HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 131 29TH DECEMBER, 1910.
PRESENT:―
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIR FREDERICK JOHN DEALTRY LUGARD K.C.M.G., C.B., B.S.O.
HON. SIR F. H. MAY, K.C.M.G. (Colonial Secretary)
HON. MR. W. REES DAVIES, K.C. (Attorney General).
HON. MR. C. MCI. MESSER (Colonial Treasurer).
HON. MR. W. CHATHAM, C.M.G. (Director of Public Works).
HON. MR. F. J. BADELEY (Capt. Superintendent of Police).
HON. MR. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar-General). HON. MR. WEI YUK, C.M.G.
HON. DR. HO KAI, M.D., C,M.G.
HON. MR. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C.
HON. MR. E. OSBORNE.
HON. MR. E. A. HEWETT
HON. MR. KESWICK
MR. C. CLEMENTI (Clerk of Councils)
Minutes
The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.
Financial Minutes
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table Financial Minutes Nos. 93 to 114, and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded.
HIS EXCELLENCY―Gentlemen, among these financial minutes there are three of considerable magnitude, upon which I will offer some explanation to the Council. The first of these, No. 108, is for a sum of $114,000 for redemption of subsidiary coinage. I think it would interest you to hear a few facts with regard to this matter. It has been the custom to write off in the Treasury books a certain percentage of the loss which is unavoidable in consequence of the depreciation of our subsidiary coinage. We have written off monthly seven per cent. on the face value of
silver subsidiary coin and 20 per cent. on the face value of copper; that is, on all small coins received by the Government as legal tender in the collection of taxes, especially in the New Territories. That percentage has been written off because the loss is necessary and inevitable on realisation in consequence of the depreciation of our Hongkong coinage. At the end of 1909 there was a balance in the Treasury of $469,368 face value of subsidiary coinage. During 1909 there had been written off in the way described the sum of $63,523, so that the sum I have named had been written down to $405,845. In consequence of the decision which was taken some three years ago to withdraw from circulation all subsidiary coinage received by the Government as legal tender this sum was remitted home to England for demonetisation early in the present year and its demonetisation involved a further loss of $23,482.
At the end of April a further sum had accrued in the Treasury of $210,000, and of this $26,358 had been written off. I agreed that this amount should be sent home, and it involved a further loss of $29,876, so that on a little over two lakhs our total loss was $56,234. This loss was proportionately larger than the sum that we had lost on the previous remittance, because a larger proportion of it consisted of copper. The total loss on demonetisation on copper is 66 per cent. as against 14 per cent. on silver. I did not expect this loss would be so heavy, and therefore the vote in the estimates, which was only $40,000, was exceeded by $39,716.
By September a further sum of $219,000 had accumulated in the Treasury, and this was sent home while I was away in England; the estimated loss on demonetising this is $54,670. These sums, together with the amount which has to be written off monthly to the end of the year, accounts for the whole of the vote now before you. No more will be sent home this year, because the Treasury cannot afford any further expenditure on this account, but it is estimated that at the end of this year we will have in hand about $244,169, upon which $19,412 will have been written off
132 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
The vote for the redemption of subsidiary coinage which appears annually in the estimates is a rather misleading title. It refers to two separate matters. The first is the unavoidable and inevitable loss we have to sustain in consequence of the depreciation of our coinage, that is to say, the amount which has to be written off in the Treasury and which in 1910 is estimated at $70,440 as against a vote of $40,000. For 1911 we have provided a larger sum, $75,000, which ought to cover this loss. The second matter included in the vote is loss on demonetisation, which is purely optional, During 1910 we have melted down in all $898,100 face value of subsidiary coinage, that is to say, $759,300 silver and $138,800 copper, and the cost of doing this over and above what we should have to have written off will amount to $83,357, for which no provision was made in the estimates.
