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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND apparently that provision which was intended | ing" is defined and does not include a kitchen, to be referred to these words require atten- and the word "premises" might be defined as tion. The next point is in section 6, where the meaning any domestic building together with following words occur." The provisions of any cookhouse, outhouse, store-room, shop, every Ordinance or bye-law in force in this work-room, or other adjunct thereto. There colony as to keeping backyards clear of obstruc- is another point in section 7. There is a tion shall apply to every such open space as bye-law dealing with the obstruction of private aforesaid.” Now, sir, if we examine for a streets and lanes, but I think that if the moment the bye-law which regalates backyards, bye-law is carefully scanned it cannot be found namely No. 5 of the bye-laws made under sec- to be satisfactorily worded. It reads as follows: tion 13 of Ordinance 15 of 1894 and published in -"No street over land held under lease the Government Gazette of 22nd May, 1897, from the Crown upon which any domestic we find a proviso at the end of the first para-buildings abut, shall, without the per graph which reads :-" Provided, nevertheless, mission in writing of the Sanitary Board, be that in cases where such back-yards exceed, an obstructed by any structure whether tempor- ares of 100 square feet in the case of build- ary or permanent which may, in the ings of two storeys in height, and 150 square | opinion of the Medical Officer of Health feet in the case of buildings of three or more or such other officer as may be appointed for storeys in height, such back-yards need only be that purpose by the Sanitary Board, pre- kept clear of obstructions (including bridges and judicially affect the health of any of the covered ways) and fixtures, and open vertically inmates of any of such buildings, or if such to the sky throughout, to the extent of 100 and street be already partially so obstructed it shall 150 square feet respectively." That is to say not be further so obstructed, withont such per- that the largest open space that need under the mission in writing." That bye-law says that bye-law at present be kept clear of obstruction if the Medical Officer of Health raises no ob- in a back-yard in this colony is 150 square feet, jection to the obstruction of any such street but flet us look for a moment at the scales the street may be obstructed in defiance of any of 'open spaces which are proposed for objection on the part of the Sanitary Board; domestic buildings in the future. We will but if the Medical Officer of Health pronounces take the one nearest" Houses exceeding 60 the obstruction to prejudicially effect the feet in depth, for each foot of width, 14 square health of any of the inmates of any such build- feet." In the case of a house 15 feet in width ings then the Sanitary Board may grant per- that would give an open air space of 210 mission for the obstruction of the street in square feet.
To make that subject to the defiance of the opinion of the Medical Officer provision of the bye-law, what you give with of Health. I do not think, sir, that a piece of the one hand you take away with the other, legisation of that kind can when carefully becauso bye-law No. 5 says only 150 square feet examined commend itself to the practical com- need be kept open. Therefore when a man had mon sense of the community, and, moreover, it made his open air-space of 210 square feet, he places the Medical Officer of Health and the would be allowed under the bye-law to close Sanitary Board in antagonism and in a up 60 square feet of it. That is a point which very peculiar position. It would be simpler must have escaped the draughtsman. Then, far, if, as think it must be conceded, these sir, at the end of the scale relating to the pro- private streets and lanes should not be ob vision of lanes a proviso is required that such structed, to add to the section some such lanes when formed shall be kept free from wordsas, "No obstructions whatever shall be obstruction. It is clearly of little use to accept placed in any street or lane on which domestic the opening out of a back lane without some buildings abut." I mention these few points. provision being made for such back lane to be They appear some of them to have crept quite kept open and unobstructed. The next subsec- unintentionally into the Bill which is only to be tion (sub-section b) says:-"In computing the expected in a measure of such a
bighly tech- depth of a house for the purposes of this section nical nature. the depth of the kitchen shall be included in the computation of such depth in every case except when such kitchen separated from the habit- able portion of such house by an open yard extending the entire width of the back of such house" That sub-section, sir, is contradictory to the scales which appear above and to the spirit in which they were made. To give an instance. It is provided that for houses exceeding 60 feet in depth 14 square feet of open air space should be provided for each foot of width. That would give 180 square feet-that is measuring the house over all- but if such houses had a back-yard six feet in width and a kitchen beyond that of six feet in width, these 12 feet would according to the sub-section have to be deducted from the 60 feet over all, and that would leave 48 feet for the principal dwelling room, which apparently according to this sub-section would be accepted as the depth of the house. That would bring the house into the second class of the scale instead
of the fourth class. It would become a house exceeding 40 feet but not exceeding 50 feet," and for each foot of width there would only have to be provided an open-air space of six feet or 50 per cent. less than was intended under
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER seconded. The Hon. C. P. CHATER-1 quite agree with the opening remarks of the Hon. the Captain Superintendent of Police when he stated that at the first reading of a Bill it is not customary to address the Council. I, like him, had no intention of addressing the Council, but I think a remark or two at the present moment may not be out of place. The Hon. the Captain Superintendent of Police stated that the Bill before us was a very important one. Yes, I say, sir, it is one of the most im- portant Bills we have had before as for a long while and it is important in more ways than one. It is very important indeed, sir, to most of the Chinese in Hongkong who hold a large amount of property, and I would therefore ask your Excellency that before the second read- ing of this Bill takes place you will see that the Bill is translated into Chinese and not only pub- lished in the Government Gazette, but also in as many leading Chinese newspapers as possible. (Hear, hear.) Very large vested interest of the Chinese will be effected if this Bill should pass as it now stands. In fact I am of opinion it will mean almost confiscation of property from the smaller bolders.
