the
December 9, 1896.]
general improvements have been completed; others are in hand in Shankiwan, Aber deen, Mong-kok-teni and Tai-kok-tani. The requirements of the increasing population of the Hill District have not been lost sight of, and t is proposed at an early date to commence onstruotion of an improved road from near Victoris Gap to the Mount Kellet Road.
The increasing requirements of the colony in the matter of Government offices and the question of providing new offices and concen- ating them, so far as possible, under one roof, peared to me to call for a special enquiry. I referred the matter accordingly to a Committee, whose report I have just received. That report will be published.
With respect to Education I regret to say that the experiences of the year have been some- what unfortunate. The recurrence of the plague, and the measures taken to prevent over- orowding, together with the rise in house rents resulting from those measures, caused a large number of Chinese, as I have already said, to send their women and children out of the colony. The attendance at schools by Chinese children, and more particularly girls' schools, decreased considerably; the decrease amounting to probably 30 per cent of their normal at- tendance. The attendance at five Chinese schools ceased entirely and the schools had to be closed, but as three new schools have been opened in places unaffected by plague and its consequences the total number of schools under the Education Department is 119 as compared with 121 in 1895. The above un- satisfactory experiences have been confined almost entirely to schools attended by the poorer classes of the native population. The other schools, especially those attended by non- Chinese children, have for the most part re- tained their normal attendance. Efforts are being made to increase the number of schools offering English teaching to natives, but only one school of this description could be opened during the present year. Steps have been taken, however, to improve the teaching of English at Queen's College, and in order to allow more time for that purpose the purely Chinese branch of that establishment has been entirely abolished.
With regard to shipping, Hongkong con- tinues to hold an important position amongst the ports of the Empire. During the nine months ending 30th September last. over 8,000 ships of European construction entered and cleared at the Harbour Office, bringing and taking away cargoes amounting to nearly 55 per cent. of their registered tonnage, and conveying to and from the colony 1,026,469 passengers.
In additition to these, 53.000 trading junks carried 1,309,338 tons of cargo in and out, and conveyed 161,991 passengers.
-Compared with the same period of 1895 this means an increase of 412 European constructed vessels, carrying 233,675 more tons of cargo, and an increase of over 8,600 junks with 125,638 tons of cargo, and a total increase in the passenger traffic amounting to 1,986.
A correspondence with the unofficial members in regard to the proposed abolition of the light dues levied to cover the cost and maintenance of Gap Rock Lighthouse will be laid on the Council table!
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I consider that I am bound to redeem the pledge given by my predecessor to the effect that this special rate should cease as soon as the cost of the lighthouse had been defrayed.
With a view of covering the deficit which will result from this abolition five of the six
cial members are of opinion that a fixed ge of 2 cents per ton should in future be imposed as light dues on all shipping entering the harbour, and in that opinion I concur.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
ance than in the previous 12 months. The increases under various other heads are trifling and the number of murder cases was the same for both periods.
The new home of the Pó Leung Kuk, or Society for the Protection of Women and Girls, was opened by me on the 13th of November. Government contributed towards the cost of its erection a sum of $20,000. The Society has already done good work, and it is hoped, that now it is in possession of a home, it will be able not only to continue its labours, but to carry them on more efficiently. It gives me pleasure at all times to aid the Chinese community of this colony in charitable work, such as that of pro- tecting those who are not able to protect them selves, and I shall always be ready to give them what assistance lies in my power to render auch work as thorough as possible.
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purely a question of the internal posit this colony; but we must conside an Imperial question and we mus
deal in a broad and comprehensive spirit. hear). We have heard, sir, from home, and we have received a telegram within the days adding to our previous informatio upon the subject, that the people of England, the people of Great Britain, are at the present moment engaged in strenuous efforts to make our country strong and able to hold
her own in the future as she has done in the
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past. (Applause.) I think, sir, I am right in saying that the people of Great Britain have this year shown a disposition to contribute, and to contribute liberally, to the defence of the Empire of which we are all so proud, and sorry, sir, that it may appear from the me- morandum of the unofficial members of From the foregoing remarks, gentlemen, you Council that Hongkong is not equally willing will gather that on the whole the condition of to bear her share in the burden of the Empire. the colony socially, politically, and financially, I speak, sir, in this Council as an Englishman is very satisfactory. We have had during the who is proud of the traditions of his country, term of my government two visitations of and I am sure that not only every member of plague. We have had strikes, several typhoons, this Council but every British subject in this and on one occasion a vast and unparalleled colony must have rejoiced and felt glad when exodus of people, but Hongkong has held its he received the news that the people in the old own with wonderful vitality. Government has country were freely contributing towards the not harassed the community with unnecessary defence of the Empire. Of course, sir, I quite or vexatious legislation. The law has been recognize the fact that there is a local aspect enforced whenever it was necessary, but the of this question to be considered as well as an community, speaking generally, is happily a Imperial aspect, but looking to what we see law abiding one. The revenue has increased going on around us out here in the East, look. and is increasing with the growth of population,ing at the fact that it is necessary out here at and the only drawback to a wider and more the present moment not only that our merchants extensive outlook is the limited area of the and men of business should be active and in- colony itself.
telligent but also that we should have upon the spot an armament of considerable strength looking to that fact, sir, I feel it to be very great misfortune that at the pre- sent moment the unofficial members of this Council should not see their way to allow this money, the military contribution of 17 per cent., to be voted without opposition. (Applause.)