The Colony for many years in the past made a very considerable profit by importing subsidiary coin which found its way into China. This was not to be avoided. The Colony was bound to import coin for its own needs, and if it disappeared out of the Colony and was taken away into China the Colony was compelled to go on importing in order to maintain its own supply. I do think, however, that a considerable part of the profit which was in earlier years made on that coinage ought to have been set apart to a reserve fund, but it was not. It was spent. We have now in consequence to refund a part at least of this profit. We are therefore as a matter of fact only now liquidating liabilities which were created in that series of years when we took the profit and used it as a portion of our annual revenue. I have endeavoured to ascertain the amount of profit which we made in that way. There are no separate records prior to the year 1872, but between the years 1872 and 1905 the profit which was credited to revenue amounted to $2,226,234. We began to lose the year that I came to the Colony, 1907, and the loss during the four years which have elapsed since then amounts to $793,293, so that we have only paid back a little more than one-third of the profit we have made. During these four years we have withdrawn silver subsidiary coins to the face value of $5,272,012.25 and copper to the face value of $255,086.23, or in actual coins we have withdrawn about 52 12 million silver and about 25 12 million copper coins. The actual figures are 52,579,488 in silver and 25,508,623 of copper.
I need hardly remind you that this question of the redundancy of our own coinage and the loss we have had to incur in the endeavour to rehabilitate it, is quite separate aspect of the "Subsidiary Coinage Question" from the currency of Chinese coins in this Colony. I
am glad to see that of late one important company is discriminating between Hongkong and Chinese coinage and is now refusing to receive Chinese coins. I think that we may anticipate there is a prospect of a termination of these difficulties. China is taking certain steps towards the reorganisation of her currency. However that may be, the Treasurer reports, so far as our own coinage is concerned, that during the recent financial panic among the Chinese the discount on Hongkong silver coins fell to only three per cent., and that copper now stands at from two to five per cent. discount only. He anticipates that when trade revives, and there is a greater demand for silver, the discount will largely decrease and very probably reach par. Once our subsidiary coinage has reached par it will be an easier matter for us to deal with the question of alien coinage in this Colony, if it be necessary to take any particular steps in that direction. You will, I am sure, agree with me that the demonetisation of upwards of 77 million coins at a cost of over 7 12 lakhs constitutes a very substantive step towards the rehabilation of our currency, and is very creditable to the Colony in view of the financial difficulties of these four years.
The next financial minute, regarding which I have a few words to say, is No, 104, that is, the vote for $309,479 for the resumption of land. You will find in the estimates for the current year a sum of $374,805 for the resumption of land for a railway station. The sum now before you relates to the same matter, and the only reason it was brought before the Council to-day is because the land was inaccurately described in the estimates as being for a railway station. In all probability, it will not now be used for a railway station. You will see from the vote that we have made a saving of about $65,000 on the anticipated price. The financial minute, therefore, which you are asked to approve does not involve any new or unauthorised
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 133
expenditure from what was sanctioned by the Legislative Council when the estimates ware passed.
The third and only other vote on which I wish to remark is No. 101, a sum of $55,500 in aid of the vote, public works extraordinary. This refers to the site of four houses which separate the old western market from Morrison Street. Three of them have collapsed and the other, together with one which was already Government property, are reported by the Building Authority to be unfit for habitation. At the present moment we are in process of rebuilding the western market, which is very dilapidated and we are adding a second storey to it. Even with this increased accommodation the demand for shops and stalls will in all probability not be met. The market is in a very populous district and there is a great demand for stalls. The present moment, therefore, is an exceedingly favourable one for resumption, because we only have to pay the price of the land instead of having to pay also for the price of buildings erected upon it. If we do not take this opportunity new houses will be erected and we should have to pay for them as well as for the land itself. The market is a very remunerative work, and a revenue of some $30,000 per annum is expected from the new building. The cost of the present improvement is $100,000, and I am informed the value it is proposed to pay for this land, $55,500, is very reasonable and proper.
The motion was agreed to.
