August 12, 1899.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
source.
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His EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR-May I suggest to honourable members that in asking questions they should be asked of some head of department and not of the Government general- ly.
things have been done with practically no increase to the permanent staff of the colony, or with but a very slight increase. The Colonial Secretary has been doing duty as Dis- trict Magistrate, in addition to his other duties. for the time being, pending the appointment of a gentleman for the post. It became clear from the time we took over this extended area that it was an absolute necessity to have a road to Taipohu and probably on to the frontier, and that road was put in hand without any delay. I believe I am right in saying the road will be open to Shatin by Christ has, and that probably it will be open to Taipohn in the course of next year. It is also neccessary to have Police Stations and to have accommoda- tion for the staff of officials who will be em- ployed at Taipohu. The events of the 17th to The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I beg to the 20th April showed us that the very modest give notice that at the next meeting of the police establishment first contemplated for the Council I will ask the following question :- new territory would not be sufficient, consequently Will the Government inform the Council of we are building police stations at Taipohu, the reasons why the proposal to expend a sub- Pingsan, Un Loong, and Foutiyan, and I think stantial amount of public money for repairs I may say that police stations will subsequently and alterations to Beaconsfield was not sub- be erected at Shatin, Saikno, Taiho, and Tsin-mitted to the Public Works Committee for sham. These are all the public works I propose their consideration and report, under what to undertake for the present in the new territory. authority has the said sum of 819,076.7 been The amount of money expended in public works disbursed, and why have not the new publio was in round figured $35,300 down to the 31st works undertaken since middle of last year been Jaly and the amount of money necessary to
referred to the Public Works Committee for complete the works now in hand will be about consideration and report to the Council before $15,100 more. Besides this sum of $100,000.one same were commenced." of $91,000 will be required for the purchase of three launches, which, I need hardly point oat to you, are absolutely necessary for the pat- rolling of the waters. In October I ex- pect a trained corps of surveyors from India and I hope to have a detailed survey of the extended area of the colony within 12 months at an expense of $40,000 These, as far as I can see, are all the expenses before us at the present moment. You must not imagine there is any intention to starve this part of the colony for the purpose of carrying ou public works in the new territory. It is not intended to do so in any way.
At one time, in looking into the possibilities of the future, I did think that a considerable amount of extra taxation would have been necessary. am glad to say that on looking more closely into the mattor. and taking the probabilities of the revenue for the next two or three years, I have come to the conclusion that the very small amondt laid before the Council will be all that is nevessary. I think that with our revenue we shall be able to do all the public works we require to do on this side the colony and in the suggested area out of revenue within the next two or three years-(hear, hear.)-and when I say that I mean all the public works con- templated in this part of the colony. As I say expect and I hope that the whole of that will be met from general re- yenue without any necessity for any extra taxation. In the meantime if any temporary advance is necessary I have been authorised to arrange with the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank for an overdraft. I think it is well honour able members should know all this before you enter on the consideration of the minute which will be laid before you. (Applause.)
QUESTIONS.
following the custom hitherto followed.
The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I am simply HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR-If you will allow me I will change it.
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the Blue Book, stating: -"But from informa- | this should be the case if this clause is to hav tion derived from another source it is estimated any practical effect. Clause 4 is also an importar that the annual revenue for that portion of the clause. It differs from section 4 of Ordinance Sun On Distriot contained within the leased area of 1894 in that it is not necessary to prove on t amounts to 8160,000, or, say, £16,000," this be complaint of three or more householders that i ing an increase of more than a lakh of dollars on brothel is a nuisance to a neighbourhood before the estimate given by the Sun On District Ma- a Magistrate can order it to be closed.' It hau. gistrate for the territory in question ?"
been found that there has been some dificulty. The COLONIAL SECRETARY-In reply to the in getting householders to come forward to honourable gentleman I beg to answer as fol-complain. Donourable members will see by lows:-The Government is not aware of the Clause 4 of this Bill that "Upon complaint laid source from which the information was derived. | before a Magistrate by the Captain Superinten- I may add that the information having beendent of Police or the Registrar-General that given privately and confidentially to the writer any house or portion thereof is used as a lodg of the Report on the Extension of the Colonying house for prostitutes or disorderly persons of Hongkong he is not at liberty to state its or as a brothel, it shall be lawful for the Magis- trate to issue a summons to the occupier or keeper of the house or portion thereof of which complaint is made; and upon the hearing of the case if the Magistrate is satisfied that the house or some portion thereof is used in the manner complained of he may order the occupier or keeper to discontinue such use of it; and if such order is not complied with within anch time as the Magistrate may by his order direct the Magistrate may impose upon such oc. cupier or keeper a fine not exceeding fifty dollars for every day that the house or any portion thereof shall be so used after the time directed by the Magistrate's order." I think this is a most necessary clause. The tendency of late has been. I am informed, for brothels to be scattered about all quarters of the town. A good many are now found in places where respectable Chinsmen and their families are living, and that is a most unde sirable state of affairs. (Hear, hear.) In gard to clause 5 of the Bill, it has been pointed out to me by the honourable member on my left (the Hon. Dr. Ho Kai) that it might be rather hard upon owners of property, and I under- stand that he intends to move an amend- THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS.
