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August 30, 1909.]
BILLS POSTPONED,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL asked leave to postpone the second reading of the Tramway Ordinance and the Liquor Licences Ordinance.
Agreed to.
DOG ORDINANCE.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the Dogs Ordinance, 1893. In doing so ` he said—The memorandum attached to the Bill indicates its object. It is really to provide a home for wandered or lost dogs where they may be kept and maintained. The home will be subject to the supervision of the police, and the dogs kept in such home shall not be liable to the dog tax. The bill provides that the fee for dog licences shall be three dollars instead of a dollar and a half. It is not a new proposal, being taken from the Ordinance of 1893. We imported it into this ordinance.
The COLONIAL SecretaRY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.
With reference to the fee to be charged for & dog licence,
Hon. Mr. OSBORNE asked-Why is it in- oreased?
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-It is not in- creased.
Hon. Mr. STEWART-Can we increase it now? The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-Yes, if you wish, Hon. Mr. O8SBO «NE- chance for revenue. Hon. Mr. BADELEY—It would be very small. Hon. Mr. STEWART-I think the privilege of keeping a dog is one that should be paid for. I move that the fee be five dollars instead of three.
Hon. Mr. WEI YUK-Three dollars is enough As a matter of fact it is too much for a watch dog.
Hon. Mr. BADELEY-What about three dollars for the first dog and fige
dollars for the
second?
Hon. Mr. OSBORNE - Make it more. Hon. Mr. STEWART-1 hat's a good sug- gestion.
His EXCELLECY-It is rather hard to de- scribe for what purposes a dog is being kept.
Hon. Mr. TEWART We might make it one dog three dollars, two dogs nine dollars, doubling the fee for each additional dog.
HIS EXCELLENCY-There are certain villages in the New Territory where dogs are kept for food.
Hon. Mr. SWART -I'withdraw my amend ment.
HIS EXCELLENCY-I might explain the origin of this bill. The Rev. Mr. Hickling called upon me some time ago and asked per- mission to start a dogs' home in order to prevent cruelty to dogs. I don't suppose any rival home is likely to be started.
The clause was passed.
On Council resuming, it was reported that the Bill had passed through Committee.
CEMETERY ORDINANCE.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordin- ance to set apart certain Crown land to be used as a burial ground for persons pro- fessing the Christian religion, other than members of the Roman Catholic Church. In doing so he said-The object of this Bill is to set apart a portion of land for a cemetery for the burial of persons professing the Christian religion other than those of the Church of Rome, which body had been in possession for years of a portion of the English cemetery. The other part of the cemetery has been open for the burial of persons of the Christian religion, but there has been no positive proscription against the interment therein of any person whatever professed during his lifetime, and it has been represented to the "Government that it would be well if a portion of this land should now be formally set apart by law for the interment of persons professing the Christian religion other than Roman Catholics. The Fill now before you is designed to give effect to that object. I may add that already other bodies than Christians have had portions of land set apart for the burial of their dead. There is the Mohammedan Cemetery, the Jewish Cemetery, the Parsee Cemetery, and so I move that the Bill be now read a second time.
оп.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. HIS EXCELLENCY-With reference to what the hon. and learned member said in explanation of the memorandum, I would say that the only reason for excluding Roman Catholics is that they have a cemetery of their own.
Lion Dr.Ho KAI-Is it a new piece of land? The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-No. It is the old Colouíal Cemetery.
The motion was agreed to.
Council then went into Committee,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that he pro- prosed to leave the Bill in Committee for the present owing to the circumstance that difficulties had arisen in connection with another portion, of land which it was in tended to set aside for the burial of Buddhists. A difficulty had arisen as to the means of access, and in consequence the plan had not been completed.
Hon. Mr. STEWART said His Excellency had been good enough to tell the Council the ori- gin of the tlugs' home. Might they have some hint as to the need for this Ordinance?
HIS EXCELLENCY-I think everybody is aware of the fact that there has been a good deal of discussion at the Sanitary Board and else- where on the subject of Chinese interment in the Colonial Cemetery. The Colonial Cemetery, so far as one can ascertain, has always been open to any person irrespective of race or- creed. It has been desired that there should be a certain portion set aside for Christian inter- ment. The Bishop presented to me what I might call a request from the Wesleyans, Baptists, and representatives of the Church of England that a portion should be opened for Christian burial.
Hon. Mr. OSBORNE-Protestants? HIS EXCELLENCY Any persons.
HION. Mr. STEWART It excludes Roman Catholics. They have now I take it a right to be interred there.
HIS EXCELLENCY-They have a cemetery of their own.
HON. Mr. OSBORNE-Does it mean the different sects of the Protestant religion.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Not that I am aware of. The TTOR EY-GEN RAL-It means persons professing the Christian religion. It would include Presbyterians-
Hon. Mr. STEWART-What about members of the Greek Church, and of the Armenian Church? Would it include Nestorian Christians? The COLONIAL SECRETA Y said that mem- bers of the Greek Church and of the Armenian Church could not be described as Protestant.
on. r. STEWART That's my point. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL stated that it was only the Protestants who would be affected by the Bill.