Financial
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the report of the Finance Committee (No. 17) and moved its odoption.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
Public Works Committee
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the report of the Public Works Committee (No. 3)
Liquors Rebate
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY―Sir, I beg to move the following resolution:―Resolved that the sum of $112 as an Import Allowance for the year 1910 be paid out of the Public Revenue of the Colony as a rebate in part to the Naval Authorities in respect of the
duties paid on intoxicating liquors (not being Naval Stores the property of His Majesty) consumed at the Officers' Mess at the Royal Naval Hospital and at the Engineers' Mess in His Majesty's Dockyard." This vote is rendered necessary by the inclusion of the institutions mentioned in the rebate system.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
Questions Answered
THE HON. MR. H. E. POLLOCK had given notice of the following questions:―
1. What would be (approximately) the cost of turfing and laying out and enclosing the plot of ground to the west of the Hongkong Club in such a manner as to make it uniform with the adjacent plot of ground to the west of it?
2. What work, if any, has been done in connection with the promised erection of a light on Kap Sing Island, at the Southern entrance to the Capsuimun Pass? Has any contract been entered into with reference to this work? If not, why not? If so, what is the contract date for the completion of the work?
3. What is the contract date for the completion of the new Harbour of Refuge at Mong-Kok Tsui?
4. What is the estimated saving of expenditure to be gained by the omission to erect a clock tower on the new Post Office, as was originally designed?
5. Will the Government lay before the Council the information, which is in its possession, with reference to the prospects of a wireless telegraphy station, for the signalling of typhoons, being established on some island of the Pratas Group?
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY replied to the questions as under:―
1. "Not less than $4,000."
2. A tender by Messrs. Chance Bros. & Co. for the necessary apparatus for a fifth order light and for a fog bell together with the structure to support them has been accepted in England. The apparatus and structure will be sent out to the Colony as soon as they are completed.
3. The contract date for the completion of the new Harbour of Refuge at Mongkoktsui is the 26th October, 1915. The amount of the contract is $2,018,002,54
134 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
4. Seventy thousand dollars, including a suitable clock.
5. The Government has no information that the Chinese Government has as yet taken any steps to make the promised installation, It has again urged upon the Chinese Government through His Majesty's Minister at Peking the desirability of carrying out the work.
Notice of Further Questions
THE HON. Mr. OSBORNE―Sir, I rise to give notice that at the next meeting of the Council I will ask the following questions?
1. Will the Government tale steps to prevent the destruction of birds by sham sportsmen, who by means of the Railway are enabled to invade the New Territory and threaten extinction to every form of bird life, game and otherwise.
2. Will the Government cause to be laid on this table half-yearly a statement of the work actually accomplished on the new typhoon refuge; and in such form that the public may be able to judge whether the rate of progress is such as to ensure completion by contract date.
Widows' and Orphans' Pension Amendments Ordinance
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled, "An Ordinance to amend the Widows' and Orphans' Pension Ordinance, 1908."
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a first time.
The Memorandum attached to this measure explained that this amending Ordinance is necessary to remove doubts as to the interpretation of the existing Ordinance with regard to the method of fixing the amount of contribution to be paid by officers drawing salaries fixed on a dollar basis. It will legalise the existing practice and give effect to the Resolution passed by the Legislative Council on August 7th, 1902.
