PRESENT:―
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7TH DECEMBER, 1903.
seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT, F. H. MAY, C.M.G.
Hon. A. M. THOMSON, (Acting Colonial Secretary).
Hon. Sir. H. S. BERKELEY (Attorney-General). Hon. L. A. M. JOHNSTON (Acting Colonial, Treasurer).
Hon. W. CHATHAM (Director of Public Works).
Hon. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar-General). Hon. BASIL R. H. TAYLOR (Acting Harbour Master).
Hon. Sir C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
Hon. Dr. HO KAI, C.M.G.
Hon. WEI A YUK.
Hon. C. W. DICKSON.
Hon. GERSHOM STEWART
Mr. R. F. JOHNSTON (Acting Clerk of Councils).
ABSENT:―
H. E. the General Officer Commanding. Hon. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C.
FINANCE.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table Financial Minutes (Nos. 60 to 65) and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee (No. 11), and moved its adoption.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
BYE-LAWS ON DOMESTIC CLEANLINESS.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the following amendment to No. 2 of the Bye-laws under the heading "Domestic Cleanliness and Ventilation," contained in Schedule B of the Public Health and buildings Ordinance, 1903, made under Sub-section 7 of Section 16 of the aforesaid Ordinance:―
The words "by a duly registered nightsoil carrier" are hereby deleted from Bye-law No. 2 of the Bye-laws under the heading "Domestic Cleanliness and Ventilation" contained in Schedule B of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY then moved its adoption.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE.
The Director of Public Works laid on the table the following report of the proceedings
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of the Public Works Committee at a Meeting held on the 19th November, 1903. Present: the Hon. the Director of Public Works (W. Chatham), Chairman; Hon. the Acting Colonial Treasurer (L.A.M. Johnston); Hon. Sir Paul Chater, Kt., C.M.G.; Hon. C. W. Dickson; and Hon. Gershom Stewart.
OFFICERS' QUARTERS, LAND OFFICE AND POLICE COURT AT TAIPò.
The Chairman explained that it was considered necessary to construct permanent buildings at Taipô for the accommodation of the officers stationed there and for a Land Office and Police Court. The plan which he submitted showed two 2-storied buildings―one, to contain the quarters, to be erected on the small island where the landing-place is situated, and the other to contain the Land Office and Police Court, on the mainland in the vicinity of the Police Station.
The estimated cost was as follows:―
Quarters, including servants' accommodation and stable, approach path, &c,................. $ 24,500 Land Office and Police Court,...................... 32,000
Total.............................. $56,500
It was unanimously agreed to recommend that both buildings be proceeded with.
CITY WATER WORKS EXTENSION―TYTAMTUK SCHEME.
The Chairman laid before the Committee a general plan, dated the 17th October, 1903, showing the works which it was proposed to undertake at once, and which would form the first section of the scheme. He explained that the result of the last trial well sunk on the site of the proposed large dam had been disappointing, the rock being found at a depth of about 60 feet instead of about 40 to 45 feet as indicated by all the previous trial works. It was therefore necessary to conduct further trial works both on that site and on others in the vicinity with the view of ascertaining whether a more favourable line could be found for the dam and, as it was evident that some very considerable period must elapse before this part of the scheme could be sufficiently advanced to be available for increasing the supply of water, it was considered advisable to proceed at once with a dam of moderate dimensions and capacity some distance up the valley.
It was therefore proposed to construct a dam on the site which was referred to in Mr. Cooper's report of the 9th May, 1896, as No. 4, but to increase the size of it so as to render it capable of containing 194 million gallons instead of 100 millions as specified in his report. Two pumping engines, each capable of raising 11/4 million gallons daily, had already been ordered and the proposed dam would afford a supply about sufficient to keep one engine steadily at work during the dry season. The second engine was intended as a duplicate, to be brought into service when the other was stopped for overhaul and repairs. In addition to the water impounded by the proposed dam, the yield of the streams flowing in the
valley would be rendered available by the small dam which had already been constructed in connection with the temporary pumping engine now at work and from which the main to the large pumping engines would be laid.
The other items required to complete the first section of the scheme included the following:―
(1.) The construction of a pumping station near the head of Tytam Bay to contain the two pumping engines already mentioned.
(2.) The construction of a new road contouring the lower part of the valley at an elevation of 130 to 150 feet above ordinance datum and then ascending to join the existing road near the new byewash reservoir.
