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December 7, 1208.]
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT
403
ive especial attention to the question of the The resolution was as follows:-Whereas efficiency of our typhoon signals and this year, application has been duly made by the Sanitary on a similar occasion, I informed the Council Board to the Governor under. Section 167 of what I had been able to do. On August the Public Health and Building's Ordinance 6th also I stated that the Commander-in- 1903 for the erection of a Public Latrine in the A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Chief of the South China Station had Wong Nei Chung village immediately to the Council was held on Dec. 3rd in the Council consented to communicate by wireless tale. South of it and near House No. 113; And Chamber.
graphy any atmospheric disturbances which His Whereas such application having been His EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIR Majesty's warships cruising in surrounding approved by the Governor and a notification FREDERICK JOHN DEALTRY LUGARD, Waters might be able to report. The great of the intention to erect a public latrine apon K.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O.
desideratum, however, was that there should be such site having been duly published in three Hon Mr. F. H. MAY, C.M.G., (Colonial an observation station somewhere to the south successive numbers of the Gazette, certain Secretary).
east, the direction from which most typhoons inhabitants of the above village have objected Hon. Mr. W. REES DAVIES, K.C., (Attorney-come. I accordingly wrote to the Governor. to such erection; And Whereas the objections General).
General of the Philippine Islands-the islands.so made have been considered by this Council; in that channel being American territory-It is hereby resolved by this Council that the suggesting to him that information from that above mentioned site and the erection thereon quarter would be of great value both to Manila of a Public Latrine be approved. and ourselves. I desire to read to you the very courteous reply which I have received from him :- —
Hon. Mr. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Trea- surer).
Hon. Mr. W. CHATHAM, C.M.G., (Director of Public Works).
Hon. Mr. E. A. IRVING (Registrar- General).
Hon. Mr. F. J. BADELEY, (Capt. Superinten. dent of Police).
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, M.B., C.M., C.M.G. Hon. Mr. WEI YUK, C.M.G.
Hon. Mr. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C.
Hon. Mr. E. A. HEWETT.
Hon. Mr. H. A. W. SLADE.
Manila.
November 17th, 1908. YOUR EXCELLENCY.-I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of October 16th, and in reply I must say that I am much impressed with what your Excellency urges in favour of the establishment of a wireless station at Santo Domingo de Basco. I have taken up the matter with the Postal Authorities who are charged with the duty of making all The minutes of the last meeting were read, insular telegraphic installations, and hope that and confirmed.
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Hon. Mr. W. J. GRESSON.
Mr. C. CLEMENTI (Clerk of Councils).
MINUTES.
CHINA'S NATIONAL BEREAVEMENT.
am sure
they may have sufficient money available to carry into effect the project suggested by your Excellency. If there is no money available for the purpose, I shall apply for an appropriation to the Legislature at its next session.
With assurances of my most distinguished consideration,I have the honour to be, Sir, Your Excellency's very obedient servant.
(Sd) JAMES F. SMITH,
Governor-General.
FINANCIAL MINUTES,
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table Financial Minutes Nos 61 to 68, and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and the motion was agreed to.
FINANCIAL.
HIS EXCELLENCY-I have caused to be inserted upon the notices of this meeting of Council a resolution which I now rise to move. We in Hongkong are so closely connected with China that events in that Empire affect us in an exceptional degree, and it has always been our aim and object to maintain cordial' and friendly relations with our great neighbour. The majority of the population of this British The establishment of a wireless station at Colony are Chinese, and whether they are Santo Domingo is, I am assured by our own British subjects or merely temporary residents, director-and we have seen by a communication they cannot but feel deeply the news we have lately published by the American Consul General that heard from Peking. It is therefore fitting that it is also the view of the Rev. Father Algué. this Council, as representing the people of this the director of the Manila Observatory-will be Colony, should express its condolences with the of incalculable value to us. Therefore I am most Chinese Government, and assure it of its sympathy glad to be able to inform the Council that there and good wishes. So soon as I received the news of is every prospect of it being established. the death of the Dowager Empress and of the will also mention one other matter. I have Emperor, I telegraphed in this sense through arranged with the Telegraph Company, at a the Consul General at Canton to the Governor very small cost, that during the prevalence of any General of the Two Kwang, and he typhoons likely to strike this island, more fre- has expressed himself as very grateful for quent telegrams should beexcl angel-(Applause). the message, but I have awaited the meet- ing of Council before sending any similar message to Peking. If, I
28 it will be, this resolution is unanimously carried, I propose to send a copy of it to our Minister at Peking for communication to the Chinese Government. I move;-
That the Legislative Council of Hongkong at this, its first meeting since the news of the deaths of the Emperor and the Dowager Empress of China was received, desires to record its sympathy with the Government of China on the loss it has sustained by the death of its rulers, and to express its hope that the reign of the new Emperor may be successful and prosperous."
