xplanati
there seems to be some with regard to the statement.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
KIS EXCELLENCY ON THE UNOFFICIAL MENIEM NIMORANDUM
COLONIAL. URE—The misappre- His ExɑELLENCY the GOVERNOR-Before hension has arisen from the difference between I put the motion I wish to mention to this hon. La statement of assets and liabilities dated ourable Council that I received a memorandum 15th March, 1899, and statement A, which is which was presented by the unofficial members dated 29th September, 1899. The correct state- and signed I believe by all with one ex
of assets and liabilities of the colony on option, and as far as I can gather the the 31st December, 1898, is the one dated 18th exception was taken as to the degrees of Murch, 1899. That is statement which necemity of the publie works rather thanas to stands by itself. The other statement is one the question of the advisability of carrying which can only be taken in conjunction ont a great number of those works. I wish to with the salonlation on the front page. You tell the Council that I have gone carefully will observe that the balance 3251,000 is carried over this memorandum, and I may say that 1 over and amalgamated in this calculation. State-am as much in favour of carrying out these ment 4 is exsotly similar to the statement dated works as any member of this Connoil(Hear 18th March with this exception that items of hear,)--but I think it is well that the Council and expenditure are omitted. These should understand clearly the position items revenue and expenditure will come in and of the Government in this matter. The reason have been taken into account in the estimated why these works have not been included in the rerihue and the estimated expenditure of the Estimates is perfectly plain. We are restricted current year--the first two items in this here by instructions (which have been rather calalation on the front page. It would be frequent) to confining our Estimates to the atterly impossible to have them coming into the amount of money which we have actually estim. balance of assets for 1898, as in that case they ated as coming into the revenue for the year. would appear twice over in the calculation, The question as to what is to be done with the think honourable members may take it that on
money which may remain over, as a surplus is a the date this statement was made up $376,618 matter which must go forward to the Secretary was a fairly correct estimate, as far as estimates of State for his sanction and be laid before this can be correct, of the position of the colony Conncil for their sanction when we have the at the end of the year.
money in our hands. That is a very safe prin- ciple, I think, and what I propose to do. As the honourable members of the Council know, there has been a certain amount of discussion, which I have read carefully. There is no cer- tainty in human affairs, but we have almost a certainty that we shall have a large balance at the end of the current year, and so soon as that balance is available we can deal with it. In the meantime we shall go on with these works that have been placed in the Estimates. We have already got your authority for these, and no doubt we shall have the sanction of the Secre. tary of State. As soon as we have thatsurplus, and before the money which has been voted has been expended, I hope to lay before you supplermenta votes which will be necessary for the carging on of these works. There is cne question raised in this memorandum which I consider is rather an unfortunate one, inasmuch as it is a matter of principle. Section 4 of the memorandum reads: Whilst we are ready to concede that certain of the contemplated works in the New 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 public works in this island have been long deferred for want of funds, and now that they are available for proceeding with the most important of these
The CHAIRMAN-I thought it as well thin statement should be made, as some misunder standing seemed to exist.
The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Even that statement still leaves the return incomprehen- sible and unintelligible.
The CHAIEMAN-To you, Sir? The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-To me. One shows a balanos of assets of $251,000 and the other a balance of assets of $213,000. Now either
one or the other must be correot.
The COLONIAL TREASURER-I have al ready said that the return dated 18th March, 1899, is the correct one. The other one must not be taken by itself but in conjunction with the calonlation on the front page, as explained in my covering letter.
The CHAIEMAN-Has any other honourable member any questions to ask in regard to this statement ? If not I take it that you compre
hand the matter and are satisfied.” That com- plates the business.
The mosting then separated.
MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.
On Thursday afternoon: a meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held in the Connoil Chamber at the Government Offices, there being present :-
His EXOBLINOT the GovEENOL (Sir HENRY BLAKE, G.C.M.G.)
HIS EXCELLENor Major-General Gas- corani, C.M.G. (Commanding the Troops);
He J. H• STEWART LOOKHART, Č.M.G. (Colonial Secretary.)
Hon. R. MUREAT RUMSEY (Harbour Master.) Hon. F. H. MAT, C.M.G. (Captain Super- Intendent of Police.)