(3.) The laying of a suction main from the small dam mentioned above to the permanent pumping station referred to in (1).
(4.) The laying of a rising main from the permanent pumping station by way of the new road to the gauge basin at the entrance to the Tytam Tunnel.
The whole of the proposed works had been designed with a view to the completion of the scheme at a later date by the construction of the large dam already mentioned, with the requisite catchwaters to intercept additional drainage areas and the erection of the necessary additional pumping plant, when the suction main referred to in (3) would be taken up and laid as a duplicate rising main. The reservoir now proposed would not be overlapped by the large one to be constructed hereafter and would therefore be of permanent benefit for storage purposes.
The estimated cost of the works included in the first section was as follows:―
1. Dam to impound 194 million gallons ......... $290,000 2. Construction of pumping station including formation of site......................................... 50,000 3. New road from junction with Stanley Road to near Tytam byewash reservoir (length
1.40 miles).................................................. 98,000 4. Access roads to pumping station and gauge basin and track for temporary suction
main 20,000 5. Rising main, 18 in, diameter, from pumping station to Tytam gauge basin
(length 2.03 miles)..................................... 98,000 6. Suction main, 18 in. diameter, to be subsequently used for duplicating rising
main (length 1.25 miles)........................... 60,000 7. Pumping machinery already ordered (two sets of engines, each capable of
delivering 11/4 million gallons per day)
including erection...................................... 108,000
724,000
Contingencies, say................ 56,000
Total.............................. $780,00
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The works required to complete the entire Tytamtuk
What is the area of that part of such resumption which
scheme, for which it was not possible to submit an estimate at present, would be as follows:―
1. The construction of a large dam below Tytamtuk village, with the necessary road diversions.
2. An extension of the pumping station buildings. 3. The provision of additional pumping plant. 4. Taking up the 18 in. suction main and relaying
same as a rising main, including the necessary length of piping to complete same.
5. The construction of catchwaters to such extent as may be found advisable in order to render available the water from areas situated outside the natural drainage area.
The Committee unanimously agreed to recommend that the scheme be at once proceeded with.
CONVICT PRISON ON STONECUTTERS' ISLAND. Replies to the Committee's enquiries as to the amount which the Military Authorities would be prepared to contribute in the event of the Gunpowder Depôt being removed from Stonecutters' Island as proposed, and (a)the proposal to erect a convict prison there being carried out,
(b)the proposal to erect a convict prison there being abandoned,
were furnished. They were to the effect that in the case of (a), the Military Authorities would contribute nothing, and in the case of (b) they were prepared to contribute £2,500 on condition that the site and buildings on it were handed over to them. This offer had been declined by His Excellency the Governor.
The question of erecting a prison on Stonecutters' Island was then discussed, and it was ultimately agreed unanimously to recommend that the work be proceeded with as early as practicable.
The Committee then adjourned.
QUESTIONS.
The following questions stood on the agenda in the name of Hon. H.E. Pollock.
1. What was the total amount which was paid to owners for the resumption of insanitary properties in Taipingshan?
What was the total cost of laying out such named land, including roads, drains, retaining walls, etc.? What is the total amount which has been received by the Government in premia from the sale of such portions of such resumed land as have been sold by the Government, and what is the total Annual Crown Rent which is received by the Government in respect of such portions?
What proportion do such portions as aforesaid bear to the part of such resumption which it is proposed to reserve as a public park for Chinese?
it is proposed to reserve as a public park for Chinese? When does the Government propose to give the members of the Legislative Council an opportunity for discussing the question of the desirability of reserving such part of such resumption as a public park for Chinese? What stage has this matter of a public park for Chinese now reached?
2. On what date was the contract let for the foundations and reclamation for Section No. 6 of the Praya Reclamation (from Pottinger Street to Wing Wo Street), and what was the date fixed for the completion of the work? What is the name of the contractor?
When was the above contract work actually completed, and how many days was it after the contract time for completion? Was the penalty for overtime stipulated in the contract enforced? If not, why not?
On what date was the contract let for the sea-wall and roadways on the above section and what date was fixed for the completion of the work?
What is the name of the contractor?
When will the work on:
(a) the sea wall, and
(b) the roadways be actually completed?