HIS EXCELLENCY-I think every Bill which affects the whole community should be published in that way.
Dr. Ho KAI-I wish to add my request to that of the senior unofficial member.
the scale. The introduction of this sub-section would have the effect generally of diminish- ing the air space, for it must be remembered that the kitchen as well as the dwelling room (require ventilation--that was intended to be provided under the scales, and would induce to the contriving of narrow backyards in order to make a house measure as short as possible, and to the building to backyards instead of to "back (or scavenging lanes, which would
be contrary to the whole spirit of the scales. The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-In the "If the sub-section is deleted something absence of the Acting Attorney-General, Mr. of this sort would have to be substitut Pollock, who is detained at the Criminal Ses-
HIS EXCELLENCY—I think it a most admir- able suggestion.
The Bill passed the first reading.
[November 26, 1888,
oil will remember that some time ago in this year a similar Ordinance with regard to the granting of certificates to certain classes of Chinese desirous of going to the United States was passed by this Council. In that case the fee was $50 and in this case it is $25. The ob- jects and reasons are fully stated in the note attached by the Hon. Attorney-General to the Bill.
HONGKONG CHINESE AND THE PHILIPPINES..
The ACTING Colonial TrḥASURER seconded, and the Bill passed the first reading.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-I think it would be as well, sir, to pass this Bill through all it stages to-day, and therefore I beg to move that the standing orders be anspended.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER BOcɔnded and the motion was passed.
On the motion of the ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY, seconded by the ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER, the Bill was read a second time.
The Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.
The Hon. Dr. Ho KAI-It is $50 for a leo for America, but the Philippines are a much shorter distance away and $25 seems rather heavy.
The Hon. C. P. CHATER-May I ask the Colonial Secretary if it is intended to charge $25 on each occasion a person may wish to go to Mauila.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-It will: depend on the view the authorities of Manila take.
The ACTING COLONIAL Treasurer-The same amount of work is involved no matter what the distance.*
The Hon. C. P. CHATER-It is not the dis- tance I am speaking about. I wanted to know whether every trip the same emigrant made he would have to pay $25. If so I am quite of the same opinion as the Hon. Dr. Ho Kai that it is rather, heavy, but if not I think it should be $25.
The Hon, Dr. Ho KAI-Supposing a man returns here and then goes back again he must have one of these certificates ?
HIS EXCELLENCY-My own impression is that in the States they only pay once for their certificates because the United States give permit to return.
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The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY--If a man does not get a permit from the United States to return he has to get a fresh certificate. The Bill was read a third time and passed.
NATURALISATION.
A Bill for the naturalisation of Un Chung- Wo alias Un Oi U alias Un Hi alias Un Kwok- Hi, was read a third time and passed.
ADJOURNMENT.
The Council then adjourned.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was then held, the Acting Colonial Secretary presid- ing.
VOTES,
The following votes were approved :-
A sum of $3,472 in aid of the following votes:-(a) Provisions for Prisoners, $2,000.00"; (b) Materials for Remunerative Industry, 1,000.00; (c) Clothing, etc., for Gaol Staff, 472.00; total, 83,472.00
A sum of $2,300 to meet the cost of certain alterations in the Gaol for laundry purposes.
A sum of $150.94 to cover the expenses in- curred in connection with the recovery of the Gap Rock moorings.
A sum of $2,700 to meet the following ex- penses during the current year:
(1.) Half salary of the Acting Colonial Secretary from 26th June to 5th October, 1898, $1,347.82.
(2.) Expenses of the Special Commissioner (Honourable J. H. Stewart Lockhart, C.M.G.) in connection with the extension of the Kow- loon boundaries, 1,352.18. Total, $2,700.00..
A sum of $600 in aid of the vote Improve- ment of Gas Lighting, City of Victoria."
ed" the depth of a house for the pursions, I have the honour to move in his stead Expenses," Sanitary Department.
A sum of ($500) in aid of the vote “ Incidental A sum of $900 in aid of the following votes, poses of this section shall always be com- the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance
Police Department:-1, oil and wick and p puted by measuring from the front main wall to authorize the imposition of fees for the issue for barracks, $500.00); 2, meals for prisoners in to the back main wall of the premises," and by the Government of Hongkong of certain
word" premises" is used the expression certificates to certain classes of Chinese who cells, $100.003, photography, $200.00; 4, secret promises" should be defined. In the inter- are desirous of going to the port of Manila in service, $100.00; total, $900.00.
The committee then adjourned. pretation clause the Ordinance “domestic build- the Philippine Islands. Members of the Coun
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