PRESENT:─
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31ST JULY, 1903.
regarded their various departments.
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, Sir HENRY A. BLAKE, G.C.M.G.
HIS EXCELLENCY Sir W. GASCOIGNE, K.C.M.G. (Commanding the Troops).
Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Colonial Secretary). Hon. Sir HENRY SPENCER BERKELEY, KT. (Attorney-General).
Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer). Hon. Commander R. M. RUMSEY, R.N., I.S.O. (Harbour Master).
Hon. W. CHATHAM (Director of Public Works). Hon. Dr. J. M. ATKINSON (Principal Civil Medical Officer).
Hon. Sir C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
Hon. C. W. DICKSON.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, C.M.G.
Hon. WEI A YUK.
Hon. R. SHEWAN.
Hon. GERSHOM STEWART.
Mr. R. F. JOHNSTON (Acting Clerk of Councils). FINANCIAL.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table Financial Minutes (Nos. 29 to 34) and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was adopted.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee (No. 6) and moved its adoption.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
PAPERS.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the report of the Director of Public Works for 1902 and correspondence respecting the proposal to remove the Naval Yard.
THE NEW POST OFFICE.
The DIRECTOR of PUBLIC WORKS laid on the table the following minutes of the Public Works Committee: ─
Competitive Designs for Post Office, Treasury, &c. ─ The designs, three in number, were closely scrutinised and, after some discussion as to the best method of procedure, it was unanimously agreed that a comparative statement should first be drawn up, showing, in parallel columns, the requirements set forth in the conditions of competition and the extent to which these were fulfilled by the several designs and that this statement should be forwarded to the Heads of Departments to be housed in the new building with a request that they would criticise the designs and state which they considered best in point of arrangement as
At a meeting held on 13th July the replies to the request of the Committee for criticism of the designs submitted, which had been received from the various Heads of Department concerned, were read. The designs were again closely examined, especially with regard to the Post Office arrangements, the access to the offices generally, and some of the principal matters of arrangement affecting the Departments to be accommodated. Members having expressed themselves in favour of the design numbered 2, the description of the proposed building which accompanied that design was read. Sir C. P. Chater then moved that the design numbered 2 be accepted. Mr. Shewan seconded. ─ Carried unanimously. It was unanimously agreed that the design numbered I be awarded the further premium of $1,500 provided under the conditions of competition. The Chairman having asked whether there was any other matter relative to the proposed building which members desired to have laid there before the Government, Mr. Shewan moved that, in view of the great value of the property; the fact that the building is designed to take a fourth storey; and the probability that additional accommodation for some of the Departments to be housed will be required at no very distant date; the building should, in the first place, be constructed four storeys in height. Mr. Dickson seconded.It was pointed out by Sir C. P. Chater and Mr. Shewan that the building would be more in harmony with those adjacent to it if it were made four storeys high. The motion was agreed to unanimously.
CONVICT PRISON ON STONECUTTERS' ISLAND. The D.P.W. also submitted minutes showing that at a meeting of the Public Works Committee on 20th July the Chairman laid before the Committee plans which had been prepared for the establishment of a Convict Prison on Stonecutters' Island and explained that the scheme was capable of being expanded so as to provide ultimately for the removal of the entire Gaol to that place so far as such removal was deemed practicable. He also read the report of a Committee appointed in 1901 to consider the question and certain recent correspondence between the Colonal Office and War Department on the subject. After some discussion, the Honourable Colonial Treasurer moved:─That the Government be requested to have the report of the committee appointed in 1901 to consider the question of transferring the Gaol to Stonecutters' Island, together with any subsequent papers bearing upon the question, printed and furnished to this Committee. Hon. C. W. Dickson seconded. For the motion
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there voted Hon. C. W. Dickson, Sir C. P. Chater, the Colonial Treasurer, and the Director of Public Works; and against it Hon. R. Shewan. The Committee then adjourned.
THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION.
Hon. R. SHEWAN asked─Has the recommendation of the Public Works Commission that the following additions be made to the Works Staff, viz:─2 Executive Engineers, 1 Assistant Engineer, 5 Overseers, and 1 Clerk, been carried out, and if not, why not?
