THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The ACTING AttonRey:GENERAL-The.an- swer to the first question put by the honourable member is that the various new remedies have been tried but without any appreciable success. A supply of Haffkine's prophylactic serum, which is the only one that appears to have been & success, was obtained from India some weeks sgo, but the Chinese do not avail themselves of the opportunity of being protected from the disease. The answer to the second question is, the proportionate mortality in this Colony and India is about the same, Here in the epidemic of 1894 it was 93.4 per cout; in 1898 it was 81.79 The Government Medical Officers are in constant receipt of the latest Medical inform ation on the subject. The answer to the third question is, such communication is not neces- sary. The answer to the fourth question is No. The microscope in use hitherto is the one presented to Dr. Lowson by the Japan (overn- ment and lent by him. The question of pro. cnring microscopes is receiving attention.
NATURALISATION,
On the motion of the ACTING-ATTORNEY GENERAL seconded by the COLONIAL TREA- SURER, the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance for the naturalisation of Wong Ping Lam alias Wong U Kai was passed.
The ACTING ATTORNEY GENER (L-I beg to move the second reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance for the naturalisation of Tsoi Yenk- Shan. Hou members will see from the preamble to the Bill that Mr. Tsoi Yenk-sbau is a native of the village of Sheung Chak in the province of Kwangtung, in the empire of China. is now employed as a clerk in the Registrar-General's Office, Victoria, in this Colony, and has resided in this Colony for the last four years, and has declared his intention of residing here perman- ently.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and the motion was carried.
On the Bill being considered in committee. The Hon. T. H. WHITEH CAD said-I observe that a clause which appears in other ordinances of a similar nature, namely, “Aud is possessed of lauded property in this colony," is omitted from the Billi I should like to know what the Secretary of State's instructions are with refer- ence to the naturalisation of Chinese or other foreigners.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-There is no necessary land qualification.
The Hon T. H. WHITEHEAD-Can you state what the instructions of the Secretary of State are?
7
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL--I do not think any definite instructions have been laid down. It has been laid down generally that a man should have an intention to reside here permanently, that he should have been here some years, and be of good conduct
The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-On rend ing the Bill over the clause about pos sessed of landed property" being inserted in one Ordinance and omitted from another struck
me.
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The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-AS. a rafs we do put in the clause about a man being. the of possessor landed property.
On the Council resuming the Bill was read a third time and passed..
On the motion of the ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, seconded by the COLONIAL TREA BUBER, the Bill entitled an Ordinance for the naturalization of Fan Nang, alias Fan Sau alias Fan Pat Shan, alias Fan Tun Shin, was read a second time.
The Bill having been considered in commit tee, it was read a third time and passed, on the motion of the ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL seconded by the COLONIAL TREASUREK.
THE PILRS ORDINANCE, 1899. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-1 do not propose to proceed to-day with the second reading of the Bill entitled the Piers Ordin ance, 1899. Certain facts with reference to this Bill have been laid before me, and I have not had fall time to consider those facts, and therefore I do not propose to proceed with the second reading to-day,
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THE PUBLIC HEALTH ORDINANCE, The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg to propose the second reading of the Bill en titled an Ordinance to further amend the Public Health Ordinance, 1887 Hen. members will see from the Bill that it proposes to amend
be
section 70 of Ordinance 24 of 1897. I will read that section to the Council, and then they will comprehend the meaning of this amendment. The section says:-"If any tenement house, or domestic building. or portion thereof, shall be found to be in an overcrowded conditiou the Board shall by a written notice require the tenant of the same, or any portion thereof, and also, if necessary, the householder, to abate such overcrowding, within a period of one calendar month; such untice shall specify the cubic capacity available for habitation in such tenement house, or other domestic build- ing, and the number of persons which may legally accommodated therein. If the said notice be not obeyed it shall be lawful for the said Board to apply to a Magistrate, who on saf: ficient cause shown, shall sunmon before him the tenant or occupier of such dwelling house, or such householder. If the person summoned, admits, or if it be proved to the satisfaction of the said Magistrate that the said house is over. crowded, the Magistrate shall make an order for the abatement of the unisance forthwith. On the hearing of the said matter the Magis- trate may make such order for the inspection, at any hour of the night or day of the said house, as the circumstanes of the onse requiro. Such order to continue in fores for a period not exceeding one mouth."
Hou. members will see from that section
month's notice a
to be given that to the tenant of the house which is over. crowded, and if it is found that by the time the month's notice is up the tenant has left the house, no legal pranandings can be taken under this section. To remedy this it is proposed to substitute the words "one week in place of the words one calendar month in the first paragraph of that sectioir.
may
The Council having considere:"the Bill in committee, it was read a third time and pass-d, on the motion of the ACTING ATTORNEY-ĠENERAL seconded by the COLONIAL TREA JURER.
THE ARMS CONSOLIDATION ORDINANCE.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I do not propose to proceed at this Council meeting with the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordiunuce to amend the Arms Consolidation
[July 1, 1899.
