398
abuse.
THE HONGKON? WEEKLY PRESS AND
HIS EXCELLENCY - I did not use the word | advisable, Since about the year 1888 the control of the department has been with the Board and this was confirmed by 'he Ordinance vo. I of 19 3. It was only by this passing of No. 23 of that year that the Administration was trans- ferred to a Government Official who had sole control of the Department. The control of this Department must revert to the Board. It must not remain as it is. The Ordinance No. 23 of 19 3 must be cancelled.
The HON. MR. HEWETT-I beg your pardon, Your Excellency. I withdraw my remark. In any case you spoke of the report having given the Government a broadside. That was not intended. There was no question of an exchange of broadsides between the non-official members and the Government in this matter. In the report the members of the Commission honestly, sincerely and fearlessly stated exactly, after HIS EXCELLENCY-There is just one word nearly a year's careful consideration. what they I would like to say. It is
in respect found to be the existing state of affairs. That to the question that the honourable member it was a most ungracious and difficult task we has last referred to in regard to that and realised from the first. When His Excellency all other principal questions I am only Sir Matthew Nathan first asked me to become a continuing the polioy which received the member of the committee and later chairman of final endorsement of Sir Matthew Nathan the commission which resulted, I knew perfect before he left this Colony. It is an irre- ly well from my knowledge gained during nearly fragable law of official etiquette that thirty years in the Far East, of which fifteen the Acting Governor should merely continue years had been spent in Hongkong, and from the policy of the departed Governor until such my knowledge gained during three or four years' time as his successor arrives. However, gentle work on the Sanitary Board that we would be men, I shall of course weigh anything that compelled to pass very strong criticism upon the boo. Member or any other hon. member certain sections of the administration of this has to say on this point or on any other point but great department and as a natural consequence II wish you to bear in mind that I am not ini- should have unfortunately as a member of the tiating any new policy of my own. That would commission to sign my name to comments on be an act of disloyalty to the Governor who bas the official action of gentlemen who have been left the Clony. I am simply carrying on the personal friends, some very good personal friends, policy whoh I know he himself would have for a great number of years, In accepting adopted if he had been here. that my colle gues and myself felt that
might have any comment
wa
to
The motion was agreed to.
HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANK.
|
(June 15, 1907.
in London. Though permission is asked to increase the capital to 220,000,000, you are no doubt aware that the Bank does not propose to increase its capital beyond $15,000,00 +
at present. The Bill before us continues the conditions attaching to the Bank's present note issue, but for the inorease of ·5,000,000, it calls upon the Bank to deposit coin and or securities to the full value thereof with the British Government either in London or in Hongkong. In the general interests of the Colony the Bank was allowed in 1898 to issus notes, in excess of its authorized issue, against the deposit of ooin or bullion with the Hongkong Government-dollar for dollar
|
and a continuation of this permission is provided for by the last clause of the Bill I think hoa. members will agree with me that the interests of the public as noteholders are adequately protected by the conditions of the Bill. I now move the second reading of the Bill.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the resolution was agreed to.
The Council resolved itself into committee to consider the Bill clause by olause.
On resuming,
The Hon. Mr. KESWICK moved the third reading of the Bill,
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the resolution was agreed to.
NEDERLANDSCH INDISCHE HANDELSBANK.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of Bill entitled An Ordinance for giving to a Foreign Company called the Neder- landsch-Indische Handelsbank certain facilities for carrying on its business in the Colony.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and this was agreed to.
BILLS OF EXCHANGE ORD'NANCE. The ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the third reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Bills of. Exchange Ordinance, 1885.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and this was agreed to.
Council stands
HIS EXCELLENCY-The adjourned till this day week.
HONGKONG SANITARY BOAR D.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held on June 11th at the Board Room. The Hon. Dr. J. M. Atkinson (President) presided, and there were also present Hon. Mr. W. Chatham F. Clark (Medical (Vice-President), Dr. Officer of Health), Hon. Mr. A. W. Brewin Dr. H. McFarisue Registrar General), (Assistant Medical Ofoer of Health), Hon. Mr. F. J. Badeley (Captain Superintendent of Police), Major T. P. Jones, R.A.M.C., Hon. Mr. E. A. Hewett, Mr. H. Humphreys, Mr. A. Shelton Hooper, Mr. Lau Chu-pak, Mr. Fung Wa-chan, and Mr. G. A. Woodcock (secretary).