The COLONIAL SECRETARY─In answer, sir, to the hon. member's question, I have to say that the whole of the staff recommended by the Commission which enquired into the Public Works Department has been appointed with the exception of one assistant engineer for maintenance work andone overseer for roads inside the City. The increase of the staff recommended by the Commission was based on the assumption that a sum of nearly $800,000 would be spent annually on public works extraordinary. With the large expenditure on water-works part of which are being carried out by a private firm, it is not contemplated that the Colony will be able to spend so much as was contemplated for public works exclusive of water-works. Therefore a smaller staff than was recommended appears to be sufficient.
FIRST READINGS.
The following Bills were read a first time:─ An Ordinance to set apart a holiday to be known as "Victoria Day" in loving remembrance of Her Most Gracious Majesty the late Queen Victoria; an Ordinance to prevent intrusion by other than servant of the occupier of premises into the portion of such premises used as servants' quarters; an Ordinance to provide for the Recovery of Costs and Charges incurred by the Colony by and on behalf of imbecile persons introduced into the Colony; an Ordinance to provide for the Regulation of the Export of Cattle and other Live Stock from the Colony.
WATERWORKS CONSOLIDATION ORDINANCE. The ATTORNEY -GENERALmoved the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to repeal The Water-works Consolidation Ordinance, 1902, and to provide for and regulate the Supply of Water in the Colony of Hongkong and for the Maintenance and Repair of the Works in connection therewith.
The following objects and reasons were attached:─ The Water-works Consolidation Ordinance (No. 29 of 1902), which provided for the disconnection of all services to tenement houses, except in special cases, and the supply of such premises with water from public fountains placed in the streets and lanes did not meet with the approval of the Secretary of State for the Colonies and instructions were received to modify its provisions in such a way as to enable the services to be
retained whilst facilities were to be afforded for controlling the supply of water in case of need. This has been done by providing in the present Bill for the supply of practically the whole of the Chinese portion of the City through "rider-mains." These are subsidiary mains, to which all the services to the houses near which they are laid will be connected, and, as they can be shut off by means of valves from the principal mains, the supply of water to the houses can be restricted to any extent considered necessary without shutting off the water from the City generally as has to be done at present. The powers of restriction are vested in the Water Authority, subject to the general control of the Governor-in-Council.
The areas within which the "rider-main" system is to be applied are to be defined by the Governor-in-Council and, when an area has been so defined, all services to tenements within it will be disconnected from the principal mains and connected to the "rider-mains" as they are laid, unless the Governor-in-Council expressly allows any tenement to retain its service connected with the former. This is necessary to provide for premises in which any trade may be carried on, for which a constant supply of water may be practically essential, or which for other reasons, it may be considered desirable to exempt from the "rider-main" system.
The cost of constructing the "rider-mains" and making the necessary alterations in the services will be charged against the owners of the various tenements within the areas defined by the Governor-in-Council.
Outside the areas defined by the Governor-in-Council and in all cases of exemption within these areas, all services are to be provided with meters.
This is merely an extension of the system which has been in force outside the City of Victoria for a number of years past. In the Hill District and in Kowloon all supplies, though services to private premises, are at present metered.
In the case of metered supplies an allowance of water in proportion to the rateable value of the premises will be given in respect of the water rate, which is included in the general rates, but all water used over and above that allowance will be charged for as "excess consumption." This, it is hoped, will conduce to the prevention of waste, which is the chief object aimed at in this Bill, as it was also in that which it is intended to replace.
In periods of scarcity of water, the intermittent system of supply will be put in force in the "rider-main" districts only and, as it will be possible to afford every tenement a supply within a very brief period, it is believed that the necessary economy in the consumption will be effected without extending the system to the City generally. This will enable the
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occupiers of premises which are supplied by meter to enjoy a constant supply of water and it will also provide means for dealing with outbreaks of fire, as all the principal mains will be constantly charged with water.
