1
September 17, 1906.)
probably have all experienced at times the dificulties of going on board steamers to see their friends off. Underlying any new measure that may be brought forward in respect to the junk trade is the undeniable fact that it is of importance to the prosperity of Hongkong that the utmost freedom should be allowed to such trade which is compatible with public security. Bearing this axiom in mind and having arrived at a period when it is thought that the existing law in respect to junks could with safety be amend. ed, this bas now been done, and in the Bill now before the Council, it will be seen that its new provisions confer great advantages to the junk community and is not without its quid pro quo to the Colony. The principal features in the new ordinance are:-The abolition of sureties and a reduction in the number of permits. With regard to the first named, the existing law, which was framed before the New Territory was taken over, provides that a junk licence shall not be granted unless the intending licensee shall enter into a bond together with
оре or
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Officer in the New Territory extends to the recovery of rent for land, and that the jurisdic- tion of the summary division of the Supreme Court is ousted.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The Council then went into committed to consider the Bill in detail.
On Council resuming, His Excellency reported that the Bill had passed through committee without amendment,
PRAYA RECLAMATION FUND.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to transfer to the General Revenue certain sums forming part of the Praya Réclamation Fund. He said-The title of the Bill tells the Council its object. It is owing to the Praya Reclamation, account having been closed that certain sums are due to the Colonial Govern ment.
The COLONIAL TREASURER-I second it and would add that the object of the Bill is to prevent the payment of 20 per cent. That is the real object of the Bill (laughter).
His EXCELLENCY-This has not been done
anrreptitiously but with the approval of the Secretary of State.
The motion was agreed to.
The Council went into committee to consider the Bill in detail.
On the Council resuming.
His EXCELLENCY reported that the Bill had passed through committee without amendment.
REGULATION OF CHINESE,
The ATTORNEY-General moved the second reading of the Bill entitled Au Ordinance to amend the Regulation of Chinese Ordinance, 1888. He said-The object of this Bill is to empower the Government to extend part three of the Regulation of Chinese Ordinance to any part of the Colony.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and the motion was agreed to.
The Council then went into committee. On the Council resuming.
more sureties resident in the Colony. This was necessary as a means of exercising control at a time when a junk cargo or other Chinese boat had only to slip over the border line to, say, Sham-shai-po or Kowloon city to be under Chinese protection. The need no longer exists as bosts would now have to proceed considerable distances before getting olear of our territorial waters besides hav. ing to run the gauntlet of the water police whose organisation can be relied on to cope with any
cases of emergency that might arise. Another reason for dispensing with sureties is the difficulties that undoubtedly are experienced by junk owners in procuring them. The process has been found to involve a kind of monopoly as well as a system of squeezes which it is only right that junk owners should be relieved of. With regard to the number of permits that it is found practical to reduce, the present system involves endless visits to the Harbour Office or Station before the require. ments of the law can be fulfilled. Thus :-A visit on arrival to take out an anchorage pass; visit to obtain a permit to unload in a certain locality; a visit to obtain a permit to reload in a certain locality; a visit to obtain a clearance. The tediousness of having to obtain so many different permits falls
more beavily од the unlicensed than the licensed junk 28 the latter can
cover most of them by the taking
out of a special permit, which is a sufficient warrant for the doing of any act mentioned therein. While therefore in the amended ordinance the special licence remains and serves as an inducement for all junks to take out licences, provision is made for unlicensed junks in lieu of permit to take out a certificate on deposit of whichventient to members. on arrival a receipt is given entitling the owner to discharge and load for one voyage, and which later by endorsement serves as a clearance. The quid pro quo I alluded to is in respect to a more uniform system of charges for junk licences on a graduated and slightly higher scale, which by reason of the abolition of sureties certain of the permits will not be appre: cisbly felt by the junk community and should favourably affect the revenue from this source. There may be some minor points which I shall
be pleased, if necessary, to answer when the Bill is in the Committee stage. I do not think there is any more to be said respecting its main features.
The motion was agreed to.
an
The Council then went into committee. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL proposed amendment to clause 2, by inserting the words on the second line "without the written per- mission of the Harbour Master."
This was agreed to.
Hon. Mr. E. OSBORNE referred to the nuisance caused by junks and sampans lying at the Prays wall and preventing other vessels landing.
The Bill was left in committee and the Council resumed.
