at
320
a done
the
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND a plan showing the proposed repair this nearly $800,000. These figures show & satis- would have cost a fee of about 320 for a factory financial condition. (Applause.) In repair which could have been effected for addition we have had a large windfall this year in the shape of the probate duty amounting to sixty cents." If that case was a typical
over $260,000) on the Estate of the late Sir one, Hongkong officialdom as a whole does
Robert Jardine, whose name has been long and not seem to have deserved any more honourably connected with the history of this respect than Chinese Mandarindoin gets. Colony. (Applause.) This sum enables us with As to fads-"as late as 1903, fumigation ont any difficulty to provide at once and lime. washing of infected house3 | Government's contribution to the Typhoon Fund. That contribution will be formed ก part of plague procedure, Relief and it was not abandoned until Dr. devoted to the construction of a new Typhoon Shelter. Thus what we gain by the demise PEARSE pointed out its uselessness as
of an old and justly respected colonist we are germicide. The lime washing was
not inappropriately dovoling to the benefit of the expense of
the Government, the shipping of the Colony in building ap at contract prices nearly a hundred per whose prosperity his enterprise and ability cent. higher than those paid by private had a very large share. (Applause) Among ba laid is that of the individuals. "Tho waste of money thus the Reports to entailed," says the report, can be well Commission which was appointed in May last to imagined." The commission believes that enquire into the administration of the Public it is the Sanitary Board's plague practices Health and Buildings Ordinance and into of corruption on the part the existence which cause "dumping," and it seems con- vinced that the misbehaviour of the Board's of the officials entrusted with the administra it by myself, in the subordinate employes has been largely due tion of the Ordinance. The Report together to the neglect of those above them to check capacity of Colonial Secretary before the and supervise their work. Everybody's departure of the Governor, which is not as fall business seems to have been nobody's as I could have wished as it had to be prepared business, and the number of references to at short notice before the Governor's departure: cases of failure to examine or report is is laid at this the first Meeting of the Legisla. are quite tive Council at the express wish of Sir Matthew great, and the Commissioners unable to understand a system (!) which permits" such irregularities. However, it does not merely find fault, this Report, and after it has been public a little longer, its
reform practical suggestions for
will demand attention.
K
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
with a
minuta on
88
Nathan, and his direction was that I should print with the report as much of the evidence, which is extremely voluminons, as would render the report intelligible. I intended to print the whole of the evidence of the European and other principal witnesses, but this would have delayed the report another two months. I have therefore only had printed as much of the evidence is specifically referred to in the marginal notes of the report, and iu two But a typed cases in the minutes upon it. copy of the evidence of the more important of the witnesses on the point principally of the administration of the Ordinance is laid on the table and can be consulted by Members or by the Public in this room, but must not be removed therefrom. The whole evidence, to give you an idea of the voluminousnes; of it, and the work entailed, is contained in those nine volumes. Gentlemen, this is not the time for me to offer comment in detail on the report. While open to Hon. Mr. A. M. THOMSON, (Colonial Secre-
no little criticism on many points, its recom- tary).
mendations are receiving the most serious Hon. Mr. H. H. J. GOMPERTZ, (attorney-consideration of the Government. The most General).
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on the 16th instant in the Council Chamber.
PRESENT:-
H18 EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINIS- TERING THE GOVERNMENT, Hon. Mr. F. H. MAY, C.M.G.
Hon. Mr. C. McI. ME-SER (Colonial Trea- surer).
Hon. Mr. W. CHATHAM, (Director of Public Works).
General).
Hon, Mr. F. J. BADELEY, (Captain-Superin
The evidence
valuable part of the work done by the Commis- sioners, is in laying bare a very wide-spread corruption among the subordinate officials of the Sanitary Department. furnished by the Commissioners has already Hon. Mr. A. W. BREWIN, (Registrar.resulted in the dismissal of a number of Officers, many of them English Sanitary Inspectors in enjoyment of very good salaries, while the
of others are still under in- | vestigation. It is humiliating to read of Englishmen in the position of these men
of
and all self respect utterly devoid lost to all sense of honour as to allow them. Mr. A. G. M. FLETCHER, (Clerk of Councils).selves to sink into such a life of dishonesty as
tendent of Police).
