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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, DECEMBER 22, 1916.
The Council met pursuant to adjournment.
The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 17th October, 1916, were confirmed."
PAPERS.--The Colonial Secretary laid on the table the following paper :---
Abstract shewing Differences between the Estimates of Expenditure for 1916
and 1917.
FINANCIAL MINUTES.-The Colonial Secretary laid on the table Financial Minutes Nos. 34 to 38, and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee:
No. 34.--Kowloon-Canton Railway, B.-Expenses of Con-
struction, III.-Formation, (a) Earthwork,..$ 5,000.00. No. 35.-Public Works, Extraordinary, Hongkong, Mis-
cellaneous Works,
3,500.00.
No. 36.-Miscellaneous Services,
825.00.
No. 37.-Public Works, Extraordinary, Bridge over Au
Tau Creek,
950.00.
No. 38. Public Works, Extraordinary, Kowloon, Com-
pensation and Resumptions,
5,000.00.
The Colonial Treasurer seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.
REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Colonial Secretary laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee (No. 8), dated the 17th October, 1916, and moved its adoption.
The Colonial Treasurer seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.
QUESTIONS.Mr. POLLOCK, pursuant to notice, asked the following question :--
With reference to the following statements in paragraph 5 of the Despatch of His Excellency the Governor, of the 26th May, 1916, to the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the subject of the recent Petition for greater representation of the public on the Executive and Legislative Councils, namely: "It is quite impracticable to apply the principle of election to appoint- ments to a body like the Executive Council and it does not seem necessary to set out the very obvious reasons for which such a proposal could not be entertained”: Will the Govern- ment state what are the reasons why such a proposal could not be entertained?
The Colonial Secretary replied.
Mr. POLLOCK raised a point of order and His Excellency the Governor replied.
GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL.-Mr. POLLOCK, pursuant to notice, asked the following questions:---
Government Civil Hospital.
1. Of the sums of $9,905, $10,147, and $9,714 stated at the last meeting of Council to have been expended in the years 1913, 1914, and 1915, respectively, will the Government state
(i) how much of that expenditure represents drugs and disinfectants
(a) supplied from home;
(b) purchased locally ?
(ii) whether it is not the fact that the price of drugs and disinfectants has gone up considerably since the beginning of the war, with the result that the same sum of money purchased considerably less drugs and disinfectants since the war than it did before the war?
(iii) whether any savings were effected on the amounts voted for drugs and disinfectants in the years 1914 and 1915 or either of them, and, if so, what were the amounts of such savings?
2. With reference to the morning allocation of Sisters at the Civil Hospital which was announced
by His Excellency the Governor at the Council Meeting of the 3rd August last, namely:-
A Block.
Morning, I Sister on each floor;
Operating Theatre, 1 Sister;
will the Government state
(i) on what dates between the 22nd August and the date of these Questions (12th
October) it has been found possible to carry out the said intended morning scheme.