Mr thoug How m
conditio that from time memorial robberies have been the order mit that one of the works it will go on with in the Water Works. Then the may be finally money to go on with
Wor
sent moment we have plenty of mor works we propose to take la,hand is another question, a question of and one which will have to be consi That is the question as to justified in the colony, works which are not work utility, like waterworks considering the premis derived from
It m
available for the purpose mitted by all you gentlemen, who ar men, that in using this premis we are capital of the colony, and the question to whether that premis or a certain portion of it✨ should not be put into a reserve fund in view of revenne from this souros in the future. -That- is a matter which requires tery careful odn. - sideration, especially at a time like the present when we derive a very large income from land sales. I am not at all supe that that income is going to continue in years to work (D This is one of those matters which will have to be considered here and also in London. With regard to the fifth paragraph in the memor dam. I am entirely in accord with it, and I think I may say the same with regard to the memorandum as a whole... I am na snxiousnes you that these works should be carried out. I see the honourable member for the Chamber of Commerce was anxious about a New Port Office, a shelter for chair coolies Peak and public latrines. I entirely's with him. It is my intention that a shelter for chair coolies at the Peak shall be pat up next year; it is my intention that as many latrines as possible shall be built next year, because I think they are of cardinal. portance; but that does nou touch the general principle that in the estimates laid before re now we only feel justified in including the amount of money which will be covered by estimated revenue for the year. I think hơn. ourable members will understand what I a I am anxious to go on with these works, a soon as the money is actually in our kandg(-1 mean to ask for authority to go on with and to lay supplemental estimates before you, as has been done from time to time. As rus
☞the
gards the Law Courts. I think I mentioned in my opening speech to the Council that ti and in broad liues that is quite true, if you m
works we feel bound to deprecate, in the Law Courts blooked the way for the Post of t
strongest manner, any proposal to divert such funds to any other purpose whatever." Now my instructions are very definite from the Secretary of State, and those instructions are that the revenue of the New Territory colony, and that being the oase the necessary shall be a portion of the general revenue of the expenditure on the New Territory must come out of the general revenue of the colony. Apart from the fact that Hor Majesty's Government do not consider that a loan is advisable for these works in the New Territory and I may say at once that I concur entirely in the opinion of the Secretary of State the fact remains that we have a certain amount of money over what we require. There is A prime necessity in the New Territory. That prime necessity is a road to connect this place Mr. B. F. Jouxsror (Asting Clerk of with the deep water at Mirs Bay. That road Conncils).
Hon, A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer). Hon. R. D. OEMSEY (Director of Pablie Works).
Honi Ci P. CHATHE, C.M.G. Hon. Dr. Ho Kai.
Ford T. H. WHISTLAD,
The Hon. E. R. BILILIOS, C.M.G
Bon. WII A IU
Hon, J. J. KasWICK.
FINANCE;
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to lay on the table Financial Minute No. 25 and to more that it be refered to the Finance Com mittee. I also beg to lay on the table the reports of the Finance Committee Nos. 8 and 9 and to more, their adoption:« Tour Excelleney will observe from report No. 9 that the Finance Commit yesterday considered the remaining |
Estimates for 1909 and that the: monsly recommanded by that: axception of the item:
Gourt: With gard
having been made and the police stations built or well in hand, I do not know that, with the excep
tion possibly of the Kowloon Water Works, there are any other important works for which money will be required for the present. I know that it has been proposed that we shall make a nun. bar of roads, and I believe that in the future a number of roads will be made, but I think it is well to know by experienon what it is abso- Intely neomary to spend in the first instange. No doubt it will be necessary to connect these roads in the
but I do hot think any burning necessity exists at present except for
rtionlar road to Mira Bay. « immediato command of the
stion" of
to have a new Post Office built; on theɛ
that there
site, a portion of which is occupied by the Law Courts; you cannot proceed to build that Post Office on its present site until you have i some arrangement for the accommodation.oft Post Office during the building of premises. However, it is quite possible; «K
may be some-arrangeme which the Post Office might be little, because I do think that condition it is almost impossible to work of the colony in it.. It. laga to the solony and it is impossible have been considering the question, wita Postmaster, to do his work in it. prop lonial Secretary, and I shall be very g hon. member can make any
ggestion possibly enable me to tida which the Law Courts will.
say that the plans for table, and 1 rived by the lastl
look at them. vanced
next
done. It
constructed.
out: