October 22, 1904.]
one
Apropos the above suggestion, some anonymous scribbler he must have been a Sassenach-wrote to
of the London papers asserting that bag-pipe music had been proved to be most efficacious in ridding a place of unwelcome rodents. Plague-infected rats usually make themselves scarce in Hongkong before St. Andrew's Day. This festival has
been religiously observed here for many years now, and the circumstance averred by the afore- said correspondent may serve to establish the fact that the pernicious little rodents are as unerring in their instinct as the swallows which take their flight on the approach of winter: Until reliable evidence is adduced; however, I shall continue to disbelieve the story of the "Pied Piper of Hamelin" who so charmed the rodents with his pipe that he enticed them to death by drowning in the river. Pied Pipers who can play with such fascination are extinct in this age, and so to exterminate rodents we have to enlist the sporting instinct of the people.
BANYAN.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on the 20th inst. in the Council
Chamber.
PRESENT:-
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIE MATTHEW NATHAN, K.C.M.G.
Hon. Colonel L. F. BROWN, R.E. (Com- manding the Troops).
Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Colonial Secre- tary).
Hon. E. H. SHARP, K.C. (Attorney-General). Hon. L. A. M. JOHNSTON (Colonial Treasurer).
Hon. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar-General). Hon. Captain L. A. W. BARNES-LAWRENCE, R.N. (Harbour Master).
Hon. P. N. H. JONES (Director of Public Works).
Hon. Sir C. P. CHATE?. C.M.Ġ.
Hon. Dr. Ho Kar, C.M.G.
Hon. WEI A YUK
Hon. R. SHEWAN,
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN HONGKONG AND CHINA.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL proposed the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to enable the Trustees of Saint John's Cathedral Church in Hongkong to hold and deal with property for the purpose of promoting the work of the Church of England in Hong- kong and China. The “objects and reasons'
of the Bill are set forth as follows:-
11
The object of this Ordinance is to supply the need which has long been felt for the existence of some statutory corporate body empowered to hold and deal with property for the use of the Church of England in this Colony and in China. Saint John's Cathedral Church Ordinance, 1899, provides for such a body as regards the Cathedral itself, and this Ordinance is not intended to alter or derogate from the statutory powers con- ferred upon such body as regards the Cathedral. There is, however, already other property de- dicated to the use of the Church of England in the diocese, which will doubtless be added to in the future, and it is most desirable that all such property should be duly vested in a corporate body both for its safe keeping and to facilitate any necessary dealing with it. This Ordinance the only suitable body corporate already in proposes to confer the necessary powers upon existence, viz., the Church Body, that is to say,
the Trustees of Saint John's Cathedral Church in Hongkong.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. The Bill was read a first time.
+
CHINESE EMIGRATION.
301
On Clause. 2, dealing with the granting of special licences to transport indentured Chinese emi rants to South Africa, the Hon. Attorney-General moved that the words in force in the said Colony or Protectorates should be struck out and the words which ture of the said Colony or Protectorate and have been made or sanctioned by the legisla
are in force therein " substituted...
Hon R. SHEWAN-What is the meaning of “indentured (. hinese emigrants "?
is taken from the Convention, and I think it is The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-The expression
a very suitable expression to describe these people. They go down there under contract, for
a term.
A
H. E. The GOVERNOR—They sign indentures before they embark.
The amendment was adopted. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved, a similar amendment on Clause 3. which was adopted.
A similar amendment was alsó-adopted on the preamble and the Bill passed committee.
The Council resumed.
The Standing Orders being suspended, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the third · reading of the Bill.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. The Bill was read a third time and passed, ́§ October, at 3 p.m.
The Council adjourned till Thursday, 27th
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
H. E. The Governor having left the chair, the Council went into Finance Committee, the Colonial Secretary presiding.
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $25,000 in aid of the vote-Publis Works Extraordinary for purchasing the re maining p rtion of Kowloon Inland Lot. No. 1,011 for the purpose of constructing roads.
The COLONIAL Secretary—The object is to continue Robinson Road northward.