Until the "rider-mains" have been applied to a considerable portion of the City, it may be necessary to revert to the universal application of the intermittent system as hitherto, but it is hoped that, with their application over an extended area, this will become unnecessary.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
General GASCOIGNE─Before you put the question to the vote, sir, may I ask if this Bill has been submitted to Mr. Chadwick?
H.E. the GOVERNOR─No.
General GASCOIGNE─But has Mr. Chadwick seen the Bill?
The ATTORNEY -GENERAL─I think not. It is not necessary that he should, because the principle involved is the same as in the existing Ordinance.
General GASCOIGNE─I think, if I may be allowed to be in order, that it is only my duty to point out some of the remarks that were made to me by Mr. Chadwick last year just after the water famine You, sir, were away from the Colony on the occasion of the Coronation of His Majesty──
The COLONIAL SECRETARY─I do not wish to interrupt His Excellency but I may state──
H.E. the GOVERNOR ─ His Excellency the Major-General is in order.
The ATTORNEY -GENERAL─I desire to interrupt── The GOVERNOR─I would suggest to the hon. Attorney-General that he allow the hon. Major-General to speak on the question of whether this Bill should be read a first time, and after the hon. Major-General has spoken it will be for the Attorney-General to make any remark he may desire.
General GASCOIGNE─I will, if I may be allowed to. You, sir, were not in the Colony last year─you were attending the Coronation of His Majesty─at the time of the water famine. I had the honour at that time of administering the Government in your absence, and the period of anxiety the Council and I went through at that time will be remembered by some of the gentlemen who are present here to-day. We began to look into the water question very early indeed in February so we were not caught napping in that respect, but the famine went on and on until─I am speaking from memory─ the first week in May. We had an importation of cholera, which was imported, it is true, and it was a most anxious and serious business for me and for the Council to face the drought which was impending over us. The Council gave me a free hand and assisted me in every possible way with advice and counsel, and I am bound to say the public of Hongkong showed the most loyal patience and forbearance in bearing the terrible troubles
that came upon them in consequence Then as our reservoirs became empty and after they were almost absolutely dry the rains came on by a dispensation of Providence. Mr. Chadwick, who had been with me practically the whole time when that pressure was over Hongkong, said to me what I wish to point out to the Council before this Bill goes any further. He said to me, "General, you have got the opportunity of your life. When I came to Hongkong to make these reservoirs in Hongkong there was at that time an Officer Administering the Government like yourself. I proposed to that Officer that the water should be cut off from Chinese tenement houses so as to prevent waste and this was the only measure to adopt to prevent this waste. The matter was discussed and it met with an enormous amount of opposition; and Mr. Chadwick said to me that as when he made these reservoirs they looked so vast to him at that time─the Colony then not being anything like the size it is now as regards population─he felt that perhaps to throw upon the Acting Governor─which was not the same thing as the real Governor─the responsibility of an unpopular measure if it was perhaps not absolutely necessary, would be a hard thing; and he therefore recommended the Acting Governor of that day not to press it; and he told me he had only regretted that decision once and that was ever since. "Now," he said, "you have the famine upon you. Everybody has suffered and now is the time to make this Ordinance to prevent waste." He told me, "General, as long as you do not positively prevent the waste of water that goes on you will never have sufficient water even though you may make Hongkong one vast reservoir, but I tell you that if you can check the waste that goes on in Chinese houses you will have sufficient water in ordinary seasons, in every season, even without new reservoirs. I came down very much impressed by that to the Council and there are many gentlemen on the Council to-day who will remember that when it was first proposed they were averse to it. They were of opinion that the supply should be one and the same for both Europeans and Chinese. The question was threshed out in committee of the Council and afterwards those who were at first against it came round and we passed the Ordinance that is now in the course of being altered and amended; and all I can say is that I personally felt that the very insignificant part I took in it was a proud one because I felt that we had done a thing for Hongkong which was a lasting benefit to the Colony. I am aware that the Secretary of States for the Colonies, as put in the objects and reasons of the Bill, has telegraphed to your Excellency asking if no other
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way can be found? I respectfully submit that the answer should be, "No; for we know no other way to prevent waste but the way recommended by Mr. Chadwick, the expert you yourself sent out. Ask his opinion, and we are prepared to abide by his opinion." If I may move a resolution, I move that the Bill be not read a first time.