Companies Ordinances Consolidation Ordinance
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled, "An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the Ordinances relating to Companies." In doing so he said―On moving, Sir, the first reading of this Bill I explained its object, which was to establish uniformity in commercial centres of the British Empire in the law relating to companies. It
consolidates the existing Ordinances and follows, with such amendments as are necessary to meet local conditions, the Imperial Companies Consolidation Act, 1908. The object of that Act was, as I then pointed out, speaking briefly, to promote commercial integrity and protect the investing public from the avarice of company promoters. The Bill, Sir, was introduced some time ago, and I do not hesitate to affirm from information I have received from all quarters, freely received, that the measure has been well received not only amongst the commercial community of the Colony, but in the commercial community of Shanghai. In fact, I am not exaggerating when I make bold to declare that the Bill has been received with a chorus of universal acclamation. Comparatively few amendments have been suggested to me, and those amendments will be dealt with when the Bill is referred to the Law Committee. The Bill will receive the very careful consideration of the Law Committee and if necessary of the committee of the whole house afterwards. Since the introduction of the Bill an important judgment by the Chief Justice has raised the question of the status of the Shanghai companies under our Companies Ordinance. The effect of that judgment is that, in the opinion of the Chief Justice, in order to entitle a foreign company to register in this Colony it must in reality carry on its business in Hongkong, and the carrying on of its business here must be in reality and not merely in name. Now, Sir, the Government is fully impressed with the importance of this decision and recognises that it is in the interests both of companies trading in the treaty ports and of this Colony to preserve the existing system, and the Government will place no stumbling block in the way of Shanghai or other foreign companies registering in this Colony, and the Companies Local Register Ordinances of 1907 and 1909 have expressly facilitated the position of companies that are registered here but carry on business outside the Colony. I mention that fact, Sir, as showing the trend legislation has recently taken in expressly recognising the position of companies carrying on business elsewhere. Having regard, therefore, to the judgment of the Chief Justice,
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 135
to which I have alluded, the Government is losing no time in submitting proposals for the consideration of the Secretary of State with a view to maintaining the status quo ante. This will, if approved by the Secretary of State, necessitate certain amendments being made in the Bill, so as to assure the position of these companies being placed beyond the region of doubt. These amendments, I submit, need not delay the consideration of the Bill by the Standing Law Committee, to which I shall presently invite the Council to commit it. As regards the principles of the Bill, I referred to them more fully than usual on the first reading. We desire to place our company law in uniformity with that prevailing at Home. We desire to protect shareholders. We desire a more perfect system of audit. We desire that the general law prevailing as regards companies at Home shall be brought up to date in this Colony. I beg to move the second reading, and if the Council will read the Bill a second time I will move that it be referred to the Standing Law Committee, when I shall have the benefit of conferring with my hon. and learned friend opposite and my hon. and learned friend on my left in dealing with the various amendments which may occur.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
HON. MR. POLLOCK―There is one remark I wish to make, Sir. I have not as yet been appointed a member of the Law Committee.
HIS EXCELLENCY―I was about to refer to that matter. The hon. member was a member of the Law Committee, and his place was taken during his absence by the hon. Mr. Murray Stewart. As that gentleman has now left the Council, the hon. and learned member resumes his place as a member of the Law Committee by resuming his seat at the Council.
HON. MR. HEWETT―Your Excellency, I would point out that this Bill is of far-reaching order. The hon. Attorney-General says that this Bill is merely bringing Hongkong up to date. That is quite true. I think that no business man here would object to bringing the Hongkong Companies Ordinance up to date with what obtains in Great Britain, but it is a very great advance on what is existing now, and I think we ought to have reasonable time for discussing this question. The Attorney-General appears to think, as I gathered from his remarks, that the amendments will be few. I have it in my mind that the amendments suggested by the mercantile community of Hongkong may be very considerable, and the Bill may lead to a great deal more discussion and amendment than your Excellency
and the officials of Hongkong seem to think. I trust, therefore, that the Bill will not be rushed. I only make these remarks because the Chamber of Commerce have not had a full opportunity of considering the Bill, but they will consider it at the earliest possible moment. We may, I don't say we will, have to put forward in the interests of the mercantile community a good many more amendments than your Excellency appears to anticipate, Therefore, I venture to suggest that we have every possible and reasonable time for reconsidering it before it becomes law. I have no more to say at the moment, because the matter will be considered by the Chamber which I represent. It is a very important measure and will make radical changes in the working of companies here. Therefore, things must not be done in a hurry and we must have ample time to consider that Bill.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL―I quite understand that there are possibly numerous amendments which may crop up, but I do not think that will interfere with the Law Committee taking the Bill into consideration at once.
HON. MR. HEWETT―Not at all.
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL―I would ask the hon. member to refer to the Law Committee any amendments he has. The Bill is bound to engage the attention of the Law Committee, I expect, for some considerable time, but that need not prevent the motion for its committal to that Committee.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The Bill was afterwards referred to the Law Committee.
