PRESENT:―
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15TH JULY, 1901.
sanitary bye-laws made under section 13, sub-section 16,
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR (Sir HENRY BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).
His EXCELLENCY Major-General GASCOIGNE, C.M.G. (Commanding the Troops).
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G. (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C. (Acting Attorney-General). Hon. C. McI. MESSER (Acting Colonial Treasurer). Hon. W. CHATHAM (Acting Director of Public Works). Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Captain Superintendent of Police).
Hon. Commander R. M. RUMSEY, R.N. (Harbour Master).
Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD.
Hon. J. J. BELL-IRVING.
Hon. Dr. HO KAI.
Hon. J. THURBURN.
Hon. WEI A YUK.
Mr. R. F. JOHNSTON (Acting Clerk of Councils).
MEMBERS SWORN IN.
The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD and the Hon. J. THURBURN were sworn in on resuming their seats in the Council.
PAPERS.
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART laid on the table a number of papers, including the Supplementary Colonial Estimates for 1900, the Report of the Acting Postmaster General for 1900, Report of the Director of Public Works for 1900, Report of Registrar General for 1900, Report on the Land Court for 1900, Report on the Hongkong Volunteer Corps for 1900, Report of the Medical Officer of Health, the Sanitary Surveyor, and the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon for 1900, Report on the Po Leung Kuk Society for 1900, Returns of the Supreme Court for 1900, Returns of the Subordinate Court for 1900, Statement of Water Account for 1900, Report of Acting Harbour Master for 1900, and the Report of Inspector of Schools for 1900.
FINANCIAL.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table Financial Minutes Nos. 26 to 43, and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was carried.
REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the report of proceedings of the Finance Committee at a meeting held on 23rd April, and moved its adoption.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was carried.
SANITARY BYE-LAW.
The ACTING DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS moved that the
of the Public Health Ordinance, 1901, be approved. The ACTING ATTORNEY -GENERAL seconded, and the motion was carried.
CROWN LEASES.
The ACTING ATTORNEY -GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to validate Crown leases heretofore made of foreshore and submerged lands within the territorial waters of the Colony for reclamation and other purposes, and to legalise and facilitate the making of such leases hereafter.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was carried.
REFORMATORY SCHOOLS.
The ACTING ATTORNEY -GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend and consolidate the law relating to Reformatory Schools.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was carried.
NATURALIZATION.
The ACTING ATTORNEY -GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance for the naturalization of Lau Yat Ts'un, alias Lau Ng, alias Lau Man Kwong, alias Lau Ng Wo, alias Lau Hok Wai.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was carried.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TRAMWAY. The Hon. C. P. CHATER moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance for authorising the construction of a tramway within the Colony of Hongkong.
The Hon. J. J. BELL-IRVING seconded, and the motion was carried.
STAMPS AND STAMP DUTY.
The ACTING ATTORNEY -GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend and consolidate the laws relating to stamps and stamp duty in the Colony of Hongkong.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was carried.
CHARGES OF YEAR 1900.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to authorise the appropriation of a supplementary sum of five hundred and fifty-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-one dollars and seventy-eight cents, to defray the charges of the year 1900.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was carried.
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MEETINGOF THEFINANCE
COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was then held, the COLONIAL SECRETARY presiding.
The CHAIRMAN said the first minute was one in which the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $1,000 in aid of the vote under the heading "Public Works, Annually Recurrent Expenditure" for the maintenance of buildings in New Territory. The Acting-Director of Public Works had reported to the Committee that the vote already passed in this connection was not sufficient. Of that vote $901.40 had been expended on Ch'eung Chau Police Station and $144.56 on Kowloon City Police Station, making a total sum of $1045.96, and leaving less than $500 for the whole of the other buildings. It had been estimated that an additional sum of $1,000 was necessary to cover the whole of the expenditure.
The vote was agreed to.
In the next minute the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $1,235 as a grant-in aid to the London Missionary Society for the buildings used for purposes of a school in the Training Home for Chinese girls.
The vote was agreed to.
In the next minute the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $4,000 for the erection of a public bath-house for the use of the Chinese.
