THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, MARCH 24, 1921.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
101
No. 118. The Honourable Mr. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C., has given notice of the following questions: --
1. Has the Government yet received Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice's Report on the Development of the Harbour? If not, has the Government any, and if so, Will such what information as to when it is likely to receive such Report? Report be laid upon the Table of this Council?
2. Has the Government or has His Excellency the Governor forwarded to the Secretary of State for the Colonies any communication or communications from any person or persons or body of persons with reference to Constitutional Reform other than the communications received by the Government from the Constitutional Reform Association? If the answer to the above Question is in the affirmative, will the Government lay such communication or communica- tions upon the Table of this Council?
3. Has the Government received any communication from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the effect stated by him in answer to Colonel John Ward, M.P. in the House of Commons (as telegraphed from London under date the 22nd February and published in the local papers) namely, that it has been decided not to make any change in the principle or mode of selection of the Legislative Council of this Colony? If so, will the Government lay such des- patch from the Secretary of State upon the Table of this Council?
4. For how long has the Government been aware that it was feasible to place cars containing 60 persons each on the Peak Tramway without alteration to the present points? Will the Government state what objections, if any, exist to the introduction of such larger cars on the Peak Tramway?
to which the following are the replies ;
1. As a number of plans have to be examined by Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice, some of which are not yet ready, it will probably be some time before any report is received. The question of publication will be considered on the receipt of the report.
2. The Governor is the only channel of communication with the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The nature and extent of the Governor's correspon- dence with the Secretary of State on this or any other subject is a matter this cannot therefore be between themselves alone. Questions such as answered.
As already stated it is not proposed to lay any papers on the subject of Constitutional Reform.
3. The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The decision of the Secretary of State has been notified to the Constitutional Reform Association with whom the correspondence originated.
The Secretary of State's despatch is confidential and cannot therefore be laid on the table.
that 4. The Government has never at any time had any reason to suppose the position of the present points has any bearing on the question of the size of the cars.
The objection to increasing the size of the cars is understood to be that entirely new machinery would be required, but the Tramway Company would be better able than is this Government to answer the latter part of the question.
S. B. B. McELDERRY,
Clerk of Councils.
:
COUNCIL CHAMBER,
22nd March, 1921.