The Governor recommended the Coungil to vote a sum of $38,100 in aid of the votes Public Works Recurrent and Extraordinary for the following items :---
Public Works Recurrent,
9. Miscellaneous Works: -- Opium Searchers' Sheds Alterations in Government Offices Saiyingpun School-Surfacing Playing
Grounds
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL proposed the second reading of the Bill entitled the Chinese Emigration (Amendment) Ordinance, 1904. He said-Tais Bill is practically only formal in character. The matter is perhaps somewhat urgent, as we know that the Chinese labourers Lave already been shipped to the Transvaal really under the conditions which it is intended to impose by this Bill. It is hoped that shortly more labourers may be shipped under the re- gulations of the Bill. The intention of the measure is clearly shown in the "objects and reasons. A Convention was entered into this year between Great Britain and China respect- ing the employment of Chinese labour in British colonies. The immediate object of the Bill is not one expressly referred to in the Convention; the object of the Convention was to provide for The ATTORNEY GENERAL proposed the the intended emigration of Chinese labour to first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to the Transvaal, and regulations, differing in some give effect to Article VIII. of the Brussels respects from the regulations for years in force Sugar Convention, 1902. The purpose of this in Hongkong with regard to the emigration of measure is to give effect in the Colony to Chinese labour, were provided for by the 10. Article VIII. of the Brussels Sugar Con- Convention. Pursuant to that Convention, the vention, 1902, by empowering the Governor-in-Transvaal, and I think also Natal, have passed Council to make such re- gulations as he shall deem necessary for the said purpose, and by prohibiting the importation of bounty. fed sugar.
Hon. GERSHOM STEWART.
Hon. W. J. GRESSON.
Mr. S. B. C. Ross (Clerk of Councils).
BOUNTY-FED SUGAR.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. Hon. R. SHEWAN-Can we have any parti- eulars as to the Permanent Commission?
H. E. the GOVERNOR—¡ he hon. member will receive the information he desires.
The Bill was read a first time. The AT ORNEY-GENERAL-I understand that a Bill with the same title was read twice in March last. Certain objections were made as to the form of that Bill. In consequence of these objections no further steps were taken with that Bill. I move that the Bill read in this Council twice in March last be now withdrawn.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. The motion was adopted.
IMBECILE PERSONS.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL proposed the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Imbecile Persons Introduction Ordinance, 1903. The objects of this measure are,
firstly, to remove any doubt as to whether the terms of the principal Ordinance include natives of the Colony, to whom the said Ordinance was not in fact meant to apply; -secondly to exclude persons
of Chinese nationality from the operation of the said Ordinance; and, thirdly, to provide that the said Ordinance shall not conflict with the China and Japan Order in Council, 1865, as regard persons deported thereunder from China to Hongkong.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY SUConded. The Bill was read a first time.
|
Ordinances
the object of which is to prescribe the regulations required under the Convention, and these in the Transvaal and Natal are in force to this extent that coolies sent from here cannot be admitted to the territories of those colonies unless these -regulations are complied with. Therefore, las a matter of fact anybody engaging in the transport of these coolies from Hongkong to Durban must comply with these regulations in so far as they differ from the regulations which have hitherto been in force here. The coolies have already been shipped from Hongkong to South Africa, although we have not any ordinance enforcing those regulations referred to in this Convention, and it is inconvenient that the trade should continue on that footing without the regulations being sanctioned. Hongkong has no power at present to ensure that these regulations will be complied with in shipping these coolies. The purpose of this Bills to obtain the power, and I move that this Bill be now read a second time.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
|
$2,200
200
1
300
Alterations for Improvement of Post
Office Accommodation
40
Total Public Works Recurrent... $31,00
Public Works Extraordinary. Buil dings-Post Office
Total...
..35,000
$38,100
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-We under- estimated the expenditure on the Post Office this year. It is costing more than Was anticipated.
Hon. R. SHEW 、N—How?
Hon. COLONIAL SECRETARY-Ia respect to the foundations.
The votes were unanimously passed.
QUEEN'S COLLEGE. A report by the Examiners of Queen's College was laid on the table..
HONGKONG SANITARY-
BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held . on the 18th instant in the Board Room. Dr. J. M. Atkinson presided, and there were also present Hon. A. W. Brewin, Mr. F. J. Badeley, Mr. E. A. Hewett, Mr. A. Rumjahn, Dr. P. Barnett and Mr. T. H. Hanmer (secreta: y),
The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed.
CLEANSING THE CITY.
H. E. The GOVERNOR-I would add to the statement made by the Hon. Attorney-General The M.O.H., in a minuté, suggested that the that the Convention does not apply to the emigra-general cleansing operations be started tion of coolies from Hongkong, but it has been November. Other members of the Board considered by His Majesty's Government that with him, advising that the Board it is as well that the conditions of the emigration same procedure as last year. It w from Hongkong should be exactly the same as that the expenditure would be as folk the conditions of the emigation dealt with in
Soft soap the Convention for the treaty ports.
Fitting up boilers Firewood
The Bill was read a second time.
On the motion of the Hon Attorney- General, the Council went into Committee on the Bill.
$2.000
$1,000
Coolie hire for haulage
$8,000
Total
$9,000
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.