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Q-But then from October till now is a pretty long time.
1856
[No answer.]
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1860
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2
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By the Chairman.-The expenditure had not been approved?
A--No, I think not.
By Mr. Shewan.-In regard to Public Waterworks, the Public Works Depart- ment have failed entirely in keeping up to public requirements?
bas.
A--I am not prepared to say the Public Works Department, but the Government
Q--Have any schemes been submitted for waterworks on this side?
A--Oh, yes; they have Mr. COOPER'S Report of 1896.
Q-Has anything been done?
A-They have done the works that he considered necessary for the then require-
ments.
Q-At present we want more waterworks and more men ?
A-Yes, certainly.
Q-Your idea is that the Government should go right ahead and get more men, vote more money, and get more waterworks?
A-Yes.
Q-Is there any reason why they should not do that?
A-As far as cutting it off from Chinese houses
Q-1 will come to that, but at present the practical thing to do is to vote more money and get more waterworks ?
A-Yes.
Q-Is there any reason why the water should not be cut off from Chinese houses?
A—No, none that I know of.
6
Q-One witness said it would require an Ordinance.
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*
A-There is an Ordinance excluding Chinese houses in Kowloon. It just requires an Ordinance.
Q-In
your opinion, are the Public Works Department employees overworked? A-It is a very difficult question to answer; it depends whether they do the work or not. I believe there is one Engineer and assistant in charge of waterworks and drainage. I don't think that work can be done properly.
Q--Most of them have admitted that they can do their work, but if there is so much work left undone it seems everyone should be working at high pressure, but I understand there is no one doing so. How is it there is no one overworked? Does it mean that there is no incentive?
A-There certainly is no incentive.
Q-That practically accounts for it, because in ordinary service, if a man has a good deal to do, he works late, does he not?
A-Yes.
Q-But here, as far as I know, they don't do that?
A-I cannot say.
1870
277