Hon Mr. STEWART-But the preamble of the bill includes members of the Armenian Church.
The ATT RNEY-GE ERAL Yes.
HIS EXCELLENCY-I think it is a matter to be left to the Ecclesiastical authorities. They desire that this portion should be dedicated, and they are willing to agree that persons of the Christian religion shall be buried in it with the exception of Roman atholics who have their own cemetery.
HON. R. STEWA T-If it is as wide as that the title of the Bill conflicts with the meinorandum.
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HIS EXCELLENCY-I propose to leave the Bill in committee for the reason that the plan is not yet ready. I shall be very glad to show the hon. member the letter which was presented to me by the Bishop in the name of the other denominations and signed by the leading churchmen of the sects.
Council then resumed.
MINISTERIAL DUTIES.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second
reading of the Bill entitled An Ordin.
ance to relieve the Governor-in- ouncil of certain ministerial duties. In doing so be said-The object of this ordinance is tojuvest in the Governor certain ministerial duties! which at present require the assembling of the Executive Council. The various duties are in connection with several ordinances set out in the schedule. All are absolutely what are called ministerial duties and it is purely for the convenience of the Government that the¦ alteration suggested should be made.
The COLONIAL SECKETARY seconded and the motion was agreed to.
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Council then went into committee on the Bill.
18/ EXCELLENCY explained that this Bill dealt with matters which it was not considered necessary should be brought before the Execu tive Council as they were purely formal. Where it was laid down that certain legislation should be approved by the Governor-in-Council it was proposed to substitute the Governor.
Hon. Mr. GRESSON—On looking through the Bill the first thing that attracts my attention is the Merchant Shipping Ordinance of 1899. W. have got no means of going through that just now.
HIS EXCELLENCY-We are not discussing the Shipping Ordinance just now.
are
Hon. Mr. GBESSON—We are passing things in the dark. The Ordinance is not before us so that we do not know what powers we giving up. It seems to me very much like putting your name to a document you do not understand to agree to a schedule of this sort.
HIS EXCELLENCY- We are not yet discuss- ing the schedule. When it comes to discussing it Council can cross out every clause if it desires.
Hon Mr OSBORNE - Couldn't a short suth- mary be prepared to show what has been given up.
Hon. Mr. STEWAT—I would suggest that the Bill be left in committee to enable us to refer to these ordinances.
H18 EXCELLENCY-Certainly. The Bill was left in committee. Council then resumed.
HIS EXCELLENCY- Council stands adjourned until Wednesday next.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
then held, the COLONIAL SECRETARY presiding. A meeting of the Finance Committee was
The following votes were passed :-
SANITARY DEPARTMENT,
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of Six hundred Dollars ($600) in aid of the vote, Sanitary Department, Other Charges, Sanitary Staff, Head Stones.
PUBLIC WORKS EXTRAORDINARY. The Governor recommended the Council to vota a sum of Eighteen thousand Dollars ($18,000) Causeway Bay Typhoon Refuge, Deepening in aid of the vote, Public Works, Extraordinary, shallow area to one foot below Ordnance Datum
MONGKOKTSUI 1YPHOON REFUGE.
At Friday's meeting of the Legislative Council & Bill authorising the construction and maintenance of a harbour of refuge upon the harbour frontage at Tai koktsui, Mongkoktsui and Yaumati, was read & first time. The works authorised by this Ordinance comprise the following:-
i (1) The constructing of a detached rubble- mound breakwater commencing at a pointabout 1,000 feet south by east of the south-western corner of Kowloon M rine Lot 32, and terminat- ing at a point about 900 feet west by north of the north-western corner of Kowloon Marine Lot 89; the said breakwater to be constructed entirely on the sea bed of the harbour.
(2) The constructing of a masonry jetty com. mencing at the western end of Saigon Street, * and terminating at a point about 450 feet west by north of the point of commencement; the
and sea bed of the harbour. said jetty to be constructed on the foreshore
(3) The reclaiming of a portion of the fore- shore or sea bed adjoining and lying to the south of Kowloon arine Lot 32, and the pro- tecting of the area so reclaimed by means of walls and other necessary works.
(4) The levelling and reclaiming of the area of Crown land, foreshore or sea bed bounded as follows:- On the north by Public Square Street; on the east by Reclamation Street, Kowloon Inland Lots Nos. 563 and 562, and Canton Road; on the south by kowloon Inland Lots Nos. 555 and 559, Battery Etreet, Kowloon Inland Lots Nos. 563 and 565, Canton Road, and Saigon Street; and on the west by imaging ary lines connecting a point on the north side of Saigon Street and about 250 feet distant from the west side of Canton Road with a point on the south side of Public Square Street and opposite to the south-western corner of Kow- lcon Marine Lot No. 39.
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