by enabling the Building Authority to refuse his approval of plans of building works where the proposed user of the building would result in a contravention of Planning Regulation 49; and
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Buildings (Amendment) Bill—second reading
[Explanatory Memorandum]
(b) by defining more precisely the extent to which the power conferred by section 16(3)(d) on the Building Authority does not extend to plans which are referred to in an exclusion order made under the Landlord and Tenant Ordinance.
Clause 4 enables the Building Authority to impose conditions subject to which works may be carried out, being conditions which he considers necessary to avoid danger to streets.
The object of clause 5 is to enable the Building Authority to issue a temporary occupation permit in respect of the whole as well as part of a building. This is considered desirable since in a number of cases an occupation certificate cannot issue for a variety of reasons, but nevertheless there is no good reason why the building should not be occupied.
The provisions of section 27 of the principal Ordinance regarding notice of expiry of a Closure Order are considered unsatisfactory and clause 6 seeks to remedy this by providing that the notice should be given not only by posting the same upon the building, but also by requiring the owner to serve copies of such notice upon all former occupiers who have notified him of their addresses. Provision is also made for the owner to certify to the Building Authority that he has complied with these requirements. The Building Authority is required to effect service of the notice of expiry of the Closure Order on the former occupiers where the owner cannot be found or where any necessary works have been carried out by the Building Authority.
Section 31 of the principal Ordinance in its present form confers no right to compensation upon the owner of a building who is required to alter or remove any projection, such as a balcony, which is erected over a public street or unleased Crown land. In view of the fact that such owners are required to pay fees to Government for the right to erect such projections it is considered desirable that they should be entitled to compensation when ordered to alter or remove the same. Clause 7 seeks to amend section 31 accordingly.
The object of repealing and replacing section 34 is to enable the Building Authority to dispose of materials resulting from demolition or repair works without the necessity of prior notice to the owner of the building concerned.
Clauses 9 and 10 seek to effect certain minor amendments to the principal Ordinance.
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL—23rd April 1969. 259
Clause 11 seeks to add a new provision whereby in cases where the Building Authority has applied for the review of the determination of an appeal tribunal, no building works may be carried out until the Governor in Council has reviewed that determination.
RESETTLEMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1969
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of: —"A bill to amend further the Resettlement Ordinance."
He said: —Sir, the object of this bill is to make the necessary legislative provision to enable banking facilities and restaurants to be made available in resettlement estates, and to provide for small scale open storage areas.
Most of the older resettlement estates were situated within easy reach of established shopping areas and there was, consequently, no need to open banks in the estates themselves. However, some more recently built estates are a considerable distance from the nearest bank, and it is therefore considered desirable to set aside shop premises in resettlement estates for this purpose.
It would, of course, be inappropriate for premises to be allocated to banks by the normal methods, which involve letting at a fixed rent to squatters who have been evicted from Crown land needed for development. Clause 2 of the bill, therefore, in the proposed new section 28A, empowers the competent authority (that is to say, the Urban Council, or the Commissioner for Resettlement in the case of the New Territories), to let premises in resettlement estates by competitive tender to persons undertaking to provide banking facilities for the public.
Restaurants in resettlement estates are at present accommodated in ordinary shop premises on the ground floor and are allocated in the same way as other shop sites, that is to say at a fixed rent to ex-squatters. This has not proved to be satisfactory in the new 16-storey blocks, and it has been decided to construct special buildings in the newer resettlement estates for use as restaurants. These will be of substantial size and it is thought that they should be put out to competitive tender and clause 2 provides for this also.
Clause 4, which amends section 50C of the principal Ordinance, implements recommendations which were made by the Industrial Sites Co-ordination Committee, which is a government inter-departmental group set up under the chairmanship of the Deputy Economic Secretary to advise the government on the provision of industrial sites.
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[THE ATTORNEY GENERAL] Resettlement (Amendment) Bill—second reading
During the past few years it has become apparent that there is a need for land to be made available for certain undertakings cleared from Crown land which need open storage and cannot be accommodated in resettlement factory blocks, and which, by their nature, are useful and viable only if near the urban areas. Among such businesses are scrap iron dealers, junk yards, timber merchants, wooden box makers, metal drum dealers and stone and lime powder processers.
The new subsection (2A) in section 50C will empower the competent authority (in this case the Commissioner for Resettlement) to grant a licence in these areas, to be known as Class III Areas, for the storage and processing of goods and any connected residential purposes.
The amendments contained in clauses 3, 6 and 7 are consequential on clause 4.
Clause 5 of the bill amends section 51 so as to enable the Governor in Council to make regulations imposing charges on tenants occupying premises to which a water supply is connected. In the past, Mark III resettlement blocks have been provided only with communal water supplies. Individual metered supplies are now being provided in them, and the new paragraph in section 51(1) will enable regulations to be made to impose a charge on tenants so that the capital cost of installation may be recovered.
Question proposed.
Motion made (pursuant to Standing Order No 30). That the debate on the second reading of the bill be adjourned—THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.
Question put and agreed to.
Explanatory Memorandum
Clause 2 adds a further section to Part IV of the principal Ordinance to empower a competent authority to let premises in resettlement estates to persons undertaking to provide banking or restaurant facilities for the public in the premises so let. Such premises may be used for no other purpose and it is intended that they be let by competitive tender and not in accordance with the normal allocation procedure adopted by the Resettlement Department.
2. Clause 4, which amends section 50C of the Ordinance, will allow a competent authority to grant licences to persons to
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL—23rd April 1969. 261
occupy land in areas to be known as Class III areas, for the purpose of processing and storage of goods. The amendments of sections 50A, 52B and 54 of the Ordinance effected by clauses 3, 6 and 7 are consequential upon the amendment of section 50C.
3. Clause 5 inserts a further paragraph in subsection (1) of section 51, to enable the Governor in Council to provide by regulations for charges to be paid by tenants occupying premises to which a water supply has been connected by the competent authority; the premises concerned at present are located in Mark III Block domestic rooms.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS (MARKETING) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1969
Resumption of debate on second reading (5th February 1969) Question again proposed.
Question put and agreed to.
Bill read the second time.
Bill committed to a committee of the whole Council pursuant to Standing Order No 43.
PRISONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1969
Resumption of debate on second reading (9th April 1969)
Question again proposed.
Question put and agreed to.
Bill read the second time.
Bill committed to a committee of the whole Council pursuant Standing Order No 43.
NEW TERRITORIES (RENEWABLE CROWN LEASES) BILL 1969 Resumption of debate on second reading (9th April 1969)
Question again proposed.
Question put and agreed to.
Bill read the second time.
Bill committed to a committee of the whole Council pursuant to Standing Order No 43.
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ADJOURNMENT
Motion made, and question proposed. That this Council do now adjourn— THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.
2.57 p.m.
Question put and agreed to.
NEXT SITTING
HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT: —Council will accordingly adjourn. The next sitting will be held on 7th May.
Adjourned accordingly at two minutes before Three o'clock.
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