146
all share his error at some time or other. Were it not so, there would be fewer argu- ments. Things Chinese scem to be peculiarly provocative of the regressus ad infinitum, but that, as a popular writer used to say, is another story.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Legislative Council was held at the Council Chamber on Feb. 27th the members present being:-
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MATTHEW NATHAN, K.C.M.G.
HIS EXCELLENCY, MAJOR-GENERAL VIL- LIERS-HATTON, C.B. (General Officer Com manding the Troops).
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Hon. Mr. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Colonial | Secretary).
from unexpended balances of 1904, in aid of the vote Public Works Extraordinary for the following items:
-
1. Disinfecting Station, Kowloon,
including quarters for Inspectors$ 4800.00 2. Yaumati School
13,081.06
3. Tai Po, Quarters for Officers
4. Praya East Reclamation
5. Rifle Rangos, Kowloon,
struction of Butts
7,500.00
7,472.01
Con-
700.64
1,535.16
6. Rifle Ranges, Kowloon, Diversion
of Roads...
7. Water works, Albany Filter Beds,
Alterations & Repairs...
8. Water-works, Peak Supply and Reconstruction of No. 2 Tank
9. Central Police Station, Additional
Storey,
10. Urinal close to the Upper Tram
Station, Peak
11.
Hon Mr. E. H. SHARP, K.C., (Attorney General).
Readjustment of Kowloon Marine Lots 44-46 and Kowloon 'nland Lots 887-897, Tai-kok-tsui...
12.
Hon. Mr. L. A. M. JOHNSTON (Colonial Treasurer).
Hon. Mr. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar-General). Hon. Mr. P. N, H. JONES (Director of Publio Works).
Hon. Captain L. A. W. BARNES-LAWRENCE, R.N. (Harbour Master).
Hon. SIR C. P. CHATER, KT., C.M.G.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, M.B., C.M., C.M.G.
Hon. Mr. WEI YUK.
Hon. Mr. R. SHEWAN.
· Hon. Mr. W. J. GRESSON.
Hon. Mr. GERSHOM STEWART.
Mr. S. B. C. Ross (Clerk of Councils).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting wore read and confirmed.
FINANCIAL MINUTES.
The Hon. COLONIAL SECRETARY-Sir, I have the honour to lay on the table Financial Minutes Nos. 1 to 3 and beg to move that they be referred to the Finance Committee.
The Hon. COLONIAL TREASURER-I beg to second the motion..
The motion was carried.
PAPERS.
The report on the Queen's College for the year 1904, and the report on the Widows and Orphans' fund for the year 1904 were laid on
the table.
QUESTIONS.
The Hon. Mr. STEWART asked the following questions standing in his name :---
1. In view of the increasing trade by launches and steamers to Kongman and Wu- ohow by the Wang Mun entrance of the West kiver, will the Government take into con- sideration the advisability of approaching the Chinese Government to induce them to improve the lighting at the entrance of the river, and if possible to put a light on Lintin or in the vioivity for steamers to pick up in thick weather?
2. Will the Government again take into con- sideration the lighting of the Peak R ads either by gas, electric or oil lamps of the Kitson or similar patterns?
The Hon. COLONIAL SECRETARY-The answer to both questions is "yes."
JURY LIST FOR 1905.
The Jury List for 1905 was considered in private.
ADJOURNMENT.
The Council adjourned sine die.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was then held, the Hon. Colonial Secretary presiding. Financial Minute No. 1.-H. E. the Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of two
thousand seven hundred dollars (£225 at 1/8 $2,700), in aid of the vote Police Department, Personal Emoluments, being the salary for Mr. T. H. KING, police probationer, for 1905.
The Hon. COLONIAL SECRETARY-This officer was appointed after the estimates had been formed, and, therefore, it was not possible to include his salary.
The vote was agreed to.
Financial Minute No. 2.-H.E. the Governor recommended the Council to re-vote a sum of seventy-one thousand eight hundred and thirty- six dollars and nineteen cents ($71,836.19),'
3.459.15
9,926.56
7,003.66
863.00
6,295.95
Green Island Light improvement 9,200 00
Total
$71,836.19
1. The unexpended balance on this item was only $271.13, the excess is for piling owing to change. of site and an allowance is now made for water and drainage.
3. Exces due to alteration of site of stables
and widening of Causeway.
12. 8565.81 of this sum represents excess of
contract price over estimate.
The Hon. COLONIAL SECRETARY-This vote is a Public Works Extraordinary.
H.E. The GENERAL OFFICER COMMAND- ING THE TROOPs.What rifle ranges referred to?
are
The Hon. COLONIAL SECRETARY.--The new rifle ranges at Kowloon. Re-vote refers to money that could not be spent last year.
