September 21, 1903.]
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee (No. 8) and moved its adoption.
The COLONIAL TreasubeR seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
INSPECTIOR MCEWEN'S CASE. Hon. H. E. POLLOCK asked-
1. Is it the fact that the warrant for the arrest of Inspector R. G. McEwen for the purpose of his being tried for bribery was issued upon the sworn information of the Assistant Registrar-General, Mr. Clementi ?
2. Is it the fact that Inspector R. G. MoEwen's application to the Government through his solicitors, for the payment by the Government to him of his legal expenses in connection with bis recent trial for bribery, has been refused? If so, for what reason was such application refused ?
3. For what reason has Inspector R. G. MoEwen been removed from his recent post as Inspector of Markets? Was he so removed in consequence of an intimation having been received by the Government to the effect that, unless he was so removed, difficulties would be likely to occur in connection with the supply of poultry to the public from the Central Market?
The COLONIAL SECRETARY replied- (1) It is the fact that Mr. Clementi, Assistant Registrar-General, laid the information on which the warrant for Inspector MoEwen's arrest was issued.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT,
the recommendations contained in para. 7 et seq. of Mr. Chadwick's report of the 13th May, 1902, which supersedes that of the 10th April. Some difficulty was experienced in obtaining a site for the tank.
2. The plan of the sewers has been completed. The plan of the dr ins has not been completed as it is a very difficult matter to trace under- ground channels, of the existence of which there is no evidence on the surface. The condition of the Staff of the Department has not permitted of Officers being detailed expressly for this purpose.
3. (a) No work of the nature indicated had been done since the date of Mr. Chadwick's report, but namerons old and obsolete drains have been abolished during recent years, and the same policy will be pursued in the future as occasion arises. (u) No case in which this is practicable and expedient has yet been discovered. (c) Will be largely accomplished by the new type of gully. The scavenging is under the control of the Sanitary Board. (d) There are 8 places where this is now done; 5 of these were arranged in connection with the carrying out of the sewerage scheme and 3 have been more recently constructed. The places in which it is practicable to adopt the suggestion are necessarily limited. The water for the large tank referred to in the reply to (1) will be derived from such a source.
APPROPRIATION BILL FOR 1904.
(2) It is the fact that Government refused to pay Inspector Mowen's legal expenses. There The COLONIAL SECRETARY introduced a Bill is no precedent for payment by Government of
entitled an Ordinance to apply a sum not exceed legal expenses in such a case, and many prece-ing Five million two hundred and thirty-eight dents for not paying them.
thousand seven hundred and ninety-two Dollars to the Public Service of the year 1904-
(3) Inspector McEwen was transferred to Kow- loon because it was considered undesirable to employ him in the Central Market. No such intimation as referred to in the question was (made to Government nor was any application, request or suggestion for Inspector Mcreu's removal from persons outside the Government service made to Government.
connec-
REHOUSING OF POPULATION. Hon. Mr. POLLOCK asked - In tion with the re-housing of the population, what enquiries have been made by the Government for the purpose of ascertaining how many vacant storeys there are in (a) the City of Victoria; (b) Kowloon ? Will the Government state the result of thoss ед. quiries and give an approximate estimate of the number of persons who could be housed on such vacant storeys in (a) the City of Victoria; (b) Kowloon !
The COLONIAL SECRETARY replied-The Government has made enquiries and ascertained that in July there were 1,372 floors vacant in Victoria, and 1,1c5 in Kowloon, capable of accommodating 14,253 and
11.379 persons respectively.
MALARIAL FEVER.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK asked-In connection with the prevention of malarial fever, is it the fact that the Government has been training nullahs in the neighbourhood of Macdonnell Boed below the Bowen Road level only? If so, for what reason have nullahs not been traiuel right down the northern face of the hill from top to bottom?
The COLONIAL SECRETARY replied-In this matter the Government has dealt with the worst places first. The nullahs above Bowen Road have, in the meantime, been dealt with systema- tially by clearing them in places where water stagnates and sprinkling pools with kerosene. At the present time, a contract is let for train. ing, both above and below Bowen Road, the only nullah in this district which is untrained below Macdonnell Road.
FLUSHING OF SEWERS. Hon. Mr. POLLOCK also asked-(1) What steps have been taken to provide means for flashing the low-level sewers with great vigour, as recommended by Mr. Chadwick at page 23 of his Report of the 10th April, 1902 ? (2) Has the plan of the drains which is referred to at page 32 of the said Report been completed yet, and, if not, why not? (2) What steps have been taken to carry out recommendations (a), (b), (c) and (d), contained on page 32 of the said Report?
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied as follows:-
1. A contract has been let for the construc-. tion of a large flashing tank in accordance with
Whereas the expenditure required for the service of this Colony for the year 1904 has, Government in aid of Military Expenditure, apart from the contribution to the Imperial
tee estimated at the sum of Five million two hundred and thirty-eight thousand seven hundred and ninety-two Dollars:
Be it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advica and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-
seven
1. A sum not exceeding five million two hundred and thirty-eight thousand hundred and ninety-two dollars shall be and the same is hereby charged upon the revenue and other funds of the Colony for the service of the year 1901, and the said sum so charged may be expended as hereinafter specified, that is to say:-
EXPENDITURE,
Botanical and Afforestation De-
partment
Harbour Office
་་་
...
