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(4.) Is it true that on the said mission at or near the village of Un Long on 17th or
18th April last the said Tung Cheong was foully and brutally murdered? (5.) What remuneration, if any, has been paid to the deceased's family? (6.) Will the Government lay upon the table a copy in English of the Proclamations issued by the Canton and the Colonial Governments previous to the 17th April last and posted and placarded in the villages and towns throughout the New Territory informing the people and the inhabitants as to the effect the change of Government would have on their lives, liberties, and possessions, and state the dates when such proclamations, if any, were posted and placarded? (7.) What satisfaction, if any, has been obtained from the Chinese Government for the assault by the Chinese on the Honourable the Captain Superintendent of Police before our New Territory was taken over, and in respect of the resistance by thousands of armed Chinese to the British entering into posses- sion of the area leased by the Imperial Chinese Government to Great Britain per the Convention of June, 1898, the quelling of which resistance resulted in considerable and lamentable loss of life and which forced upon the Colony substantial amount of extra and avoidable expenditure?
Has the attention of the Honourable the Director of Public Works been directed to the "China Mail's" leading articles of 15th and 23rd August alleging the existence of jerry buildings in Hongkong; will the Honourable Member inform the Council whether the said allegation is well founded; and if so, will he state what powers his Department possesses to prevent the erection of such buildings; what action has been taken by his Department in the matter; and if his powers are insufficient, is he taking any steps to get increased powers?
The COLONIAL SECRETARY.--The answer to the first question is in the negative.
In reply to Question 1a, I beg to refer the Honourable Member to paragraph 52 of the corres- pondence laid upon the table at the last meeting of Council.
The answer to the second question is, "that at the instance of the Colonial Secretary one of the gentry of the New Territory undertook to have copies of the Proclamation posted and he entrusted the duty of posting some of them to Tang Cheung."
In reply to the third question, I beg to refer the Honourable Member to the answer to the last question,
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The answer to the fourth question is in the affirmative. The murderers have been convicted and have suffered the extreme penalty of the law.
In answer to the fifth question, I beg to state that the Government is taking care of one of the sons of the deceased.
In reply to the sixth question, I beg to refer the Honourable Member to page 21 of the published correspondence for a translation of the Proclamation issued by his Excellency the Governor, and I now lay upon the table a translation of the Proclamations issued by the Magistrate of the San On District and the Viceroy of the Two Kwang Provinces. So far as can be ascertained the dates of posting the Proclamations were as follows:
The Proclamation of the San On Magistrate was posted between the 27th and 30th March; the Proclamation of the Viceroy was posted about the 5th April; the Proclamation of His Excellency the Governor was posted between the 10th and 15th April.
The answer to the seventh question is, "I cannot say.'
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.-With reference to the eighth question, I have read the articles referred to and think there is foundation for the allegations. The powers possessed by my department are defined in the Ordinances 15 of 1889 and 25 of 1891. An officer of the department, assisted by an overseer, inspects building works in progress. The exceptional amount of such work in the Colony at present makes an increase in the staff necessary if this work of supervision is to be thoroughly performed. The matter is engaging the attention of the Government.
MOTION.-The Director of Public Works moved, with the permission of His Excellency the Governor, that the following proposed works be referred to the Public Works Committee. for report,
viz.:
(1.) Extension telephone to l'ingshan and Un Loong;
(2.) Police Stations (permanent) at Starling Inlet, Saikung, Tsun Wan and Shatin.
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.