The vote was agreed to. Financial Minute No. 3.-H. E. the Gover. nor recommended the Council to vote a sum of fifteen thousand and ninety dollars (15,090) in aid of the vote Land Registry Offic, New Territories, for the following items;—
Personal Emoluments. Assistant Land Officer, Do.,
Exchange Com- pensation, Interpreter (8720 to $1,200 by $30
biennially). I. D. 2nd class,
4 Chinese Copying Clerks at $420 each, Chinese Writer,
3 Writers, for 2 months at $20
month each,
Demarcator,
$3,600
2,880
810
1,680
300
per
120
180
420
900
4 Messengers-1 at $120, 1 at $108,
and 2 at $96 each,
STAFF AT TAI PO.
3 Clerks at $300 each .. Clerk
4 Clerks for 2 months at $15
month each Demarcator
Total personal emoluments Other Charges.
per
Additional travelling allowance
to Assistant Land Officer $120 Office furniture and incidental
expenses
500
Safes
..2,500
Teacher's allowance to Assistant
Land Officer
120
Travelling allowance to As-
sistant Land Officer
480
:
Total...
180
120 180
$11,370
3,720
...$15,090 The Hon.. COLONIAL SECRETARY.-These items are necessary for the land work in the
New Territory.
The Hon. Mr. SHEWAN-Is there a double salary to a land officer doing work.
The Hon. COLONIAL SECRETARY-It is an
extra land officer. There are already two, one in the New Territory and one in Victoria. The Hongkong office is not able to cope with the entire work. The staff will be distributed between Hongkong and Taipo.
The Hon. Mr. SHEWAN-The new man to go is not doing any other work!
The Hon. COLONIAL SECRETARY-No, he is not doing anything else.
[March 6, 1905:
The Hon. r. WEI YUK-He is not a per- manent officer ?
The Hon. COLONIAL SECRETARY-No, not permanent. We do not know how many man it will take to do the work, or how much work is involved.
The vote was agreed to.
The meeting of the Finance Committee was then adjourned.
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
-10:
The annual meeting of this Chamber was held in the City Hall last evening when there, were preseut:- Mr. E. A. Hewett (Chairman), Mr. A. G. Wood (Vice-Chairman), Mr. A. R. Lowe (Secretary); Hon. Mr. Gresson, Hon. Mr. Gershom Stewart, Hon. Mr. Shewan, and Messra. G. Playfair, C. R. Scott, A. M. Essabhoy, A. E. Epraham, G. W. Ratter, J. J. Leiria, F. J. V. Jorge, C. Pemberton, E. Shellim, A. J. Raymond, A. J. Williams, W. Melchers, A. Forbes, J. R. M. Smith, J. R. Michael, H. W. Slade, G. H. Medhurst, A. Rumjahn. E. A. Ormiston, E. S. Whealler and J. M. Taylor.
MINUTES ADOPTED.
Mr. HEWETT moved that the minutes of last annual meeting is published, be passed.
Mr. Wood seconded the motion, which was carried.
REPORT AND ACCOUNTS.
Mr. HEWETT, in moving the adoption of the report and accounts,\said :—
GENTLEMEN, The report and accounts of the Chamber of Commerce for 1904 hay- ing been in your hands for some days, we will with your permission take them as read. Before proposing the adoption of the report and the passing of the accounts, there are a few matters ~+ to which I would like to refer. The past twelve months has been a particularly anxious period to all engaged in the Far Eastern Trade, and the Committee of the Chamber in common with the Community at large, has closely followed the varying phases of the political~ situation and has on more than one occasion made such representations as appeared desirable in the proper quarters with a view if possible to modifying the restrictions upon bur neutral trade, which were from time to time imposed by one or other of the belligerent powers. The question of what is or is not contraband of war is as we know in a most unsatisfactory position. At one time it appeared as though an attempt would be made to establish the principle that might is right. Fortunately friendly representa- →→ tious made by neutral powers have to a certain extent relieved neutrals of some causes for { anxiety, but it is to be earnestly desired that at the soonest possible moment after peace has been declared, an international conference be arranged to consider what further improvements can be effected upon the existing Treaty of Paris so that should war again unhappily break out between two great powers, that loss and dislocation to neutral trade which must inevitably arise under such circumstances, be reduced to a minimum. As we all know, the broad-minded and capable statesman who now directs the policy of our kinsmen on the other side of the Pacific has already proposed such a conference, and we believe his proposal has been cordially adopted by the majority at --- all events of the leading powers. The question of increasing the output of cotton in British territory in diverse parts of the Empire so as to render our manufactures more independent of those foreign markets on which they have now to rely for their supplies of raw material has, as we all know. roceived the earnest consider- ation of many private persons as well as officials more directly int rested in the welfare of several of our Colonies. As Hongkong can
also claim to be one of the cotton manufact- uring Colonies, although it is true to a com-
paratively small extent, it is satisfactory to find that the question of encouraging the cultivation of cotton 04 the mainland has received the attention of the Goverment. Seed has been imported and s'eps are being taken with a view to distributing this to the local farmers. It is to be hoped that by the offer of prizes for the best results these men may be encouraged to embark in what has proved