209
Gunpowder Depôt, Green
Island
15,000.00
$5,000.00
Law Courts..
60,030,00
Wanchai Extension
2,000.00
Western
20,000.00
Post Office
40,000.00
Prison on Stonecutters' Island Public Bath - houses, Pound
20,000.00
5,000.00
Markets:-
Lane Public Latrines and Urinals 12,000.00 Publio Mortuary
Schools :-
Saiyingpoon, Latrines ... Yaumati
Tai Po, Quarters for officers Cable for Observatory and other Telephone lines to Kowloon Drainage Works:-
Gullies Re-construction . Training Nullahs New Territory Survey Praya East Reclamation Public Health and Buildings
5,000.00
2,500.00
***
15,000,00
10,001.00
5,000.00
20,000.00
10,00.00
6,000.00
...
10,000.00
60,000,00
Insanitary Property Re-
sumptions...
350,000,00
Rifle Ranges :--
Construction of Butts
14,000,00
Diversion of Roads...
5,000.00
Resumption of Private Pro.
perty for
20,000.00
Roads:-
Across King's Park (K.I;L.
652 to Sixth Street),
25,000,00
To Lai-chi-kok,
20,000.00
100.00
Ordinance 1 of 1903;- Compensation ...
Store Account,
Water Works:-
Albany Filter Beds, Alters-
tion and Repairs, 2,000.00 City and Hill Distric Water
Works,
Kowloou Water Works Gravi-
tation Scheme
Peak Supply and Reconstruc-
tion of No. 2 Tank
Tai Po Water Supply Tytam Drainage Area, Bye-
wash Reservoir.. Tytam Tuk Scheme
Total
3,000,00
250,000.00
5 000 00 3,800.00
15,000.00 100,000.00
$5,238,792.00
The
The COLONIAL SECRETARY also laid on the table two memoranda dealing with the Estimates. He said-Sir, These two memo- Charge on account of Public Debt 185,000.00 randa added to the Estimates themselves will, Pensions Governor
189,000.00 I hope, furnish full information to hon. 81,574.00 members of the various changes in the Estimates Colonial Seora'ary's Department
as compared with the Estimates for the current and Legis.ature
86,192.00
Should any further explanation be year. Audit Department Treasury
16,579.00 required I shall be happy to do my best to 49,098.00 furnish it when wo reach the Committee Post Office Registrar General's Department
348,211.00 stage.
In the meantime, sir, I may be 35,606.00 permitted to refer to some of the more Harbour Master's Department) 162.822.00 salient features of these Estimates. Lighthouses Observatory
revised estimate of ordinary revenue for the 23,608.00 | current year exceeds the original estimate of
ordinary revenue by $254,478. The correspond 151,893.00 will be remembered that at the time the Estim
46,763.00 ing estimates for land sales are the same. It
9,554.00 ates for the current year were introduced several 2,400.00 Ordinances were also introduced increasing 164,979.00 various licenses and dues, which it was not 240,731.00 possible to include in the Estimates. The increase, therefore, is due to the increased fees 39,398.00 and duties (principally on spirit licences and 692,338 00 stamps) legislated for at the time the Estimates 487,522.00 were introduced last year, but not included in
5,260.00 the Estimates The revised estimate of · 3,000.00 ordinary expenditure for the current year 154,854.00 exceeds the original estimate by $112,421
The revised estimate of expenditure on Public 52,670.00 Work Extraordinary, however, is less by 245,598.00 $169,340 than the original estimate. The total saving on the original estimate of expenditure 394,200.00 is therefore $49,919. The original estimates for 1903 showed a deficit of $712,3)6. The 93,500.00 | revised estimates show one of $407,909, but, with savings from previous years and arrears, the balance of liabilities on 31st December Bacteriological Institute ..$ 15,000.00 will be only $281,03). The estimated ordinary Cattle Dpôt Extension
20,000.00 | revenue for 1904 exceeds the revised estimate Disinf a ting Station, Kow-
for 1903 by $1,370,535 made up generally as loon, including Quarters
follows:-Opium Farm $1,225,000 ; · assessed for Inspector
10,000.00 taxes, $96,000; spirit licences, $23,000; postage,
Judicial and Legal Departments Land Court, New Territory. Ecclesiastical Fducation... Medical Departments Bacteriological Department Magistracy Police .. Sanitary Department Charitable allowances Transport ...
Miscellaneous Services Colonial Defences—
***
曲唱
Expenses of the Volunteers Public Works Department Public Works, Recurrent, Charge-
able to General Revenue Public Works, Recurrent, Charge-
able to Water Account Public Works, Extraordinary, viz.
Buildings:-
the control *