THE HON. MR. HEWETT-I trust your make Excellency does not think I was personal in my was justified by the fact that His Ex-remarks. I was discussig it in an impersonal cellency felt constrained to appoint a Com- manner. mission with all the powers of a Royal Com- HIS EXCELLENCY - I have never had any per. mission so as to sift the whole matter to the so al feeling in the matter of this report at all, bottom, We did our duty as well as we It is the privilege of a Colonial Secretary to could. We are all human and fallible criticise. I criticised and Sir Matthew Nathan and liable to error. We realise that it apparently thought that those criticisms were would be absurd to expect the Government to conceived in a spirit which did not militate adopt our report in toto but we thought and against proper cousideration when he directed expected that that report would be received in that they should be printed and laid on the table a more impartial manner and in a less hostile at the same time as the report of the Commission. spirit than has been displayed by the words you He evidently thought that they were, taken on used in criticism of this report. The last words the whole, useful comments on the report. I am Sir Matthew Nathan said in reference to this very pleased to have heard the remarks of the report before leaving the Colony were that he hon. Member and I have not the slightest trusted it would be discussed in a spirit of im- doubt that we will amongst us be able to arrive partiality, or words to that effect. That is the at conclusions on this report which will be spirit in which the members of the Commission satisfactory to every body and of considerable aud, I am sure, my unofficial colleagues on the uss to the Colony. Council would wish to approach the subject. I sincerely trust that in the interests of the Colony, for which I am sure we are all working, The Hon. Mr. KESWICK moved the second that that will be the spirit in which we will reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to be met by official members of this Council authorise the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking when the moment arrives for its discussion. Corporation from time to time to increase the I will not detain this Council any longer, Your Capital of the said Corporation from the sum of Excel engy. The questions of cabioles etc. Ten Millions of Dollars to a sum not exceeding are burning questions. We specially stated in the sum of Twenty Millions of Dollars, and to the report that the subject of cubicles was one continus incorporated for a further term of 21 which required furt er consideration. What years; and to continue in force for a further I do ask and hope is that we will recognise period of 21 years the provisions of Section 3 in discussing this report the necessity for of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking meeting each other fairly and frankly, and Corporation Ordinance, 1899, with regard to honestly and sincerely endeavouring to discuss the Excess Issue of Bills and Notes payable to
1. a spirit bearer on demand. In doing so he said :- this question, bere or elsewhere, in
Bill. of perfect good friendship and unanimity, The
the second reading of which working in the best interests of the Colony. I am about to move, may be subdivided under I regret having felt called upon to make these three heads-First the increase from time to remarks, which I would not have done as a time of the capital of the H. & S. B. C. from member of the late Commission had I not felt ten millions to a sum not exceeding twenty that a certain amount of personal feeling and millions; second the incorporation of the Bank animus had crept into the discussion. I do not say for a further period of 21 years; and third, the that it is altogether on one side. I regret that continuation for a period of 21 years of the we have not had public feeling expressed more provisions of section III. of the H. & S. B. C. than in the few articles which appeared in the Ordinance of 1899 with regard to its excess local papers, but feel convinced that the feeling note issue. Besides its very large interest in in the Colony is in favour of a thorough reform this Colony, the Bank is by far the most of the epartment. There is only one point o important financial institution China, which I would specially refer in regard to these and the scope of its work is so well known to recommendations which have just been laid all hon. members that they cannot but ap. before us. I gather from page 7 that it is prove the desire of the shareholders to obtain proposed to retain the Administrative Head of the sanction of the Government for an increase the department. Your Excellency, I can say of capital. That the shareholders also wish the looking at it entirely from the point of view incorporation of the Bank for a further period -which you understand I must hold I con-ider of 21 years hardly calls for any commeut. I that as stated in our report the Sanitary Depart- think you will agree with me that it is most ment should not be run as an entirely Govern desirable to have this leading Bank closely the Colony. As regards the ment Department under the control of a Govern-identified with ment Official, and I feel sure that further note issue, which is a matter of public interest, consideration and discussion will show this to be I would remind the hoo, members that nuder the consensus of opinion in the Colony. That the existing deed of settlement the Bank the Chairman of the Sanitary Board should be is authorized to issue notes to the amount of aGovernment Official may be admitted to be feasi its present capital of $10,00,000 against the ble, and I am quite prepared to be convinced deposit of approved securities for 1/3rd of the that the transfer of the Chairmanship may be amount with the Crown Agents of the Colony
in
THE COMMISSION'S REPORT. Mr. HOOPER, pursuant to notice, asked ;— Whether the president of the Sanitary Board will ask the Government if the Sche du e B in the Appendix to the printed report of the Public Health and Bailding Ordinance Commission which was sent to the Board and laid on the table at the last meeting, is a true copy of the Schedule B of the original report.
If not, in what respect does it differ, and by whose authority was any alteration or addi- tion made ?
3. Whether Schedule A of Appendix No. 1 of sash report wh ch is stated in the copy sent to the Board as not printed, is printed in whole or in part, in such copy.
The PRESIDENT replied:
1. It is not.
2. It differs by the addition of eight members of the Sanitary Department who have ceased to be members since the Commission sat by the authority of the Officer Administering the Government.
3. The names of those eight mambers were extracted from Schedule A, which contined three lists of
пашев, vis.. (a) Names of members of the Department whose cases have bean enquired in and against whom the Commissioners stated that the obarges had not in their opinion been proved; (b) `ames of members who had been reported to and dealt with by the Government, and (c) The names of two officers whose cases the Commissioners
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