136 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
Colonial Secretary's Forthcoming Departure
HIS EXCELLENCY ― Gentlemen, I have to announce to you that His Majesty has been pleased to select the Hon. Colonial Secretary as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Fiji and High Commissioner for the Western Pacific. (Applause.) The Council will now adjourn sine die, and as far as I can foresee is not likely to meet again until towards the end of February, when we assemble to pass the jurors' list. Therefore, this will probably be the last occasion on which we shall see the hon, member in his accustomed seat, a seat which I believe he has occupied longer than any other Councillor at this table. I think, therefore, it is fitting that the records of this Council should contain some reference to the loss it will suffer on his departure. I am confident that the few observations which I have to add to the announcement will voice the unanimous feelings of every member of this Council, but if any unofficial member should desire to bring forward a motion in order to crystallise more precisely the feeling of regret, or because he considers that course more in consonance with standing orders, I will readily agree to its urgency, and no doubt the Council in accordance with Rule 13 will take that view.
It is not possible to dissociate the work of the Colonial Secretary as a member of this Council from the larger sphere of his work in the Colony, where he has spent all his working life since first he came to it some twenty-eight years ago. During all these years he has worked as you all know most strenuously for the public service―(Hear, hear, and applause)―not sparing himself and not pausing to consider any limit to the claims on his time and on his thoughts which the service could demand. He has set an example to the younger members of the Colonial Service of devotion to duty and of absolute integrity and impartiality which has beyond doubt exercised a greater influence upon them than either he or they recognise. My own life has been a varied one, spent in the public service in various parts of the world, and I can say to you without hesitation after nearly four years of intimate association in work with Sir Henry May that never in all my experience have. I met a more thoroughly conscientious, a more rigidly impartial, or a more hard working officer than the Colonial Secretary of Hongkong. (Applause.) His great ability, his sound commonsense and his unequalled knowledge of the affairs of this Colony, will be a great public loss, while his advice and loyal assistance will be a great loss to myself. This is not the place in which to allude to his activities in the social life of this Colony. No doubt an opportunity will offer elsewhere. I will only say that he and his wife will be very greatly missed.
We can each of us aspire to no higher honour and to no greater reward than that it should be said of us by those with whom we have been most closely associated, as we can all say of Sir Henry May, that throughout his service he has upheld the best traditions of British public life and in both his public and private capacity he has always maintained the character of an English gentleman sans peur et sans raproche. (Applause.)
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY―Sir, I wish to express my appreciation of the honour you, Sir, as President of this Council, have done me.
Sir Henry was perceptibly overcome with emotion and he immediately resumed his seat.
Renomination of Mr. Pollock
HIS EXCELLENCY―I think, gentlemen, it would perhaps be more correct if the hon. Mr. Pollock be formally re-appointed to the Law Committee. I have, therefore, much pleasure in re-nominating him.
Council adjourned, and on His Excellency re entering the Chamber later,
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY reported that the Finance Committee had unanimously adopted Financial Minutes Nos. 93 to 114, and he recommended that the votes therein referred to be approved.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
HIS EXCELLENCY―Council stands adjourned sine die.
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 137
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
——
A meeting of the Finance Committee was held afterwards―the Colonial Secretary presiding. The following votes were passed:
The New Territory Public Works
The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote a sum of five thousand three hundred and twenty dollars ($5,320) in aid of the vote, Public Works, Extraordinary, Buildings, Furnished Quarters for the Public Works Department Surveyor in the New Territories and Rest House for Public Works Department and other Officers visiting the Territory on official business.
Deepening Causeway Bay
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of eight hundred and eighty-six dollars ($886) in aid of the vote, Public Works, Extraordinary, Miscellaneous, Causeway Bay―Deepening.
Educational
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of two hundred and nineteen dollars and twenty cents ($219.20) in aid of the vote, Education, A.― Department of Director of Education, Other Charges, Queen's College Incidental Expenses.
Harbour Master's Department
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of six hundred and twenty-five Dollars ($625) in aid of the vote, Harbour Master's Department, D.― Marine Surveyor's Office, Other Charges, for the following two items:―
Repairs to Steam Launch ....................... $ 75 Steam Launch Hire ................................. 550 ——
$625
Judicial and Legal
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of one hundred dollars ($100) in aid of the vote, Judicial and Legal Departments, C.―District Officer, Personal Emoluments, Allowance to Additional Police Sergeant as Supervisor of Revenue Collection.