The Hou. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I was only going to suggest that the evidence which that. Committee took and the report of the Com mittee should be printed and furnished to the members. The Commi tee sat for a considerable time, took a considerable amount of evidence and a great deal of trouble in the matter."]
Did
The ACT ATTORNEY-GENERAL- thy ever draw up a report? I am not sure.
The CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE -The committee never did report.
The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-The Hon. Attorney-General was chairman of the commit. tee, and if no report was sent in he must have and good reason for the omission.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-We came to the conclusion that the committee could not do anything, and we resolved to do nothing.
The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-The evid ence, I think, might be printed.
THE LIQUOR LICENSES ORDINANCE. On the motion of the ACTING ATTORNEY- GENERAL, seconded by the COLONAL TREA- SURER, the Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the Liquor Licenses Ordinance, 1898. passed the second reading
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-1 shall propose that we go into committee on this Bill at the next meeting of the Council. THE CATTLE DISEASES, ETC., ORDINANCE. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-1 beg to move the second reading of the Bill au. Ordinance to further amend entitled the Cattle Diseases, Slaughter Honses, and It will be seen from Markets Ordinance. the objects and reasons of the Bill printed at the foot that the object of section 2 of the Bill is to reduce the inasimuni amount payable by the Government of this colony as compensation for
The COLONIAL TREASURAR seconded and slaughtered cattle it having been found that the snins recently paid as compensation bare' the motion was carried.
reached a
very considerable total.
I may mention that about $14,000 has been paid as compensation since the beginning of this year. Sub-section 4 of section 3 of Ordin- ance 17 of 1887 provided that the maximum amount of coupensation payable for each animal slaughtered should be $50 only, but Ordinance 2 of 189. raised the amount payable to $200. It is proposed by this Bill to reduce the amount of compensation payable to $100 per head. The object of the amendment. mentioned in section 3 is to make it a punishable offence for any person to slaughter any animal or dress any carcase except within a proper slaughter house, even though such animal or carcase may not be intended for sale." The object of section 4 of the Bill is to make it a punishable offence to counterfeit or make use of or attempt to counterfeit or make use of the official stamp which is used to mark beef
Ordinance, 1895. It has been represented to me that to increase the fee to $1,200 per anuàm might possibly weigh heavily on some small retail dealers and I should like to have more infor matiou ou the question and to consider the point further before moving the second reading. The HoN T. H. WHITEHEAD-It was my intention to have moved the adjournment of the consideration of this Bill for a month, and to direct the Council's attention to what took place in connection with this question in Conncil. His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR The honourable member has nothing before the Council.
You
or
section mutton; and
5 authorizes the. destruction of any . carcase of beef or mnt. ton which does not bear the official stamp.
The Hon. E. R. BELILIOS-I ask you to post- The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Well, sir. I poue the consideration of this Bill for at least desire only to repeat what your predecessor said a month, as it would impose hardship upon- in this Council on the subject in April, 1896. | the Mahomedan section of the community, who He said: Gentlemen, the second item on the have been accustomed to slaughter sheep and agenda paper is the first reading of a Bill an-goits wherever they want meat for their own titled an Oriliunuce to amend and consolidate use. To make it a peual offence to slaughter, the law relating to the carriage and possession sheep or goats in their own houses would be a of arms and ammunition. I propose to with great hardship. Such a provision is not knowu draw that Ordinance from the list.
It is a in India. It is a common practice, especially very delicate and a very difficult question and during festival time, for men who have any requires to be very carefully dealt with. meaus to slaughter sheep in their own houses. have seen from the newspapers that there bas His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR-1, would been an abnormal exportation of arms from the suggest that this motion be seconded, and when colony to Macao and probably to Canton, and I the Bill goes into committee the point raised by shall be very much obliged to the unofficial the Hon. E. R. Belilios can be considered. I members if they will kindly act on a Committee think it is a very roper point to bring before to report to me on the subject. propose that the Council. No doubt the Attorney-General - the Attorney-General; the Harbour Master, and will be glad to consider in the meantime any Commander Hastings represent the officials, suggestions which the hon. gentleman may and I shall be obliged if Mr. Chater, Dr. make to him. Ho Kai, and Mr. Whitehead will agree to serve on the unofficial side to furnish a report and see what it is proper to do to supervise the exportation of arms and ammunition." official members named signified their willing ness to serve on the Committee, and His Ex- cellency thanked them.
'The un-
The COLONIAL TREASURER Second-d the motion, for the second reading which we passed.
The ACTING ATTORNEY,(
that he would move at the ERAL stated
meeting that Council go into Committee on the Bill.
APPROPRIATION,
The COLONIAL TREASURER 1 beg to move His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR-I am the second reading of the Bill entitled an Or- afraid I cannot allow the hon. member to godinance to authorise the Appropriation of a any further. The Attorney-General is not Supplementary Sum of three hundred and proceeding with the Bill at present, and there- eight thousand six hundred and seventy-twa fore there is no question.
dollars and eighty-seven couts, to defray the
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