In conclusion, gentlemen, you will believe me when I say that as long as I remain here-and for how much longer that may be I cannot tell--I shall continue to co-operate with you in any measures having for their object the public good. I pray that your deliberations under the blessing of God may conduce not only to the honour of Her Majesty the Queen, but to the increased happiness and welfare of the entire community of this Her Majesty's possession in the Far East.
APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES. His EXCELLENCY-I will now appoint the following Committees:-Finance Committee: The Colonial Secretary, Chairman; all the Members of Council, except the Governor.
Law Committee The Attorney-General, Chairman; Hon. J. J. Bell-Irving, Hon. Ho Kai, Hon. E. R. Belilios, Hon, Wei Yuk.
Public Works Committee The Director of Public Works, Chairman; the Colonial Trea- surer, Hon. C. P. Chater, E. R. Belilios, Hon. T. H. Whitehead,
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THE REVENUE AND THE MILITARY CONTRIBUȚION.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD I have listened exhaustive address, which will receive careful with very keen interest to your Excellency's consideration. When the Council is in Finance Committee on the Estimates I should like to be informed how it arises, that with a less total the revised estimated revenue for 1896, viz., revenue for 1897, viz., $2,438,000, as against 82,495.000, that the military contribution pay. able for 1897 will be $30,000 more than may be paid in 1896. It is true that $9,000 more is but I should like to receive an explanation as to required to be contributed for barrack services, the increase of $21,000 in the contribution to- wards military purposes, seeing that the 1897 revenue is estimated at $56,000 less than for 1896.
THE MILITARY CONTRIBUTION BILL. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-In mov-
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ing the first reading of the Bill entitled an Or- dinance to appropriate. a percentage of seven- teen and a half per centum of the Colonial The criminal statistics are highly satisfactory. revenues as a contribution for the defence of Comparing the number of cases under various the colony, I trust your Excellency will allow headings for the 12 months ending 31st Octo-
me, as this is probably the last time that I shall ber, 1898 with those for the preceding twelve have an opportunity of addressing this Council, we find decreases of 21 per cent. in to offer a few remarks upon this very important from the person, 53 per cent. in bur-subject. I fully recognise, sit, and appreciate arcenies from dwellings, 30 per the strenuous efforts of the unofficial members cases of obtaining money under false of this Council to curtail, so far as they possibly 37 per cent. in case of unlawful can, the expenditure of this colony, but, sir, it ssion, and 7 per cent. in larcenies. There seems to me that this question is not a local ques- cases of wilful wounding as against 17 tion, but a matter of Imperial interest, and ding period, and 14 more casesit must be dealt with as such. We have no omen and Girls' Protection Ordin-right, sir, I think, to look upon this matter as
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD Exclude the mu- nicipal revenue and I am quite willing.
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL Of course if he excludes the municipal revenue I take it the contribution would be much less.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHRAD Increase the per- centage if necessary, but let us have justice.
high
The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL —— The hon. member speaks about justice and so on, but as I have already said, it seems to me the ques tion is whether we are willing to contribute freely towards the defence of the Empire, and I think it would be evidence of our willingness to contribute towards that defence if the members of this Council unanimously voted this money. I think, sir, it is of paramount. importance that we should be well protected in the Far East, that our navy should be kept at standard, and that we should have a stong Im few words of mine-I am sorry that I have not perial garrison in Hongkong. I hope these the eloquence of some of the other mem bers of the Council to express myself better I hope that the unofficial members of the Conn spoken and I hope they will, if possible, recon- oil will give some weight to the few words I have
sider their determination and that they will vote this money, this contribution for the defence of the Empire.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER conded.
Hen. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I rise, sir, to move that the further consideration of this Bill be postponed until a reply has been received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the last memorandum of the unofficial members on the subject I conour in much that has fallen from the lips of the Attorney-General in regard to the necessi for England being fortified and in a posing not only on sea but on land, to hold against any adverse combination. At th time I submit that this colony should and the right to claim to be placed on the ramo basis as Singapore has been placed and no portion of our municipal. revenue she attached by the Imperial Government for Ime perial military purposes.
Hon. C. P. CHATTE I hav amendment which the hon - presents the Cha uber of
As your Excellency opening address
proposed
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