419
No. I
36
HONGKONG.
DESPATCHES RESPECTING CERTAIN PUBLIC WORKS.
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His. Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, on the 16th November, 1891.
No. 266.
MY LORD.
Officer Administering the Government to Secretary of State.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONGKONG, 10th August, 1891.
I have the honour to report as follows on Your Lordship's despatch No. 39 of the 27th of February.
2. The question of raising a loan has occupied my attention for some time past and I hope to be in a position to address Your Lordship on the subject in a separate despatch very shortly.
3. Paragraphs 2 and 4 of Your Lordship's despatch have been noted for guidance in connection with the preparation of next year's Estimates.
4. I enclose a plan shewing the area lighted by Electric Light.
When the Estimates for the current year were prepared, it was contemplated to use only 64 arc lamps at $300 each. Subsequently, however, it was determined to increase the number to 75 bringing the total cost up to $22,500 per annum.
The saving in gas consequent on the introduction of electric lighting is as follows:-
220 lamps 2 cubic feet per hour at $2.75 a month
=$33.00, a year.....
2 lamps 100-candle power at $16.00 a month=$192,
a year
$7,260
384
$7,644
•
The increased annual expenditure in lighting the town will therefore be $14,856. This work has already been to a great extent carried out and a contract made with the Electric Light Company in anticipation of Your Lordship's sanction. 5. Considerable difficulty has been experienced in selecting a site for the new Gaol. Immediately upon assuming the Government, I appointed a Committee to report on the subject, but I have not yet received their report. I have however reason to believe that I may expect it in a few days, and the site once fixed upon there shall be no further delay in proceeding with the work.
6. With regard to paragraph 8 of Your Lordship's despatch I may say that all the Public Works commenced in 1890 were considered of such urgent necessity that it would have been inexpedient to delay them.
The Right Honourable
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES,