}
October 21, 1901.]
A DISGRACEFUL ROAD IN
HONGKONG.
(Daily Press, 17th October.) The iteration of the remark that Hongkong is not as other colonies are is perhaps likely to become wearisome, but the fact neverthe- less remains that we live in a city which is unique in many disagreeable ways
We have had occasion several times to remark on the disgraceful state of the road along the harbour front, from Blake Pier west- ward. Unfinished, unsurfaced, and used as a temporary dumping-ground for rubbish of the most miscellaneous character, it has for long been a curious spectacle for visitors to this growing Colony and a source of disgust to residents. During the height of the recent plugue epidemic complaints were many and strong about the constant depo- siting of general refuse at the side of the so-called road in squalid heaps, among which the most miserable class of natives were wont to search for trifles which might be of use to them. Little or no notice was taken of the well-justified complaints even during the dangerous season. Now affairs are infinitely worse. I is a habit for boats with all kinds of objectionable rubbish on board, scavenged from native houses, to judge from appearances, to anchor at night in the neighbourhood of the Douglas Pier. The mere presence of these ill-smelling boats, no better than water dust-carts, has in itself, as may be imagined, a most polluting effect on the air. There
are
a number of Europeans dwelling in the vicinity, whose homes are thus endered disagreeable, if not actually dangerous to health-though we should imagine that the latter danger is very probable. But this is not all. Large beaps are now constantly deposited on the road- side, near the Harbour, and lie there all day long. Whether these accumulations are deposited by the boats or brought down at night from the City we are unable to dis- cover; of their presence there can be no doubt. Anyone walking yesterday down Connaught Road westward from Blake Pier might soon have satisfied his eves-and nose-of this. A few yards beyond Blake Pier itself was a heap, or rather a series of small heaps, of decaying flowers and vegetables, old coolie- hats, wickerwork fragments, tins, broken bottles, and filth of all kinds. Then beyond the Douglas Pier was a far larger heap, which was close on twenty yards long, of similar garbage and general refuse. Among these wretched looking objects, adults and children were hunting, picking up such of the unpleasant collection as struck their exceedingly economical fancies. The air, as may be imagined, was unbearable in the neighbourhood, the most pleasing suggestion being that of a none too fresh onion somewhere in the heap. The scene was
We simply disgusting.
informed that the Police state they have power in the matter. May we ask whether the Sanitary Board is equally power- less ? If it is not, how is it that the 'nuisance has continued so long unabated Have the Sanitary Inspectors never the opportunity nor the inclination to go further west than Blake Pier? If they merely tolerate the abuse of decency which we have described, then they are neglecting one of their elementary duties. The existing state of affairs would not be a credit to a Chinese village. In an English Colony it is a scandalous outrage against the residents. It would be advisable for the Sanitary authorities to see that an end is put to it be. forethe commission of experts reaches Hong- kong. It is well not to let them receive too unfavourable an impression when they land
are
no
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
NEW TERRITORY FINANCE.
(Daily Press, 19th October.) With all due deference to the Colonial
Secretary, we cannot agree that the Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD's remarks at Thursday's meeting of the Council on the differ. ence between the estimated and the actual
เ
"
"
"
As a matter of
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
323
A meeting of the Legislative Council was held on the 17th inst. in the Council Chamber.
PRISENT:-
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR (Sir HENRY A BLAKE, G.C.M.G.).
Major-General Sir W. GASCOIGNE, K.C.M.G.
(Commanding the Troops).
(Colonial Secretary).
Hon. J. H STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G.
Hon. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C. (Acting Attorney- General).
Hon. Commander R. M. RUMSEY, R.N. (Harbour Master).
Hou. C. McI. MESSER (Acting Colonial Treasurer).
Hon. W. CHATHAM (Acting Director of Public Works).
Hon. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar-General). Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G. Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD. Hon. J. THURBURN.
Hon. J. J. BELL IRVING. Hon. Dr. Ho KAI. Hon. WEI A YUK.
Mr. C. CLEMENTI (Acting Clerk of Councils).
figures of revenue and expenditure in the not calculated to throw any light upon the New Territory were misleading. They were
subject, it is true. The Hon. Unofficial Member was asking for light, we imagine, not proposing to give it.” fact, the officials themselves threw no light at all. The Hon. J. H. STEWART Lockhart said:--
:--" The report stated what the probable revenue would be. That revenue bail not been raised; it was found impracticable to raise it for reasons which he did not propose to enter into them. "With regard to the question of land, the "Hon. Member must be aware of the great difficulties which the Government had bad to encounter. It had met with obstacles "which even one with his (the Colonial Secretary's) experience of Chinese had not "foreseen. This was the first instance where a Western Government had attempted to take over a large tract of Chinese territory and administer it. Perhaps that fact would strike the Hon. Member with its
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table full significance, and illuminate the dark-Financial Minute No. 62, and moved that it be ness in which he now seemed to exist." We should be glad to see the full siguifi. cance of the fact brought forward by the Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART and to have our darkness illuminated, but we confess that our state of gloom remains the same as before the Colonial Secretary's attempt at illumination. As the Colonial Secretary
did not propose to enter into the reasons,' we do not see that this is to be wondered at.
14
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i
1
COPIES OF TELEGRAMS.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table copies of a telegram of condolence on the death of H.I.M. the Empress Frederick of Germany, and acknowledgment by H.I.M. the German Emperor.
FINANCIAL.
referred to the Finance Committee.
se-
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER conded, and the motion was carried.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the report of the Finance Committee (No. 11), and moved its adoption.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER second- ed, and the motion was carried.
SALARIES OF SUBORDINATE OFFICERS.
•
In connection with this Report the COLONIAL SECRETARY said-This Report deals with the No one is so foolish as to deny the great Supply Bill, and the main suggestions con- difficulty of our task in the New Terri-tained in the Report will be considered when this Council goes into Committee on the sup- tory. H.E. the Governor rightly pointed ply Bill to-day. In addition to the matters ont that the existence of so many claims to dealt with in that Report, sir, a question was land was the main obstacle in our way. He raised by the hon. member who represents the went on to say that until the man to whom Chamber of Commerce on the Finance Com- the land belonged was found the Govern-mittee, and I promised him that I would enquire meut, much as it desired and was entitled "We want so to revenue, could not say: much money on this land. Apparently, then, the enjoyment of the land during the two years of our occupation is to be left purely gratuitous. We hear nothing of any retrospective taxation on those whose claims have been confirmed or of any charge for temporary occupation on those whose claims are now found invalid. H. E. the Governor knows that there is such a thing as justice to oneself as well as justice to others; this is not less true now than in the days when PLATO wrote the Republic. If the Hong- kong Government is determined to throw away money, to which it is entitled by the fact that the occupiers have had a two years' enjoyment of the land, then it cannot claim to be just-especially as the deficit has to be male up by us, the taxpayers of Hong- kong. We should like to think that we are wrong; but there is nothing in any official
or other statement to show it.
The Ostusiatische Lloyd of the 4th inst. says that the docking facilities which Japan offers for the repairing and overhauling of men-of-war are beginning to be appreciated by the different foreign nations, and that Germany now prefers to send her ships for cleansing or repair to healthy Japan in preference to Hong. kong "which is plague-stricken the best part of the year." The German craisers Bussard and Hertha have been sent to Nagasaki for repairs, and it is expected that the flagship of the German Asiatic squadron, the Fürst Bismark, will also shortly be sent to Nagasaki.
have
into the point raised by him and let him know the result of my enquiries. The point raised by the hon. member was in connection with the salaries of subordinate officials in the Civil Service of the Colony, and he considered that a distinct promise or undertaking had been given that the subordinate officials' salaries should be dealt with forthwith. I have very carefully gone over the pages of the Hansard in which the ques- on was considered, and I have failed to find anything of the nature of a distinct promise. I lay upon the table the memorandum been able to find in the Hansard dealing with this subject. At the same time I may mention that all the papers dealing with this subject of the salaries of subordinate officials show very clearly the desire of the Committee appointed to enquire into the salaries of subordinates that any increase that might be recommended should take place without any unnecessary delay, and this opinion was shared by your Excellency, be- cause, in your despatch to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, you recommended that the increase should take place from the 1st of January this year, but the Secretary of State did not see his way to approve of that. Now I think, sir, that the Supply Bill reveals a very far as the satisfactory state of affairs, 80 financial position of this Colony is concerned, and I desire to express the hope, which I am sure is shared by every member of Council, that your Excellency will see your way to make further representations on this subject to the Secretary of State, especially as a number of the representative heads and assistant heads were granted increases while the salaries of subor- dinates were being enquired into by the Committee. The Chinese employees also had received an increase. In view of these cir- cumstances I trust your Excellency will see your way to make further representations in the