The CHAIRMAN said―On 17th March last H.E. the Governor sent a minute in the following terms to the Sanitary Board―"I think it might have an important bearing on the health of the colony if two or three bath
houses could be supplied for the use of working coolies. Ask the Sanitary Board to advise us in the matter." The Sanitary Board has considered the question, and recommends the erection of a bath-house at $4,000.
Hon. Dr. HO KAI―Where is the site?
ACTING DIRECTOR of PUBLIC WORKS ―It is to the eastward of the Naval Hospital, between that and where the gasworks stand.
CHAIRMAN―It was selected by a sub-committee of the Sanitary Board consisting of the Acting Director of Public Works and the Medical Officer of Health.
In answer to another question, the ACTING DIRECTOR of PUBLIC WORKS said the bath-house was to be a permanent one.
CHAIRMAN―If it should be successful, I am sure the Council will be ready to vote other sums for works of a similar nature.
The vote was agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN said the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $950 to defray, during the current year, the salary of an additional accounting clerk in the Public Works Department:―
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Salary for nine months from 1st April to 31st December, 1901, at $100 per month................... $900.00 Clerical assistance rendered during the month of March pending the appointment of the above mentioned Clerk.................................................... 50.00 Total, ....................................... $950.00
The vote was agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN said that in the next minute the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $80,000 in aid of the vote "Other Miscellaneous Services" under the heading "Miscellaneous Services." In this vote was included Financial Minute No. 36, regarding expenditure
on account of the census.
The following statement was appended:―
VOTES.
Voted by 1901 Estimates...................................... $10,000.00 $10,000.00
Financial Minute No. 3 ................................... 200.00 " " No. 5 ................................... 1,145.00 " " No. 7 ................................... 5,829.82 " " No. 9 ................................... 260.42 " " No. 12................................. 235.00 " " No. 13................................. 265.00 " " No. 15................................. 2,943.60 $20,878.84
Balance................................................................... 79,182.55 $100,061.39
EXPENDITURE.
Expenditure to June 30th―Plague.................... $25,386.88 " " Other ...... 24,674.51
$50,061.39
Estimated plague expenditure:―
(i.) Sanitary Board for June............................ 15,000.00 (ii.) " " " July, August and
September.................................................. 25,000.00 (iii.) Police (Special Police) and
departments................................................ 5,000.00 $45,000.00
Estimated for expenses other than plague to
December 91st....................................................... 5,000.00 $100,061.39
The vote was agreed to.
The Governor next recommended the Council to vote a sum of $100 for the opening of a stores account under the heading "Public Works Extraordinary.
CHAIRMAN―This is purely a bookkeeping transaction. The amount should have appeared on the Estimates for 1901, but was omitted.
The vote was agreed to.
The Governor next recommended the Council to vote a s u m o f $ 8 , 6 5 9 . 4 1 t o m e e t t h e
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cost of laying a telegraph cable to Waglan Lighthouse. ABSTRACT.
Joint Telegraph Company for supplying and laying cable $8,160.00 Yau Kung Cheung for labour, etc. 463.41 Incidental Expenses 36.00 Total $8,659.41
CHAIRMAN―I am sure the honourable members will agree to this vote. This cable is a very desirable thing to have to facilitate the signalling of the approach of vessels from the North and East, and we were fortunate in having obtained the services of the telegraph ship belonging to the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, which passed through Hongkong last Christmas and which laid the cable. Otherwise the expenditure would have been considerably increased, and there would have been considerable delay.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD―Was it done by contract? CHAIRMAN―It was done by the only ship available at the time. There was no question of contract about it. The Government is indebted to the Company for having placed their ship at its disposal.
The vote was agreed to.
In the next minute the Governor recommended the Council to vote Miscellaneous Works under the heading "Public Works, Annually Recurrent Expenditure" to meet the cost of increasing the height of the windows on the ground-floor of the Central Market in order to improve the natural lighting.
The CHAIRMAN―Complaints have been made that the Central Market is somewhat dark, and it is hoped by this improvement that more light will be obtained.
Hon. C. P. CHATER ―I think it will be a great improvement.
The vote was agreed to.
