1917-02-22 — Page 7

THE

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.

EXTRA.

HONGKONG, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1917.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

A meeting of the Legislative Council was held in the Conneil Chamber this afternoon when those present ware ----

H. E the Governor **** (Sir Francis Heure May, K.O.M.G.)

H. E. the General Officer Com-

manding the Troops (Major. General F. Ventris.)

-I

The Hon. Mr. Claud Severo, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary.

The Bos. Mr. J. H. Kemp, Attorney General.

corresponding section, section 37, in the United Kingdom Inter- pratation Act, 1889. It is not possible to follow the wording of the Act exactly, because an Act of the Imperial Parliament comeR into effect on the day on which the Royal Assent is given while an Ordinance in this Colony dose

come into operation until the date of its publication in the Gazette. {

Claase 3 of the bill repeals the and "Excies officer the Prin definitions of "Bavelbe officer"

eine officer" is no longer in use, cipal Ordinance. The term “Ex-

The Hon. Mr. W. Chatham, -O.M.G., Director of Public Works,

The Hon. Mr. E. B. Hallifar, the class of officers to whom it was Secretary for Chiness Affairs, formerly applied haring cenasd

The Hon. the Captain Saperin- tendent of Police (Mr. C. Mcl- Hesser.)

The Hon. Mr. A. M. Thomson, -Colonial Tresenter.

The Hon. Mr. Wei Yuk, C.M.G. The Hon. Mr. E. Shellim. The Hon. Mr. H. E. Pollock K.C.

The Hon. Mr. C. E. Anton. The Hoa, Mr. Lau Chu Puk, The Hon. Mr. P. H Holyoak. Financial. The following fiusaial minutes, recommended by H.E, the Gover nor, were referred to the Finsoca -Committee and absequently spproved --

▲ wam of $2,175 in aid of Harbour Master's Department, special expenditure, wireless in stallation for the steam tender <«Stanley.

A sum of $30 in sid of Pablic Works, Extraordinary, Hong- kong, miscellaneous, dredging off Kowloon Point,

The War Loan.

The Hon. Attorney General -moved the first reading of a Bill -intituled An Ordinance to amend the War Loan Ordinance, 1916,

The Hon. Colonial Secretary -asconded, and the Bill was rezd a -frst time.

|

to exist.

Anglo-Portuguese Treaty.

The Boo. Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill intituled An Ordinance to make each provisions as are necessary to enable the Anglo-Portugue58 Commercial Treaty to come into force sa regards the Colony of Hongkong.

The Hon. Colonial Secretary erconded, and the Bill was read a first time.

It is proposed that this Colony shall signify its adherence to the recent Anglo-Poringusse Com- mercia! Tresty, and årticle 6 of that trasty requires adherents to restrict the use of the terme port and madeira to wine which is the produce of Portugal and Madeira respectively. This Bill, which is founded on the English Act, provides for the necessary legiala- tion. The Act and treaty were published in the Goats of the 20th February, 1915.

Protection of Forests.

The Hon. Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill intituled An-Ordinance to make provision for the better protection of forests, forest reserves and plantations from fire.

The Hon. Colonial Secretary seconded, and the Bill was read

The Bill provides that every

The object of this Bill is to provide that the revenas apa first time..

·propriated for the service of the Hongkong War Loan shall be pereon who shall wilfully or -exempt from military con-negligently met fire to anything,

tribution.

whether growing or not, in or near any forest, forast reserve, or plantation, in such a manner a to damage or endanger any other thing which is growing in any forest, forest reserve, or plants. tion, shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,

Powers of Arrest. The Hon. Attorney General -moved the first reading of a Bill -intituled An Ordinance to con- solidate and amend the law relat ing to the power of atrets possessed, by revenus officers.

The Hon. Colonial Secretary seconded, and the Bill was rend à Protection of Crown Property: Krst time:

The Hon. Attorney General The Objects and Kessons | moved the first reading of a Bill state:—It is desirable to make it | intituled An Ordinance to maka clear that the powers_conferred | further provision for the proteos by Ordinance No. 6 of 1913 are tion of trees on Crown land and to be in addition to those con- other Crown property from wilful. ferred by Any other damage.

--enactment. -

This - object The Hon. Colonial Secretary

is proposed to be exacted by the | seconded, and the Bill was read addition of the appropriata words ) a first time,

to the clause which at present ap- One of the objects of this Bill pastu au section 2 of Ordinanos is to alter the composition of the “Mo, 6 of 1918. As that Ordinans "|"body Whismpleted by the Grown is short and has already been Land Preservation Ordinance, amandadonos it seems to be the 1910, for the purpose of enquiring zamora convenient sourse to repeal | into exams of damage to trase on it and the' amending Ordinance | Orown lead or other Orown pro- and,to re-enact the provisions of perty with a view to the imponi. -those two Ordinsnow with the tion of a Ene on any village or -above addition..

ares by the inhabitants of whom ̈ the damaga was osumed. "In the New Territories the body will now, consist of the Distrios Officer and the Superintendent of the Bot-

The Interpretation Ordinance,

The Hon. Attorney General -moved the frá randing of a Bill

· intituled 'An Ordinance to smand ~the Interpretation Ordinance, anical and Forestry Department

1911,

instead of the District Offiner and. The Hon. Colonial Secretary | Assistant District Officer. In the -seconded, and the Bill was read a | rest of the Colony, the body will

frst time.

consist of the Superintendent of The object of clause. 2 of this] the Botanical and Forestry Dapart- Bill in to make it clear that powers., ment and either the Semetary for --confarred by an Ordinznos may: Chiness Affairs, or one of his

be exercised at any time after the Amistanta,

passing of the Ordinanɔs,, even The other object of the Bill is before its opmmencement, so far to widen the incidence of the fas Das may be necessary for the pur- | and, thereby to make it fairer, pose of bringing the Ordinanos | Under the present Ordinance the into operation. This was clearly the fine falls on the owners who aren, intention of the existing motion, on the Crown rant roll- while the but the reference in that section persons on the village rent foll to the exspending of an Ordinance.esospe

might be construed as limiting The form of the present. Ordin- "the motion to Ordinances which anos makes it somewhat difionis coutain a suspending ciname. The to amend, and this Bill reposis?" Avotion which it is now proposed and riyansofas the appropria sonubatitute follows an alonely, provisions

the wording of