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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NO. 5.
WEDNESDAY, 31ST DECEMBER, 1884.
PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR
(SIR GEORGE FERGUSON BOWEN, G.C.M.G.)
His Honour the Chief Justice, (SIR GEORGE PHILLIPPO, Knt.)
The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (WILLIAM HENRY MARSH, C.M.G.)
,, the Attorney General, (EDWARD LOUGHLIN O'MALLEY.)
,, the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER.)
,, the Surveyor General, (JOHN MACNEILE PRICE.)
,, the Registrar General (FREDERICK STEWART, LL.D.)
,, PHINEAS RYRIE.
,, WILLIAM KESWICK.
,, THOMAS JACKSON.
,, FREDERICK DAVID SASSOON.
ABSENT:
The Honourable WONG SHING (by leave.)
The Council met in pursuance of adjournment.
Minutes read and confirmed.
VOTES PASSED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.—The Colonial Secretary moved the adoption of the following vote arranged by the Finance Committee:—
That the Council now vote the sum of Fifty-five thousand six hundred and twenty-five pounds Sterling required as the contribution of this Colony to the effective defence of Hongkong; it being understood that the armament to be provided by the Imperial Government will be of the best and latest pattern of breech loading Ordinance, and capable of resisting attacks by the heaviest modern Iron-clads.
The Treasurer seconded the motion.
Mr. KESWICK addressed the Council.
Question—put and passed.
The Governor then addressed the Council, as follows:—
HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,—I thank you in the name of the QUEEN for this unanimous vote of the contribution required by Her Majesty's Government from this Colony towards the effective defence of Hongkong. This is,—as we all know,— an object of great Imperial as well as Colonial importance. I entirely agree with you that in the terms of your vote "the armament to be provided by the Imperial Government should "be of the latest and best pattern of breech-loading Ordinance, and capable of resisting attacks "by the heaviest modern Iron-clads." I shall press this point in the strongest manner possible on the Home Authorities; and General SARGENT has authorized me to say that he will do the same. I have no doubt that we shall be successful; for by the later Parliamentary Papers issued on this subject, I find that the original vote for the armament of the Forts at Hongkong has been already doubled. There is also the subjoined paragraph in an Official letter from the War Office to the Treasury, dated November 1st, 1884;
"At the time the earlier Parliamentary Estimate was framed, it was intended to provide wrought iron guns as possessing sufficient power for the work they would be likely to be called upon to perform. The armaments of the Forts, however, are required to resist the present power of foreign ships which may attack them, and consequently must be of a more formidable nature than was at first contemplated; therefore, some of the guns have been chosen from the latest pattern of breech-loading Ordinance; which has greatly increased the cost."
Once more, Honourable Gentlemen, in the name of the QUEEN, I thank you for this vote.
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REVISED ESTIMATES, 1885.—The Colonial Secretary laid on the table the revised Estimates for 1885, and made the following statement in connexion therewith;—
The Estimates of Revenue for 1885, which were originally.................................................... $1,212,188
have been carefully revised and additions shewn in the annexed Schedule have been made to the amount of .................................................................................................................................................. 9,050
$1,221,238
whilst on the other hand the reductions also shewn in the Schedule have been effected to the amount of .................................................................................................................................................. 83,680
The total of the revised Estimates of Revenue for 1885 are therefore...................................... $1,137,558
The Estimates of Expenditure for 1885 were originally............................................................ $1,150,801
additions have had to be made to the sum of.......................................................................................... 26,880 as shewn in the Schedule A.
$1,177,681
Whilst reductions on the other hand have been effected as shewn in the Schedule B to the
extent of..................................................................................................................................................... 84,700 The revised Estimate of Expenditure for 1885 amounts to....................................................... $1,092,981 The excess of estimated Revenue over Expenditure during the year is therefore, .................. 45,577
SCHEDULE showing various items of increases and decreases from the Original Estimates
of Expenditure for the year 1885.
(A.)
Increases.
Registrar General's Establishments,.......................... $1,680.00 Ecclesiastical.—Grant for a Roman Catholic
(B.)
Decreases.
Colonial Secretary.—Passed Cadet,.......................... $ 1,800.00 Treasury.—Opium Revenue Department to be
abolished, 10 months salaries,...... 6,900.00
Chaplain in the Gaol and Civil Hospital,.......................
720.00
Government Gardens and Plantations.—Tree
Planting, to be reduced by............................ 4,000.00
Medical.—Care-taker of the Mortuary,.................... 120.00 Police.—Increase of Salaries,.................................... 5,500.00 Gaol.—Increase to Salary of Hospital Warden,....... 60.00 Grant to the City Hall,................................................ 1,200.00 PUBLIC WORKS:—
Civil Hospital Extension, re-vote,....................... 3,300.00 Do. further vote for additional story
PUBLIC WORKS:—
New Central School (to be paid out of balances),. 50,000.00 Draining of Wongneichong, to be reduced by...... 20,000.00 Widening Kennedy Road, to be struck out,.......... 2,000.00 $84,700.00
Deduct,........................ 26,880.00
and extension of separate buildings,.....................................
8,000.00
Nett decrease,................................ $57,820.00
Repairs to Public Buildings, increase, ................ 2,000.00
Police Station Hunghom, extension of,.............. 3,300.00
Police Boat Basin, re-vote,................................... 1,000.00
$26,880.00
The Colonial Secretary then gave notice that at the next meeting of Council he would move the first reading of a Bill to amend the supply Ordinance (No. 21 of 1884).
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EXTRAORDINARY PUBLIC WORKS.—The Colonial Secretary then reported the following Votes for Extraordinary Public Works, and asked for sanction.
Tytam Water Works,........................................ $200,000.00
Military Defences,............................................ 200,000.00
New Central School,........................................ 50,000.00
Drains and Sea-wall at Lápsápwán,................ 75,000.00
Completion of Steam Dredger, and cost
of dredging operations,..................... 10,000.00
Typhoon repairs, unspent balance, re-vote,..... 9,700.00
Drainage and Sewerage,.................................. 50,000.00
$594,700.00
Question—put and carried.
POSTPONEMENT OF THE OTHER ORDERS OF THE DAY.—The Attorney General moved the postponement of the other Orders of the day.
Question—put and carried.
The Council adjourned until Wednesday, the 7th proximo, at 4 P.M.
G. F. BOWEN,
Governor.
Read and confirmed, this 7th day of January, 1885.
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,
Acting Clerk of Councils.