Is the penalty for overtime in the contract being enforced or will it be enforced? If not, why not? 3. Is it not the fact that a wall in the Protestant Cemetery, on the side nearest to the Roman Catholic Cemetery, has recently partially collapsed, covering some of the tombs in the Protestant Cemetery with debris and damaging some of the tombstones? What steps will be taken, and when, to remove such debris and to repair such damage, and to ensure that no further portions of the said wall and no earth shall in future fall down or be washed down by rain upon the tombs in the Protestant Cemetery?
What is the name of the contractor who is responsible for the wall in question?
4. Is it not the fact that certain houses in Conduit Road have been served with an intermittent supply of water only during some days in the past summer?
If yes, to what cause is such deficiency of water due? Are there any defects in the mains leading up to Conduit Road, or is the pumping-power insufficient to raise the water up to that level? Is a Water Rate being collected from the houses in Conduit Road? 5. Is it the fact that the Government is contemplating the alteration of the uniform which is worn by the Senior Sanitary Inspectors? If so, will not such contemplated alteration make the uniform of the Senior Sanitary Inspectors resemble that of the District Inspectors? What is the reason for the contemplated change?
In the absence of Hon. Mr. Pollock, Hon. Sir PAUL CHATER put the questions.
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uniform for the different grades of Inspectors is alike. The object has been to make the uniform as simple as
THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY answered question 1 as follows:―$818,098.32, $107,874.58, The premia amount to $171,393.50; the Crown rents to $772 per annum. The area sold amounts to 49,711 square feet or 1.14 acres; the areas of building land absorbed by the park which is a Public Park and not a Park for Chinese only amount to 46,500 square feet or 1.07 acres. On the 17th of September the Governor's despatch and the Secretary of State's reply on the subject of laying out a Public Garden in Taipingshan were laid on the table, together with the Estimates for 1904, at page 25 of which a sum of $7,000 was set down for levelling and laying out Taipingshan Garden. I have again to point out that the Park or Garden is Public and not set aside exclusively for any section of the community.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS gave the following answers:―
Question 2, paragraph 1. The 1st of May, 1899. Date for completion 15th of November, 1902. Name of Contractor, Tsang Keng.
2. It is not yet completed.
3. The whole of the work was included under the contract referred to in first paragraph of reply. 4. Tsang Keng, as already stated.
5. (a)Work was completed in December 1902. (b)It is not possible to say definitely, but there is no reason why it should not be completed by the end of this year.
6. The question of penalty to be enforced will be considered on completion of the work. The contractor has been repeatedly warned that the penalty will be enforced.
Question 3, paragraph 1. Yes. The accident arose from the heavy rains in the early part of September. 2. The wall will be reconstructed of greater strength. Work is in progress.
3. The wall which fell was constructed by Yau Kung Cheung, contractor. It was completed in September 1902, and was therefore out of the contractor's hands prior to the date of its failure.
Question 4, paragraph 1. Yes.
2. It has been due in some measure to repeated bursts in the mains, the margin in power of the pumping plant being inadequate to make up for the loss of water occasioned by such bursts. Additional pumping plant has recently been provided which has enabled constant supply to be maintained.
3. No defects other than those indicated above, which are liable to occur in any main. Yes, a water rate is collected.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY answered question 5 as follows:―The uniform of the Sanitary Staff for which there existed no authorised pattern has been revised, and sealed patterns sanctioned. The
possible.
NOTICE OF MOTION.
Hon. GERSHOM STEWART gave notice that at next meeting he would make the following motion:―"That in the opinion of this Council it is advisable to increase if possible the means of shelter for cargo boats and sampans during the typhoon season."
LAND TITLES IN THE NEW TERRITORY.
The ATTORNEY -GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to repeal the New Territories Titles Ordinance, 1902. He said―As has been indicated in the objects and reasons appended, this Ordinance is desired because it is found necessary to repeal the New Territories Titles Ordinance which we passed last year. The object of that Ordinance was to establish in the New Territories a system, to be confined to the New Territories, of title by registration. The system has however in practice been found to be not workable, and moreover it has been found that even if the system was brought into working order it would clash with the principle of the Land Court Ordinance of 1900 in such a manner as was neither contemplated by the framer or the Legislature when the Ordinance was passed. The interpretation of "customary land" and "customary land holder" in the New Territories Land Titles Ordinance was such that its effect would seem to be to override Section 14 of the Land Court Ordinance of 1900. By that Ordinance all titles in the New Territories as in every part of the Colony can only be acquired by a grant from the Crown. It is not permissible of course that that principle should be in any way departed from. Happily no inconvenience will be caused to anyone by repealing the ordinance, because as a fact the Ordinance was never brought into working, for on the first attempt it was found they could not do so.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The Bill was then considered in Committee and was read a third time and passed on the motion of the ATTORNEY -GENERAL, seconded by the ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.