The GOVERNOR─I venture to point out that before we can go farther in this discussion these observations of His Excellency the Major-General would more properly be made on the second reading. The Bill is really not before the Council at all until it is read a first time and it is impossible for the Council to know what is the meaning of the Bill until it is brought before them and read a first time. When the Bill comes on for second reading, then, I venture to suggest to His Excellency, would be the time for the observations that have now been offered. The Bill is not yet before the Council at all. The first reading is always a matter of pro forma. When the Bill is brought on for second reading hon. members will have an opportunity of seeing and discussing the Bill as brought before them.
Hon. R. SHEWAN─Sir, I would be willing to give way in this matter, but as I shall not be present at the next meeting of the Council I would ask your indulgence.
HIS EXCELLENCY signified his consent, and,
Hon. Mr. SHEWAN proceeded─I was very pleased to hear the remarks that have fallen from your Excellency with regard to the position of matters and our being given time to consider the Bill in the second reading. At the last meeting of the Council I strongly objected to a Bill being rushed through the second reading without printing the amendments or giving the public time to read the Bill and consider it. I do not know, but I suppose that the intention in deciding that a Bill should be read three times was that the Bill should be discussed and considered three separate times. However, we will come to that part later on. With regard to this Bill, if you will allow me I should like to second the motion of His Excellency Major-General Gascoigne, with whose remarks in making that motion I entirely agree. The Bill we had before us last year was very carefully considered, but we have not tried it. I do not think it is right that, after we had carefully considered and discussed and thoroughly threshed out the question of the water supply of this Colony, which was certainly a very great evil last year, we should have all our work undone on account of a few Chinese agitators who, after all, are only led by the nose by a lot of clerks from architects' offices, in whom is exempified the old saying, "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing." I think it is possible that better ways may be found, but why not let us first try the hydrant system? We know that Chinese coolies and other people like that will waste the water, while we who pay
by the meter have to suffer. Let the Government first try that system; if it will not work in a certain district, then it will be time to consider other measures. I agree with Major-General Gascoigne that the matter was very carefully considered and threshed out, and before we do anything more we ought to consider this scheme, especially as it is endorsed by the experts. I think we could have got more impartial experts, but still, they were on the Government side, and the Government ought not to go back on them now.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY─Sir, if I may be allowed to say so, with all respect to His Excellency and the hon. member who seconded his amendment, I think the object of this Bill has been misapprehended; it is quite as much to stop waste as was that of the Bill which was
introduced last year. The rider-main system was first proposed by Mr. Chadwick himself with a view to─ Hon. R. SHEWAN─Sir, I think the Colonial Secretary is out of order.
The ATTORNEY -GENERAL─The Colonial Secretary is quite in order.
Hon. Mr. SHEWAN─He seconded the motion and cannot speak again.
The ATTORNEY -GENERAL─But he can speak on the subsequent motion. I made a motion, and the Colonial Secretary seconded; the hon. member opposite, H.E. Major-General Gascoigne, then made a subsequent motion, and that also has been seconded. The Colonial Secretary is entitled to speak on that motion, which is a separate and distinct one from the original motion.