AMENDMENT OF NLW TERKITORIES LAND
ORDINANCE.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the New Territories Land Ordinance, 1905. He said The Bill is necessary in order to make it clear that the jurisdiction of the Land
Bill
His EXCELLENCY reported that the Bill had passed through committee without amendment. His EXCELLENCY-The Council stands adjourned till 2.30 p.m. on Thursday, 20th September, when I propose to proceed with the second reading of the to amend the Prepared Opium Ordinance of 1901. and the third reading of the Lunsoy Bill, the Merchant Shipping Bill, the New Territories Land Bill, the Praya Reclamation Fund Bill and the Regulation of Chinese Ordinance Bill. I propose to await the report of the Standing Committee of Law on the Code of Civil Procedure Bill, and I propose to leave in accordance with custom the Supply Bill for a fortnight before bringing on the second reading if that is con-
SUR LE "
JORDAN."
There are various ways in which newspaper telegrams may be innocently garbled, and probably no journal in the Far East escapes these accidents dHainhong of September 4th has suffered in a altogether. Le Courrier
new way, however. Its English telegrams are telephoned from Hanoi to Haiphong. One appeared as follows:
ABRIVÉS.
+
On annonce l'arrivée prochaine à Pékin sar le "Jordan" du nouveau Ministre
d'Angleterre, attenda anjourd'hui á
Shanghai, vis Canada.
1K
name
The man at the Hanoi and of the telephone
the
and title probably read out in English, and the man at the other end heard "Bir J. Jordan" as sur le Jordan *" without reflecting that Peking is not yet a seaport. The official who sends these messages from Hongkong to the Government of Indo. China will perhaps enjoy a laugh at the
transformation.
H.E. the Governor has been pleased to appoint under the provisions of Section 2 (1) of the Marriage Ordinanos, 1875 (Ordinance No. 7 pf 1875), Mr. J. R. Wood to be a deputy registrar of marriages, during the absence on vacation leave of Mr. J. Dyer Ball, or until further notice, with effect from the lat instant.
SUPREME COURT.
Monday, September 10th.
171
IN SUMMARY JURISDICTION.
BEFORE MR. A. G. WISE (Puisna JUDGE,
INDIAN INGRATITUDE There were several unusual features in the sotion brought by Bhola Singh, watohman to Chan A King, contractor, against Ahms Singh and Jag Singh for the recovery of $20 paid by plaintiff on behalf of defendants jointly. Mr. Gardiner, from the office of Mr. O. D. Thomson, appeared for plaintiff.
It appeared that the defendants, who had booked their passage by the Canadian Pacifis Railway Company, were delayed longer in Hongkong than they had anticipated, and fear- ing that they would be stranded they asked a compatriot to instruct a solicitor to procare for them the return of the 8100 gold deposited with the C.P.R. Plaintiff engaged Mr. Gardiner and paid him $2) for his services, to which arrangement the defendants agreed. Gardiner performed the required services and obtained for them the 8100 gold.
Mr.
The second defendant admitted that Mr. Gardiner had obtained the money for them.
His Honour Then why don't you pay up? Defendant-We did not agree to do so. His Honour-But they say so, and I believe them.
Į
Mr. Gardiner explained that the second defendant came to his office on Friday and offered him $20, which be could not then accept, as there were expenses and costs, together with the costs of the arrest of defendant as he was going to Singapore. Then $30 was paid into court and the case set for hearing.
His Honour gave judgment against the second defendant with costs.
Tuesday, September 11th.
IN SUMMARY JURISDICTION,
BEFORE MR. A. G. WISE (PUISNE JUDGE.)
UNSUCCESSFUL COMPANY FLOATER. Soon Iu, of stall 167 Central Market, sued Lam Kwai-chnen, of 18 Gilman's Bazaar, for the recovery of 870, the amount of balance due from defendant to plaintiff. Mr. d'Almada e Castro appeared for plaintiff, but plaintiff entered no appearance.
The facts were as follows :--
In July last defendant approached the plaintiff and informed him that he was about to form a company to be known as the Soi Sang Lung Fig Lsa business. He induced plaintiff to take a share, and the latter, in two payments, gave him $1,000 for this purpose. Subsequently defendant informed him that he was unable to form the company, and returned $300. When plaintif found that ordinary pressure did not whereupon defendant offered $50) in settlement get him back his money, he took out a summons, of his claim. Naturally plaintiff declined.
His Lordship, after hearing the facts, gave judgment for plaintiff with costs.
Thursday, September 18th.
IN BANKRUptcy JurisDICTION.
BEFORE THE CHIEF JUSTICE (SIR FRANCIS PIGGOTT.)
RECEIVING ORDERS GRANTED.
Re Kwong Wong Hing exparte the debtor. Mr. Sw Tso said the application was for a receiving order. The creditors wished to look after the estate of the debtor, whose debts
amounted to $34,956.18 and whose assets includ- ed a house and some furniture which would realise $24,800,
The application was granted.
Re the Chung Sang firm exparte (Ng_Sze Fun.
Mr. d'Almada e Castro, on behalf of a creditor, applied for a receiving order. He said the act of bankruptcy was `a`notice
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