Medical
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of Six hundred and forty Dollars ($640) in aid of the vote, Medical Departments, for the following two items:―
A.―Staff.
Other Charges.
Health Officer of Port.
Incidental Expenses ..................................... $ 40
B.―Hospitals and Asylums.
Other Charges.
Lunatic Asylums.
Provisions for Patients, Victoria Hospital for Women and Children .............................. 300 Provisions for Patients ................................. 300 ——
Total ......... $640
Officers' Uniforms
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of One hundred and thirty Dollars ($130) in aid of the vote, Harbour Master's Department, A.―Harbour Office, Other Charges, Uniform for Boarding Officers, Constables and Boatmen.
Repairs to Boats and Buoys
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of Two hundred Dollars ($200) in aid of the vote, Harbour Master's Department, A.―Harbour Office, Other Charges, Repairs to Boats, Buoys, etc.
Land Resumption
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of fifty-five thousand five hundred dollars ($55,500) in aid of the vote, Public Works, Extraordinary, Land Resumption for Frontage for Old Western Market.
Incidental Sanitary Expenses
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of fifty-nine dollars and twenty cents ($59.20) in aid of the vote, Sanitary Department, Other Charges, Sanitary Staff, Incidental Expenses.
138 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Government Telegrams
Law Courts
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of Five hundred Dollars ($500) in aid of the vote, Miscellaneous Services, Telegraph Services, Telegrams sent and received by Government.
Resumption of Land at Kowloon
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of Three hundred and nine thousand four hundred and seventy-nine Dollars ($309,479) in aid of the vote, Public Works, Extraordinary, Resumption of Kowloon Inland Lots Nos. 442 and 618.
Personal Emolument
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of Thirty-three and thirteen Cents ($33.13) in aid of the vote, Medical Department, B.―Hospitals and Asylums, Personal Emolument, Tung Wah Hospital, Chinese Resident Surgeon.
Transport of Government Servants
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of Two thousand five hundred Dollars ($2,500) in aid of the vote, Miscellaneous Services, Transport of Government Servants.
Colonial Secretary's Department
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of Two hundred and eighteen Dollars, and thirty one cents ($218.31) in aid of the vote, Colonial Secretary's Department and Legislature, Other Charges, for the following two items:―
Language Study Allowance (Chinese) to Unpassed Cadets ................................... $ 80.81 Medical Attendance on Unpassed Cadets .... 137.50 ———
Total ..................................... $218.31
Redemption of Subsidiary Coins
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of One hundred and fourteen thousand Dollars ($114,000) in aid of the vote, Miscellaneous Services, Redemption of Subsidiary Coins.
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of Fifteen thousand Dollars ($15,000) in aid of the vote, Public Works, Extraordinary, Buildings, Law Courts.
Post Office
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of Fifty Dollars ($50) in aid of the vote, Post Office, B.―Postal Agencies in China, Other Charges, Shanghai, Uniforms and Equipment of Postmen.
Travelling Allowances
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of Three hundred and ten Dollars ($310) in aid of the vote, Judicial and Legal Departments, E.― Land Registry Office, Other Charges, New Territories, for the following two items:―
Travelling Allowance to Assistant Land Officer ............................................................. $150 Conveyance Allowance to Assistant Land Officer ............................................................. 160 ——
Total ........................................... $310
Security Allowance
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of Twenty-seven Dollars ($27) in aid of the vote, Harbour Master's Department, C. ―Imports and Exports Office, Other Charges, Security Allowance to 4th Grade Clerk.
Lighting the City
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of Ninety-five Dollars ($95) in aid of the vote, Public Works., Recurrent. Lighting, Electric Lighting, City of Victoria,
Post Office Requisites
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of One hundred and fifty Dollars ($150) in aid of the vote, Post Office, A.―Hongkong Post Office, Other Charges, Mail Bags, Parcel Boxes, Date Stamps and Scales.