NEW TERRITORY LAND COURT ORDINANCE. The ATTORNEY -GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to further amend The New Territories Land Court Ordinance, 1900. He said― The object of the introduction of this Bill is to empower the Governor to add to the members of the Land Court whenever he may deem it expedient with the object of expediting and accelerating the work of the Court. The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The Bill was then considered in Committee and was afterwards read a third time and passed,
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on the motion of the ATTORNEY -GENERAL, seconded by the ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.
PUBLIC HEALTH AND BUILDINGS ORDINANCE. The ATTORNEY -GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend The Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903. He said―As we are all aware, the Ordinance known as No. 1 of 1903, the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, was passed late last year and came into operation in the early part of this year. That Bill dealt with the vital question of the public health of this Colony. It ran into very great―but not unnecessarily great―length, considering the varied nature and importance of the matters with which the Bill dealt. It is somewhat early, perhaps some may think, to amend the Bill, but I think hon. members will readily acknowledge that it was almost impossible to expect that a Bill could be framed which would meet with every requirement and necessity without requiring some amendment almost immediately following its inception. The Ordinance, which I beg leave to say is a most valuable addition to the statute book, does require amendment in some particulars in order to make it of more practical value. The amendments which are now proposed by the Government are principally those which have been suggested and recommended by the Sanitary Board, who have hitherto had the practical working of the Ordinance under their immediate ken. These suggestions and recommendations appear to me to be admirable in every respect and I believe will commend themselves to the favourable consideration of this Council. Other amendments which we propose in the Bill are suggested not by the Sanitary Board but by others who have bad the working of the Bill under their charge and are responsible for it. In these amendments it is proposed to create a Sanitary Department. A Sanitary Department does exist, but it is now proposed to recognise it by statute and give the Principal Civil Medical Officer of the Colony the direct administration of that department by holding him directly responsible. At the present time it is not possible to hold that officer directly responsible because he has no authority where he should have it. An amendment is also proposed with respect to the arbitration clause by which power is given to the arbiters to take into consideration when dealing with claims whether the premises were enhanced in value by overcrowding. The greatest difficulty the Government have had in preparing this Bill for presentation to the Councils to get a definition of the expression "external air" which would be capable of being given effect to. The amendment of the present existing definition is made on the recommendation of the Sanitary Board. They report that at present the definition renders it almost impossible to give effect to the real intention of the Ordinance with respect to the proper amount of light and air that should be admitted into rooms. A new definition therefore will be submitted for the consideration of the Council which I believe will be
found to at last achieve the difficulty of exactly saying what was meant by "external air." Several other sections have been amended. For instance section 48 is considered by the Board to be unworkable. It accordingly has been recast and I believe it will meet the Board's recommendation. The object that the Board has in view in making that recommendation was to expedite the action that was necessary to be taken with reference to the abatement of the nuisance of overcrowding. The present system appears to be cumbrous and to cause undue delay.
Considerable difficulty has been found in practice in working the Ordinance with respect to the interpretation that at present is attached to the meaning of the words "room" and "cubicle." Hitherto those words have had pretty well the same meaning, but by the amendment proposed to the Bill each would have its own meaning attached to it.
A very important alteration too was to be submitted for consideration with respect to Section 251 of the present Ordinance. This section is one of the arbitration sections and refers to the procedure to be adopted where claims for compensation have been put in. The amending Bill will provide that whenever claims for compensation shall be made the claim shall be submitted to the Colonial Secretary on the same day as the plans are filed with the building authority; also it provides that where a claim for compensation is in respect of a matter with regard to which powers of exemption or modification are vested in the Board or the Governor in Council the claimant shall await the decision of the Board or the Governor in Council before proceeding with the works. These amendments have been found necessary by the authority who have the administration of the Ordinance, for claims for compensation have been sent in months after the plans have been deposited, there being no indication at the time they were sent in that a claim was intended to be made, and subsequently when it was intended to exercise the powers of modification made it was found it was too late because the building was already in course of erection. The Council will see at once that these are practical difficulties that ought to be overcome, and this Bill we think is capable of doing so.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. He said ―I may mention on His Excellency's authority that it is not proposed to press Section 3 but to hold it over for further consideration; and therefore the Government hopes that the unofficial members will not oppose the second reading of the Bill.