In the next minute the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $283.41, being amount due to the Crown Agents for expenses incurred in connection with the selection of the three lightkeepers for Waglan Island Lighthouse.
The CHAIRMAN―As the honourable members doubtless know, the Government recently took over the Waglan Lightheuse from the Chinese Government, and in order to maintain the Lighthouse properly it is necessary to have the services of three lighthouse
keepers. The sum in question was increased in connection with the obtaining of such services. The vote was agreed to.
In the next minute the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $210 to defray, during the current year, the salary of an additional quartermaster and a seaman for the steam tender Stanley:―
Salary of Quartermaster from 1st June to 31st December, 1901, at $16 per month,....................... $112.00 Salary of Seaman from 1st June to 31st December, 1901, at $14 per month,....................... 98.00
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Total............................................ $210.00
The CHAIRMAN―It has been found that the crew of the Stanley is not sufficient, and that an additional quartermaster and seaman are necessary.
The vote was agreed to.
In the next minute the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $7,120 for the erection of a derrick, &c., on a new site at Gap Rock:― (1) Formation of site for new derrick, new path and improvement
of site of existing derrick,............................................................. $6,500.00
(2) Dock Company's tender for new jib for
existing derrick and for removal of existing
derrick to new site, ......................................... 620.00 Total............................................ $7,120.00
The CHAIRMAN ―Considerable difficulty has been experienced in the past in landing at Gap Rock, so I am informed by those whose duties call them there. It is hoped that by the erection of a new derrick at Gap Rock, landing will be facilitated. If the Committee recommend this vote the work will be be put in hand without any delay.
The vote was agreed to.
The CHAIRMAN said the Government next recommended the Council to vote a sum of $156 to cover the wages of two Chinese watchmen for Waglan Island Lighthouse from 16th June to 31st December, 1901 at $12 per month each.
The CHAIRMAN ―This is part of the staff found necessary for the maintenance of the Lighthouse. The vote was agreed to.
In the next minute the Government recommended the Council to vote a sum of $6,000 to cover the cost of the improvement in lighting the approaches to the Harbour of Hongkong, during the current year.
The CHAIRMAN―Hon. members will recollect that some time ago this question was brought before the Council by the Hon. R. M. Gray, who has recently gone home, and a number of papers in connection with it were laid on the table. Since then the matter has been referred home, and the Government is now in a position to proceed with the work―a work which I understand the commercial community here regard as very desirable. I feel sure, therecore, that the Committee will be ready to refommend t h i s v o t e . T h e s c h e m e i s t o m o v e
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D'Aguilar light to Green Island, and Green Island light to training and diverting the nullah in the vicinity of the Tram Collinson. The expenditure in connection with the carrying Station.
out of that work will be $13,000. Of that sum, $6,000 is
now required, and will be expended this year. The other The CHAIRMAN―The Director of Public Works informs $7,000 will be required early next year. me that the diversion of this nullah will help to improve the The vote was agreed to.neighbourhood, and render land available for building.
The CHAIRMAN said―The Governor recommends theHon. J. THURBURN―Where is it to be diverted to? Council to vote a sum of $101.01 in aid of the vote for the ACTING DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS―The course of the construction of an armoury for the Police. Some time ago a nullah is at present a very irregular one, and instead of vote was taken for the construction of this armoury, but it allowing it to flow as now, it will be diverted underneath was found to be insufficient, and another vote is necessary the tramway into the Albany Nullah. We need not disturb
to cover the expense. the tramway, as there is a bridge which the nullah can pass The vote was agreed to.under.
The CHAIRMAN said that in the next minute the Governor The vote was agreed to.
recommended the Council to vote a sum of $650 to cover The last minute was one in which the Governor the salary of an additional overseer for the Public Works recommended the Council to vote a sum of $200 in aid of Department from 16th June to 31st December, 1901, at the vote "Repairs to Epidemic Hulk Hygeia." $10 per mensem.
The vote was agreed to. The vote was agreed to.
In the next minute the Governor recommended theThis was all the business; all the votes having been
unanimously agreed to.
Council to vote a sum of $4,760 to cover the cost of