ment in committee. Clause 5 is as follows: The ACTING Attorney GENERAL, in pro- "After the use of any premises as a brothel has posing the second reading of the Bill entitled been discontinued under the provisions of section an Ordinance to amend the Protection of
4 of this Ordinance, the owner of such premises Women and Girls Ordinance 1897, said— shall, if such premises are found to be again in Honourable members will see from the ob-
use as a brothel, be liable upon summary con- jects and
reasons attached to this Bill the viction before a Magistrate to the payment of a reason why the Bill has been brought before fine not exceeding five hundred dollars," I the Council. Clause 1 of the Bill is purely understand that the honourable member pro- formal. Clause 2 of the Bill defines cer- poses to move in committes an amendment to tain terms used in this Bill. Clause 3 is the effect that the owner shall not be liable to ዜ very important clause of the Bill, and conviction if he has taken every reasonable pre- perhaps I may as well read it out in fall. caution against the premises being used as a Clause 3 of the Bill runs as follows: -"The fol- brothel. With regard to clause 6 of the Bill, it lowing new section to be numbered 11A shall gives extended powers to a European offloor of be inserted after section 11 of the principal police not below the rank of sergeant, and says: Ordinance:-1iA-Every person who, being "Any European Officer of Police not being the ocupier or keeper of any brothel, permits below the rank of sergeant who is generally any woman suffering from any contagious authorized in writing for that purpose by, the disease to be or remain in such brothel for the Captain Superintendent of Police and any purpose of prostitution, shall be guilty of an person who is generally authorised in writing offence and shall be liable ou conviction before by the Registrar-General for that purpose may the Supreme Court or a Magistrate to impri- at all times without notice enter and demand sonment for a term not exceeding one year or to see and interrogate any or all the inmates of to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or any place on land or water which he may have to both; and if any person, not being a reason to believe is used as a lodging-house for natural born or naturalized British subject, prostitutes or disorderly persons or as a brothel, who has been previously convicted of or in connection with which he may have reason an offence under this section, shall again to believe that an offence has been committed be found guilty of such ад offence under this Ordinance." Clause 7 of the Bill is taken from the Act of Parliament passed Order banishing such person from Colony at home last year dealing with male persons liv. under any Banishment laws which may from ing on the earnings of a prostitute. I think it will time to time be in force in this Colony. In the be found that that clause is a useful clanss to case of any prosecution under this section, it have in this colony, because the male persons shall not be necessary for the prosecution to who make a living out of the earnings of prove that such occupier or keeper as aforesaid women are getting rather numerous in this knew that the woman was suffering from a colony, and it is time they were dealt with in contagious disease, but such knowledge shall be some way. I shall have to move in committee presumed by the Court or Magistrate unless an amendment to sub-section 3 of clause 7. The such occupier or keeper satisfies the Court or section should run "Be habitually in the com- Magistrate that he had not such knowledge." pany of a prostitute" instead of “in company I think that will be a very important clause in- of a prostitute." With regard to olause 8 of deed because, as honourable members will see, it the Bill, that is based on instructions received imposes a penalty upon the keeper or occupier of from the Secretary of State for the Colonies any brothel who permits a woman suffering for the amendment of section 30 of Ordinance from contagious disease to remain in such bro-9 of 1897. Sub-section 1 is practically identical ourable members will see from the second para thel for the purpose of prostitution; and hon
graph that the onus lies upon the cupier or keeper of the brothel to see oc- that she has not in her brothel any wo- think, it is not at all unreasonable that this man suffering from a contagious disease. I
keeper of a brothel, and it seems necessary that onus should be thrown upon the occupier or
The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I beg to the Governor-in-Council may issue- au ask the question standing in my name.
The question was as follows :-
Will the Government lay upon the table copy of Despatch No. 107 of 28th April last to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and its enclosures, regarding the recent disturbances In connection with the taking over of the New Territory leased by China to Great Britain by the June Convention of last year and any other Despatches from the Colonial Government to the Home Authorities bearing on the sub- ject pr
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-In reply to the honourable member I beg to state:-Yes. The despatches are being printed and will be laid on the table as soon as possible.
The Hon. E. R. BELILIOS said-I beg to ask the question which stands in my name.
The question was as follows:-" Referring to the report by the Honourable J. H. Stewart Lockhart on the Kowloon Extension to the Colony, will the Government state what is the source of the information referred to in paragraph 1 a ader head of Revenue, page 13 of
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subsection 2 is new and gives the Registrar- with section 30 of Ordinance 9 of 1897, but
building, or other place for the purpose of General "power to search any ship, boat, house, ascertaining whether there is therein any wo- with under the provisions of this Ordinance, man or girl who is or may be liable to be dealt
being committed and may remove any such or whether any offence under this Ordinance is
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