November 25, 1899.)
prest
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT,
431
may mention that the unofficial members have || | _" 8.—The importance of housing the Police given this matter their utmost care and attention Force unitably is one that should not be and have come to the conclusion that a memoran looked, and the provision of quarters, dum from them to the Council would be the right married members of the force should be thing to do... This memorandum I have here soon as practicable. Meantime we welcoms now, and having submitted it to you and obtained proposal to erect a Police Station for sho your permission I will now place it upon the Western District, which has long been greatly table. I may also mention, Mr. Chairman, that needed. it is signed by all the unomcial members with the exception of the honourable member
that the purpose for which we Shamchun has been fulfilled, and in the reason for our evacuation. The city was perhaps occupied merely to Impress the Chinese that the people of that district were not in future to be allowed to raid the New Territory, and also as an intimation that some satisfaction was needed
" 9.—Another werk of the most urgent im for the hostilities set on foot through the
portance for the well-being of the colony Bun On. But whatever may have been the
tion throughout the city, which wo one of the measures to be adopted for combating. intention of the British Government, after the occupation had been resolved upon
the
plague. We are of opinion that at least as latrines should be proseeded with at once, two Chinese of Sun-On will unquestionably re- gard the withdrawal of the military force
the houses of the poor more wholesome, and of which should be for women. There can be no doubt that such provision will tend from Shamolùn ns the result of pressure kong, regarding the Estimates for Public | will thus have a salutary effect on the health of from the Chinese Government, and the news that the. British troops were compelled to
Instrumentality of the officials and gentry of who represents the Chamber of Commence. the provision of adequate Latrine 100.0 100 BA
He will no doubt in due course explain to you the reason why he has not signed is,
The memorandum in question reads as fol. lows:
Members of the Legislative Council of Hong "Memorandum by the undersigned unofficial
Works Extraordinary of 1900,
"1.-We have carefully studied the estimates
the community generally.
** 10.—Two minor works which we desire to me
dense that city, will be spread far and ne ‹r | for the coming year in the light of His Excel- \ carried out without delay are the completion ne
in Kwangtung. This, unfortunately, is in the same province where the French have just wrung from reluctant China a fresh concession supplementary to that of Kwangchauwan, and the comparison will not, we fear, be to our advantage in Chinese eyes. The Chinese do not understand the generosity that concedes to weakness what it would not yield to brute strength. They appreciate the argument of force when they are wholly deaf to the appeal to fenson, justice, or conimon-sense, In dealing with Peking this has always to be borne in mind, but notwithstanding all our long ex- perience, it is seldom sufficiently considered. In this case we had an exceptionally strong position. We had made a treaty, agreed on a boundary, went to take over the leased territory, and met with a hostile reception due to the filse statements spread among the inhabitants by the officials and gentry of the district, who also contributed men and arms to oppose the occupation. This mut of hostility so easily set on foot amply proved the advisability of setting back the frontier to the range of hills beyond, which formis a natural boundary, more readily
lenor the Governor's speech at the meeting of the Legislative Council held on the 11th Octo- ber last, and it is with great satisfaction w observe that, notwithstanding the large expen. diture which has already been incurred in con- aection with the taking over of the New Territory, there will still remain a balance of revenue over expenditure of no less than $400,000 (including last year's balance) at the end of the current year.
"2-When this is taken in conjunction with the fact that within the past five years the re sumption of Taipingehen has been carried out at a cost of over $850,000, defrayed entirely out of reserve, and of which but a fractional part has as yet been returned to the Treasury, the result is still more satisfactory.
$$
3-Fortunately, the sales of land hayo been large, and have in a great measure enabled this surplus to be attained, and we desire to impress upon His Excellency the necessity for expending during the 'coming year this surplus upon current and important Public Works within the limits of the colony exclusive of the New Territory.
"4.-Whilst we are ready to concede that certain of the contemplated works in the Now Territory may be defrayed out of the general revenue, we are most decidedly of opinion that the principal works for developing it should be provided for by a Loan."
the improvements of the Recreation Ground at Happy Valley, and the provision of a proper shair shelter at the Peak,
* 11.-As regards the former, a considerable the immediate neighbourhood, on which houses area of land has been sold in recent years in have been built, and the improvements referred laris for which this district has had to will, it is hoped, tend to overcome the me reputation in the past, besides rendering the ground available for purposes of recreation.
bad
* 12. The chair shelter may be said to be necesity from a humanitarian point of view. In the city, coolies can generally find refuge from sun or rain beneath the numerons veren. dabs and trees, and at Kowloon a shelter he been in existence for some years; but at the Peak, where the effects of the weather much more severely felt than elsewhere, there is absolutely no protection whatever except what is provided by the present open matahod.
with the construction of the new Law Courts * 13.-The desirability of at ono prosseding has been alluded to in His Excellency's speech. Seeing that this work will take several years to complete, it cannot be too strongly urged that the work should be put in hand immediately.