The motion was agreed to, and the Council went into Committee on the Bill.
In Committee some amendments were made and discussion ensued on several points.
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Section 2 as printed was passed.
In Section 14 (Sub-section 8) the term a fourteen
Hon. Dr. HO KAI―I am quite satisfied.
HIS EXCELLENCY―I think the hon. member may rest
days" was changed to "five days" so "s to lessen the period within which a summons against overcrowding can be applied for to a Magistrate.
In Section 19 (Sub-section 153) (a) it was provided that no cubicle shall be constructed or maintained in any storey of any domestic building hereafter erected "or re erected."
Hon. Dr. HO KAI said that if this applied to houses which had been blown down or taken down for repair to a certain extent and reconstructed then there would be a hardship if no cubicles were to be allowed.
HIS EXCELLENCY―In that case we would never get rid of cubicles at all.
Hon. Dr. HO KAI replied that by increasing the thickness of the walls and providing a 13 feet backyard for external air a 60 feet room would have only two rooms. What about the central portion of a house fronting the street and opening upon the external air in the rear. They could not have side windows, nor central rooms, yet cubicles must exist in such houses. At the present time two cubicles could exist, but in a new house or one being re-erected it would be impossible to have any cubicles at all. There would be one room from one end to the other.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS pointed out that the provisions of the Ordinance entailed a very important modification of the arrangements of existing houses, because they only permitted kitchens to be erected over half of the extent of the house, and quarter of the entire area must be left unbuilt upon. Therefore an important modification would be made in the reconstruction of such houses if once demolished. If the city as it existed to-day was ever to be improved there must be some provision like this which would prevent these houses having windowless cubicles. Otherwise the city would remain forever as it now was.
HIS EXCELLENCY remarked that Section 153 really covered, or was intended to cover, houses burned down or pulled down and built up again; otherwise you would go on building up the same old insanitary class of houses. The words the hon. member had objected to were put in because the question arose whether the section covered re-erected houses. He thought that what the Director of Public Works had pointed out was only reasonable.
Hon. Dr. HO KAI asked the Director of Public Works to give the Committee an idea, if private houses such as business hongs in Bonham Strand, some measuring 80 feet, had been pulled down or burned down, whether it would be possible to rebuild them and have cubicles?
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS thought that was sufficiently covered by the proviso to the section. Powers of modification as wide as they could make them were given to deal with all cases that occurred. He should think the Board would exercise its powers of modification in such cases as had been in licated.
assured that where a strict enforcement of the Section would inflict unnecessary hardship in purely business premises, modification will be granted.
The Sub-section was passed.
In Section 154 (5) under Part III (19) it was proposed that no cubicle shall have a less floor area than 64 square feet.
Hon. Dr. HO KAI held that it should be made either 50 feet or 100 feet, as 64 feet was too much for one and not enough for two.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY pointed out that there was nothing to prevent it being made 100 feet. The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS considered that the 64 feet should stand. Each person, in the case of a floor which was not subdivided, required 50 feet, and if a room was going to be divided up into cubicles he thought it only reasonable that they should provide extra space.
HIS EXCELLENCY asked the Director of Public Works whether in calculating the number of people that could occupy a floor divided up into cubicles, calculation would be made for the floor as a whole and not for each seperate cubicle.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied that he had no recollection of that question having arisen. Hon. Dr. HO KAI remarked that if two or three persons were found occupying the same cubicle the Sanitary Board would have something to say about overcrowding.
The ATTORNEY -GENERAL was of opinion that if two men lay in that room and chose to lie alongside each other they would still be inside the rules.
HIS EXCELLENCY―This 64 feet requirement is based on "olo custom." If it is disturbed a size of cubicle that may not be so convenient may be the result.
Hon. Dr. HO KAI did not press his point but remarked that there was a great difference between two or three persons crowding together into a partially closed-up cubicle and lying together in the corner of an open room.
The section was passed without alteration.
All the other new sections which were considered were approved.
UNDESIRABLE IMMIGRANTS.
The ATTORNEY -GENERAL moved that the house go into committee on the Bill entitled an Ordinance to provide for the Recovery of Charges incurred by the Colony on account of certain undesirable persons introduced into the Colony.