His EXCELLENCY ruled that the Colonial Secretary was in order, and,
The COLONIAL SECRETARY proceeded─The rider-main system was first proposed by Mr. Chadwick himself with a view to facilitating the distribution of water during the operation of the intermittent system. The rider-main system can be equally well adapted to the prevention of waste, and it is for that purpose that it is now sought to be introduced─for the prevention of waste. It is simply, if I may so describe it in a few short words, a system of huge meters for blocks of buildings instead of separate meters for separate houses. The principle of the Bill was carefully considered by both Mr. Chadwick and Professor Simpson, who was here at the same time as Mr. Chadwick, and it has been adopted and endorsed by both of these experts. I do not think, sir, that the suggestion of the hon. member who seconded the motion that this Colony should go to the expense of first introducing a street fountain system, will commend itself to this Council. It will cost a great deal of money, and if as he suggests it is to be in the nature of an experiment, I fear the experiment would be a very expensive one. I repeat again, the
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object of the Bill, the object we all have before us, is the prevention of waste. The experts, especially Mr. Chadwick, are of opinion that the waste could be stopped by this system, the Government are strongly of that opinion, and our local advisers here are also of the same opinion, and we trust that the hopes of His Excellency the General Officer Commanding, that waste will be prevented, will be realised by this Bill as much as by the Bill which he fathered.
The ATTORNEY -GENERAL─I hope the Council will at once reject this motion, which is one which, whatever it may be designed to do, will have the effect of stifling the discussion of a matter of the greatest interest to the Chinese in this Colony. The Chinese in this community are as a hundred to one or more, and they by an immense majority in a petition to the Secretary of State laid before him certain reasons which they believed ought to be laid before him to allow this Government to introduce a measure which would alter in some particulars the Water Bill we passed last year. I say at once that neither the hon. member who moved the rejection of the Bill nor the hon. member who seconded intended or wished for an amendment to prevent the Chinese members of this community from being heard in this Council and advocating anything that they believe to be for their good. Whatever the hon. mover and the hon. seconder may desire, the effect of their motion if entertained by this Council would be to impose upon the Chinese a measure which they believe to be against their interests and to prevent this Council from having an opportunity of hearing anything that can be said on their part. I would ask the hon. mover and seconder to withdraw the motion, which I am sure must have been made under a misapprehension. It is one of the most unusual motions ever made in any legislative or deliberative body that leave be not granted to introduce a Bill. That is to say, "I won't hear you; I do not care whether you have reason or no reason to put forward for the proposal you are going to advance; I won't hear you."
Hon. Mr. SHEWAN─Hear, hear.
The ATTORNEY -GENERAL─It is not a case of "Hear, hear" but of "Not hear, not hear, won't hear." What I say is, I want you to hear. I have reason to believe that the Council will hear, and I am sure the Council will hear and, when they have heard, approve of the Bill that I am instructed to introduce for your consideration. Now, to come back to the spot where the hon. member interjected his remark. This is an almost unprecedented motion. If you look through the records of this Council I think it will be very difficult to find any case in which leave has been refused to introduce a Bill for the consideration of the Council. All the remarks of the hon. mover and seconder of the motion and of the hon. Colonial Secretary on this Bill have been directed not to
the motion, which was a respectful request to the Council for leave to introduce a Bill, but to what may be called the principle of the Bill. Now, sir, this is not the time to discuss the principle of the Bill. The house is pledged to nothing; I ask no more than leave to introduce this Bill. Despite the remarks of the hon. gentlemen who sit opposite this is not the time to either accept or refuse it. It has not reached that stage yet. All I ask is that the Council give me leave to bring in the Bill and I will afterwards, I think, be able to bring home to their knowledge facts which I believe after they hear and digest they will find worthy of consideration. I appeal to the hon. Major-General to withdraw this motion, because I am sure he had no conception of the effect it would have; but if it is not withdrawn I ask that it be rejected.
The GOVERNOR─There is no necessity for a motion such as this. A negative will be quite sufficient. The Council divided with the following result:─For the first reading─Mr. Dickson, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Wei Yuk, Dr, Ho Kai, Sir C. P. Chater, Dr. Atkinson, Mr. Chatham, Commander Rumsey, Mr. Thomson, Sir Henry Berkeley and Mr. May; against─Major-General Gascoigne and Mr. Shewan.