A NEW LATRINE. HON. DR. HO KAI-Sír, Most respectfully
The COLONIAL SECRETARY—I and feelingly do I second the resolution which resolution under section 170 of the Public your Excellency has just proposed, and which I Health and Buildings Ordinance 1903 which am quite sure this Council will pass unanimously stands in my name and copies of which have been The recent sad calamity which has overtaken circulated. In connection with this matter I the Chinese Government and nation is of such beg to lay on the table a paper containing ob a character as cannot fail to call forth our jections to the site on which it is proposed deepest sympathy with them in their sorrow to erect a public latrine at Wongneicheong. and grief. And further, when we see with I had occasion recently to move a similar what fortitude and calm resignation they have resolution and to comment briefly on a similar borne their double loss, we cannot but entertain objection. I said then it was impossible to select for them the profoundest respect and admiration. a site for a latrine anywhere within the radius Yesterday the new Emperor formally ascended of the inhabited area of this city without the Throne, and I am sure we all wish him a long incurring the objection of some portion of the and glorious reign. In the meantime we wish inhabitants. The site which forms the subject and we hope that his trusted ministers and the of this resolution has been selected by the Prince Regent will have every success in secur- Sanitary Board after careful consideration ing and maintaining the welfare, prosperity and approved by the Public Works Authorities. and happiness of the great Chinese nation, and There is no more objection to it than there also in promoting the peace and advancement would be to any site that could be selected of the Empire (Applause).
with reasonable regard to financial consideration in the neighbourhood of this village. There fore I do not think any of the objections which have been raised to the site should weigh with this Council.
PREPARATIONS FOR TYPHOONS.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Before proceeding with the business of the day I desire, with the per- mission of the Council, to make a statement for the information of the public. Last year when introducing the estimates I pledged myself to
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the report of the Finance Committee (No. 18), and moved its adoption.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
move the
The DIRECTOR of PUBLIC WORKS seconded and the resolution was agreed to.
NEW BYELAWS.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I move that the approval of this Council be given to a series of byelaws under section 16 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance 1903, with the excep- tion of A., D. and H. which require to be sent back to the Sanitary Board for amendment. The other byelaws contain small alterations to the existing byelawa, and provide in the case of those relating to disinfection and the preven- tion and mitigation of infectious disease, for the new policy which is now being adopted in dealing with Plague.
The DIRECTOR of PUBLIC WORKS seconded and the resolution was agreed to.
The bye-laws were :~-~~ (a.) Bake-houses.
(b.) Cattle-sheds, Pig-sties, etc. (c.) Cemeteries. (d.) Dairy.
(e) Depots for Cattle, Pigs, Sheep and Goats. (f) Disinfection of Infected Premises. (g.) Domestic Cleanliness and Ventilation. (h) Importation and Inspection of Animals. (L) Latrines.
(j) Laundry.
(k) Prevention and Mitigation of Epidemic,
Endemic, Contagious or Infectious Diseases (1.) Prevention of the breeding of Mosquitoes. (m) Removal of Ceiling and Star Linings. (n.) Removal of Patients.
QUESTION—THE BUILDING COLLAPSE. The Hon. Dr. Ho KAI asked the following question which stood in his name:-" Will the the Honourable the Attorney-General state whether he has any objection to give the reasons which governed him in not filing an indictment · for manslaughter at the last Sessions in the Portland Street Building Collapse Case ?
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-The matter is one of public interest and I am very glad of the opportunity of giving the reasons which governed me in the matter. They are as follows:-
After the Coroner's enquiry the Prosecution obtained important expert evidence as to the construction of the buildings. This evidence did not establish such a degree of negligence as could justify a prosecution for manslaughter and in the opinion of the Attorney-General, no jury could possibly have convicted having. regard to it.
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The evidence also clearly demonstrated that the main supervision of the work was not controlled by Mr. Bird and as a fact the Build- ing Contract specifically defined the Architects to be Clement Palmer and Arthur Turnef" and did not include the name of Mr. Bird. This point however was not material having regard to the absence of proof of negligence previously alluded to.
In the Shaukiwan case the evidence taken before the Coroner on the other hand clearly established grava negligence against the Con- tractor.
NEW TERRITORITIES SMALL DEBT COURT
ORDINANCE.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to empower & Magistrate to hold a small debt court in the New Territories and to regulate the proceedings in relation thereto.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
MAGISTRATÉS ORDINANCE AMENDMENT ORDINANCE.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a bill antitled An Ordinance to amend the Magistrates Ordinance 1890 and to effect. certain other amendments in the Criminal Law. ·
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