1834 THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 25TH NOVEMBER, 1899.
diminished expenditure as compared with 1899. We are still further surprised to find that the contemplated reduction is in the Engineering Staff which is surely rather in need of augmentation on His Excellency's own showing.
17. When we consider that in 1890 a sum of $94,420 was voted for this Department as compared with $91,402 in the Estimates under consideration, we are still further convinced of the inadequacy of the present Staff.
18. That this Department, with which the vital interests of the Colony as regards sanitation, water supply, and development generally are so inseparably bound up, should undergo reduction at such a time, we consider a serious matter, and we earnestly urge upon His Excellency to take immediate steps to put the Department on a footing commensurate with its extended duties.
19. We would suggest to His Excellency the desirability of appointing a Committee to investigate and report on the question of the staff of the Public Works Department, and we make this proposal because, as we have already stated, the policy hitherto has been to starve our Public Works, and we recognize the import- ance of providing a Staff sufficient to carry on the large works now impending.
C. P. CHATER. ΗΟ ΚΑΙ.
E. R. BELILIOS. WEI AYUK.
J. J. KESWICK.
HONGKONG, 17th November, 1899.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.—No. 653.
By command of His Excellency the Governor an Election by the Rate-payers of two members of the Sanitary Board will take place at the City Hall on Tuesday, the 19th day of December, 1899, commencing at 4 o'clock.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 25th November, 1899.
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,
Colonial Secretary,
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION. No. 654.
The following Notice is published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 25th November, 1899.
NOTICE.
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary.
It is hereby notified that, by command of His Excellency the Governor, and pursuant to Section 4 of The Public Health Ordinance, 1887, an election by the Rate-payers of two Members of the Sanitary Board will take place at the City Hall on Tuesday, the 19th day of December, 1899, commencing at 4 o'clock.
The following persons will be entitled to vote at the election, that is to say :-
(a) Rate-payers who are included in the Special and Common Jury lists for the year 1891. (b) Rate-payers who are exempted from serving on Juries on account of their professional
avocations.
A list of Rate-payers entitled to vote will be posted at the Supreme Court for public inspection for one week from Monday, the 11th day of December, 1899, and any person not on the list claiming to be a Kate-payer entitled to vote should send notice of his claim to the Acting Registrar on or before the 19th December next.
The election will be conducted in accordance with the Rules made by the Governor-in-Council on the 31st May, 1888.
Voting will commence immediately after the nominations and continue until 6 P.M. when the ballot box will be closed.
Supreme Court, Hongkong, 25th November, 1899.
A. SETH, Acting Registrar.