FORESHORES AND SEA-BED ORDINANCE. The ATTORNEY -GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the Foreshores and Sea-Bed Ordinance No. 21 of 1901, and to repeal sub-section (1.) of section 1 of Ordinance No. 11 of 1902. He said ─The reasons for the introduction of this Bill are set out in the objects and reason attached to the Bill, which are as follows:─To reduce the period of notice required by the first proviso to section 3 of Ordinanco No. 21 of 1901 from three months to one month. The reduction is desired because it has been found unnecessary and inconvenient in practice to require such a long period of notice as three months to be given before the Governor can grant Crown leases of foreshore or sea-bed. I now move, sir, that this Bill be read a second time.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The Council then went into committee on the Bill, and a new clause having been added the third reading was not taken when the Council resumed.
LAND CLAIMS IN THE NEW TERRITORY.
The Council went into committee on the Bill entitled an Ordinance to facilitate the hearing, determination, and settlement of land claims in the New Territories, to establish a Land Court, and for other purposes.
Section 2 as printed was the subject of a series of amendments proposed by the Hon. Dr. Ho
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Kai and the Hon. R. Shewan, having for their object the elimination of the retrospective character of the section. Hon. Dr. Ho KAI addressed the Council at considerable length, pointing out inter alia that under Ordinance 47 of 1902, a claimant whose claim to land has been allowed by the Land Court had a permanent heritable and transferable right of use and occupancy in his land, and moved that the words "provided that it is within three months after the decision given by the Land Court" be inserted between the words "of the principal Ordinance" and "upon good cause shown." Hon. R. SHEWAN seconded the amendment.
The ATTORNEY -GENERAL replied, pointing out that the object of the Government in making the section retrospective was to enable it to use the power of appeal which by inadvertence had not been given in the principal Ordinance to the Crown, which was a party in reality to every case before the Land Court, while it had been given to ordinary claimants before the Court, and the power of appeal was only desired in certain special cases that had occurred in New Kowloon, and the COLONIAL SECRETARY pointed out that the Ordinance No. 47 of 1902 did not apply to New Kowloon.
The Council divided, when there voted:─For the amendment─Dr. Ho Kai, Mr. Shewan, Mr. Wei Yuk, and Major-General Gascoigne; and against ─Mr. Stewart, Sir C. P. Chater, Mr. C. W. Dickson, Dr. Atkinson, Mr. Chatham, Commander Rumsey, Mr. Thomson, Sir Henry Berkeley and Mr. May. The amendment was lost by a majority of 2 votes.
Hon. R. SHEWAN next moved that after the words "Attorney-General" the words "or any one of the parties" be added.
The Council divided, when there voted:─For the amendment─Mr. Shewan, Dr. Ho Kai, Mr. Wei Yuk, Mr. Dickson, Mr. Stewart, and Major General Gascoigne; and against─Sir O. P. Chater, Dr. Atkinson, Mr. Chatham, Commander Rumsey, Mr. Thomson, Sir Henry Berkeley and Mr. May. The amendment was lost by a majority of 1 vote.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI next oved that the words "heretofore made or" in the 5th line of the section be deleted.
The Council divided, when there voted:─For the amendment─Dr. Ho Kai, Mr. Shewan, Mr. Wei Yuk and Major-General Gascoigne; and against ─Mr. Stewart, Mr. Dickson, Sir C. P. Chater, Dr. Atkinson, Mr. Chatham, Commander Rumsey, Mr. Thomson, Sir Henry Berkeley and Mr. May.
Council then resumed and the Bill was then reported with amendments.
SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES.
The Council went into committee on the Bill entitled an Ordinance to authorise the Appropriation of a supplementary sum of $800,201.40 [$1,800,201.40] to defray the Charges of the Year 1902.
No alterations having been made, the Bill, on the Council resuming, was read a third time and passed. RENT RECOVERY IN THE NEW TERRITORY. The Council went into committee on the Bill entitled an Ordinance to repeal the New Territories Rent-Recovery Ordinance, 1902, and to make other provisions in lieu thereof.
On the Council resuming, the Bill was read a third time and passed.
THE PUBLIC WORKS STAFF.