Hon. Sir PAUL CHATER asked that consideration of the Bill be postponed as the member for the Chamber of Commerce, he understood, had
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been asked to make a few comments upon it when he returned from the North. This was agreed to. The Council adjourned till Monday, 14th December.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was held immediately after the Council―the Acting Colonial Secretary (Hon. A. M. Thomson) presiding. POST OFFICE EXPENSES.
The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote a sum of $28,750 in aid of the vote Post Office, under Other Charges, for the following items:―
(1) Cost of Stamps......................................... $ 8,000 (2) Contribution to Mail Subsidy................. 5,250 (3) Transit Charges........................................ 15,500
Total.......................... $28,750
The CHAIRMAN said that new stamps had cost a great deal more than had been anticipated. The subsidy had risen owing to the low exchange in the early part of the year. Transit charges were also larger partly owing to that fact and partly to the increase in business.
The vote was agreed to.
PRINTING THE ORDINANCE.
The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote a sum of $4,000 in aid of the vote Miscellaneous Services, Printing, as a first instalment of the cost of the revised edition of Ordinances.
The CHAIRMAN stated that a certain amount of the work had been done by the Government printers and they had asked for an advance on the contract.
Hon. Dr. HO KAI asked when the work was likely to be ready.
The CHAIRMAN replied that he could not guarantee a time.
Hon. Dr. HO KAI―It is only up to 1900?
The CHAIRMAN―1901.
Hon. Dr. HO KAI―By the time it is ready we will want a new edition.
The vote was passed.
LAND REGISTRY VOTE.
The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote a sum of $955 in aid of the vote Land Registry Office for the following:―
For New Territories.―Personal Emoluments. Assistant Land Officer, 11th November to 31st December........................................................ $500 Assistant Land Officer, Exchange Compensation................................................. 400
$900
Other Charges.
Travelling Allowance to Assistant Land Officer.............................................................. 50
Total............... $950
The CHAIRMAN stated that this vote was rendered
necessary by the appointment of Mr. Messer as Assistant Land Officer on 11th November.
Approved.
POLICE LAUNCHES AND BOATS.
The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote a sum of $1,300 in aid of the vote Police under Other Charges for the item repairs of launches and boats.
The vote was passed.
PUBLIC WORKS.
The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote a sum of $85,600 in aid of the votes Public Works Annually Recurrent, and Public Works Extraordinary, for the following items:―
Public Works, Annually Recurrent.
Maintenance of buildings..................... $8,300 Maintenance of telegraphs ................... 2,700 Maintenance of telegraphs in New
Territory........................................ 600
Miscellaneous works ............................ 13,500 Maintenance of roads in City............... 5,500 Maintenance of roads outside City...... 2,000 Maintenance of roads in Kowloon...... 2,100 Maintenance of sewers, nullahs, &c.,.. 1,500 Miscellaneous Services......................... 2,000 Gas lighting, City of Victoria............... 2,200 Extensions of gas lighting..................... 300 Drainage works, miscellaneous........... 18,700 Maintenance of water-works, City and
Hill District................................... 13,500
72,900
Public Work, Extraordinary.
Public bath-house, Cross Lane,
Wanchai........................................ 500
Public latrines and urinals..................... 3,500 Rain-storm damage............................... 8,700 12,700
Total,.............................. $85,600
The CHAIRMAN said that he understood the original total estimate in this case for last year would not be exceeded.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS explained that on the annually recurrent and extraordinary expenditure there would be a very large balance of about $250,000 on the gross amount. Public works recurrent would be exceeded to the extent of some $56,000 and there would a saving on public works extraordinary or unexpended balances of about $300,000. With regard to the public works annually recurrent the principal items in which the expenditure was incurred were those that were really not of the ordinary recurrent type; miscellaneous works, for example, for the provision of structures of various sorts that there was almost a certain demand for during the course of any year, but for which there were no separate votes. It was the same way with drainage works miscellaneous, it appeared
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in public works recurrent, but it consisted largely in training of nullahs and extending of drains in various parts of the city and Kowloon on account
The vote was passed.
SECRET SERVICE.
The Officer Administering the Government
of the new areas built upon during recent years. A large part of it was due to training of nullahs which he thought hon. members would agree was a very desirable work to carry on. In the case of the maintenance of waterworks, this was due a good deal to the increased cost of pumping, including that at Tytamtuk.
recommended the Council to vote a sum of $1,000 in aid of the vote Police under Other Charges, for the item. Secret Service.
The CHAIRMAN said this was on account of a special case. It was obvious that no further explanation could be given.
The vote was approved.
This was all the business.