* The projected new Post Offios is even mor urgently needed. We are of opinion that this work should on ao secount be delayed antil the completion of the new Law Courts, but that itą constraction should be commenced ; at the same time if possible,
"The public works in this island have been defensible, and leaving no considerable}{ long deferred for want of funds, and now that i centro of population in close proximity they are available for proceeding with the most thereto.
important of these works we feel bound to likelihood of the Jubilee Road being proceed ed
1"14.---We are pleased to note that there is a deprecate, in the strongest manner, any pro-with ere long work which we regard as of posal to divert such funds to any other purpose considerable importange in providing an outlet whatever.
for the ever growing population.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL
MEETING OF THE FINANCE COMMITTIS.
On Wednesday afternoon a meeting of the Finance Committee of the Hongkong Legis lative Council was held for the purpose of con sidering the estimates for the year 1900. The Colonial Secretary (the Hon. J. H. Stewart Loskhart) prusided, and there were also present. Hop. H. E. POLLOCK (Acting Attorney- General).
Hon. R. MURRAY RUMORY (Harbour Master).
Hon. F. H. MAY, C.MG. (Capasin Super inten lent of Police).
Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer). Hon. R. D. ORMABY (Director of Public Works),
Hon. . P CHATER.
Hon. Dr. Ho Kä
Hon. T. H. WHITERRAD,
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, C,M.G. Hon. Wai A TUK. Hon. J. J. KasWICK.
Fordonasron (Aoting, Clock of
Councils).
The
—As konourable members are
• object of this meeting of the Finance
consider
or the items in the es under the head “Public Works Ex- the last meeting but one of Finance Committee at the request of the inomisial members the consideration
HE UNOFFICIAL
Chairman,
"5.—In his speech His Excellency alluded to the works which had been approved by the Public Works Committee as among those to be undertaken next year and paid for out of the surplus. A reference to the list of these works shows that the three most important are con nected with extensions of the Waterworks.
"6. The necessity for undertaking these works immediately has been demonstrated by the repeated introduction, year after year, of the intermittent supply, which occurs just at the period when an abundant supply is most argently needed, namely, when plague begins to make its appearance. Though extensions have recently been carried out, experience has shown them to be insufficient, and a reference to the statements published monthly in the newspapers shows that the consumption is erer on the increase. From the latest return, this increase amounts to 8 per cent. over the cor responding period of last year, and no time should therefore be lost in carrying out further extensions.
**7.—The construction of roads is also mat-
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* 15-With these large and important Publis Works in prospest, irrespective of those required in the New Territory, wo view with comQorn His Excellency's remarks regarding the staff of the Public Works Department. It is stated in His Excellency's speech that the Estimates provide $96,000 more than was expended by the Department on Extraordinary Public Works in 1898, but these Estimates provide only a moiety of the sums which we consider should be expended to enable the works ferred to being carried out with despatch, whilst some of them are totally unprovided for.
“16.—In view of this we are surprised to find that notwithstanding the great amount of additional work which must be entailed on this Department by the New Territory, the Pablio Works Estimates notually show a diminish expenditure as compared with 1899. We still further surprised to find that templated reduction is in the Engineering Staf which is surely rather in need of augment on His Excellancy's own showing.
tor of great importance. The rapidity with
* 17.—Whan we consider that in 1890 a si which sites have been taken up along the roads | of $94,420 was voted for this Departm recently constructed is the best proof not only compared with 391,402 in the Estimat of the necessity but of the sound policy from consideration, we ass still further convi financial standpoint of proceeding with the roads the inadequacy of the present staff jan projected.
** 18.---That this Department, wit vital interests of the colony as tion, water supply are so inseparate
sound up. rednotion at onch matter, and
In connection with this subject it may be worth considering whether the Government should not give the utmost encouragement to any scheme for connecting the centre of Victoria with the easters or western suburbs by tram- ways in order the better to provide for the ex- pansion of the city and the provision af ho
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