Hon. R. SHEWAN ─ Sir, I beg to move the adjournment of the debate in order to call attention to the answer I received from the Colonial Secretary to my question. Time after time the Public Works Department has been severely criticised for not doing its work properly, and time after time─
HIS EXCELLENCY─Might I suggest to the hon. member that he is hardly in order. This moving of the adjournment of the debate for the purpose of calling attention to any matters would be better done, and more completely, by bringing forward a specific motion. If I might suggest it to the hon. member, in any matter which he wishes to debate or have thoroughly threshed out it would be better to have some resolution on the paper, and then the Colonial Secretary or the Director of Public Works, as the case may be, will give you a satisfactory answer. I think that on consideration the hon. member will see that is the better thing to do, and that the matter can then be more thoroughly gone into. Any answer you have received and object to can be debated, and it will be more satisfactory than a statement made on the spur of the moment.
Hon. Mr. SHEWAN─I should be happy to do as you suggest, sir, but I shall not be present at the next Council meeting. I simply wish to record my─
The ATTORNEY -GENERAL─I beg, sir, to move that the House do now adjourn.
HIS EXCELLENCY─No, no.
The ATTORNEY -GENERAL─I have the right to move that.
HIS EXCELLENCY─The hon. member [Hon. Mr. Shewan] is making a motion.
The ATTORNEY -GENERAL─He has moved the adjournment of the debate. I am moving the adjournment of the Council.
HIS EXCELLENCY─The hon. member must be heard, and I trust he understands that I do not wish to curtail his remarks in any way.
Hon. Mr. SHEWAN─I simply wish to express the opinion that the Government are taking a great responsibility upon themselves in flying in the face of that Commission─a Commission on which the previous Colonial Secretary sat. Now the present Colonial Secretary simply ignores the recommendations of the previous Colonial Secretary and the other gentlemen
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on that Commission, and I wish now to express my emphatic dissent from the action of the Government. When the public complain in future to the Director of Public Works that the work is not properly done, the reply will be that he has not a sufficient staff, and theresponsibilty for his not having a sufficient staff will now rest with the Government.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY─Sir, I should like to say a few words, if I may. One of the points that came up before the Public Works Department was whether outside firms should be employed or not. The decision was no and the reinforcement of the Department was with the object of carrying out all the work departmentally. But a very large work indeed, the Kowloon waterworks, is in the hands of Messrs. Denison, Ram & Gibb. The Post Office and other offices have been designed by an outside firm, other work─the Bacteriological Institute─has been given out, and I may say for the information of the Council that Government will have to pay as commission to Messrs. Denison, Ram & Gibb something like $80,000 for doing the work of the Public Works Department.
This ended the discussion.
FINANCE COMMITTEE,
A meeting of the Finance Committee was held immediately after the Council, the Colonial Secretary, Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G., presiding.
The following votes were agreed to:─
CATTLE DEPOT EXTENSION.
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $25,000 in aid of the vote for "Cattle Depôt Extension" under Public Works Extraordinary.
PUBLIC WORKS.
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $29,000 in aid of the votes for the following
items under "Public Works, Annually Recurrent Expenditure":─
Maintenance of Public Cemetery................ $ 2,000.00 Maintenance of Praya Wall and Piers......... 6,000.00 Maintenance of Lighthouses........................ 2,000.00 Miscellaneous Services................................ 3,000.00 Water Works, Miscellaneous....................... 16,000.00
Total................................ $29,000.00
HOSPITAL EXTRAS.
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $334.63 in aid of the vote for Personal Emoluments, Medical Departments:─
Kennedy Town Hospital─
Increases to Salaries of Permanent Staff $108.00 Salaries for Temporary Staff..................... 174.63
$282.63
Hospital Hulk Hygeia:─
Salaries for Temporary Staff..................... $52.00
Total.......................... $334.63
PRAYA EAST RECLAMATION.
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $28,000 in aid of the vote for Praya East Reclamation under Public Works Extraordinary. TREE-PLANTING.
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $1,600 in aid of the vote for Tree Planting under Other Charges, Botanical and Afforestation Department.
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT CHARGES.
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum $460 in aid of the vote under "Other Charges," Medical Departments:─
Nursing Institute.
Rent of Temporary Quarters.......................... $46.00 This was all the business.