Hon. Dr. Ho KA1, M.B., C.M., C.M G. Hon. Mr. WEI YUK.
Hon. Mr. E. A. HEWETT.
Hon Mr. W. J. GRESSON.
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read, and confirmed.
NEW MEMBER.
Mr. C. McI. Messer took the oath, and as- sumed his seat as a member of the Conncil.
HIS EXCELLENCY'S ADDRESS, HIS EXCELLENCY-Honour. ble Members of the Legislative Couneil :-I have asked yon
'to meet to-day in order to begin a short session in which with your assistance I hope to dispose of some outstanding business and legislation. The Financial Minutes that will be laid will be ex- plained to you in the Finance Committee by the Colonial Secretary. Among the Bills that appear on the Orders of the Day is the Supple- mentary Appropriation. The only item in the Estimates for last year shewing an excess of expenditure is Miscellaneous Services, due to the loss of a large quantity of Subsidiary Coin sent home last year to be sold: Among the Papers to be laid on the Table are the Financial Returns for the year 1906 which show a surplus of $202,400 on the working for the year, and an excess of assets over liabilities on the 31st of December of $652,236, not including arrears of
cases
80
is evidenced in the report. Their conduct, gentlemen, drage the name of Englishman of which every Englishman ought to be proud, into the mire, and tarnishes the national honour. On the other hand the conduct of a certain section of the Chinese population in offering and even pressing filthy bribes on men who in many instances never even asked for them is most reprehensible. We take trouble and spend money in teaching the principles of hygiene in our schools. I am taking steps to have the rising Chinese generation in Government Schools at any rate tanght that it is as wicked to give as to receive a bribe, (Applause.) Gentle |
men:
[May 18, 1907 cial Minutes Nos. 14 to 20, and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee. The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded. Carried.
COLONIAL CEMETERY BYE-LAW. The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to lay on the table the additional bye-law made by the Sanitary Board under section 16 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 19 3, and move its adoption. It refers to the schedule of fees for burials in cemeteries.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
PAPERS.
The COLOVIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, laid on the table the following papers:--- Report of the Captaiu Superintendent of Police, and the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade for the year 1906; Report of the Botanical and Forestry Department for the year 1906; Report of the Director of the Hongkong bservatory for the year 1996; Report on Census of the Colony for the year Queen's College for the year 1946; Report on 1906; Report on the Widows and Orphans the Pension Fund for the year 1906; Report of the Harbour Master for the year 1906; study of Hygiene in Report Hongkong Schools for 1906; Report on the Blue Book for 1906; Report on the Police Magistrates Courts for the year 1906; Financial Returns for 1906; Riport of the committee appointed to inquire whether earlier warning of the typhoon of September 18th, 1906, could have been given to shipping.
on the
QUESTIONS.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT, in the ab euce of the Ion, Mr. Pollock, asked the following questions standing in the latter member's
nume:-
1 (a) When will work on the new harbour of refuge be commenced ?
(b) How long is such work likely to take? 2 (a) What was the cost of erecting the retaining wall on the south side of the Signal Station at Blackhead's point?
(b) Who has ultimately to bar the cost of such retaining wall?
3 (a) Has the Government received any from Mr. Hallifax with reference report to motor fire engines or an improved system of fire-alarms?
(b) If the Government has received such a report, will the Government lay it upon the table ?
ANSWERS.
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, in reply to the first and second sets of questions, said :--
+
1 (a) It is anticipated that the work of con. structing the breakwater can be b-gun in about five months from the present time,
(b) On fuller investigation, the scheme originally proposed, with some important altera- tions based on the experience gained from the recent typhoon, is found to be much more costly than originally estimated. In view of this fact, a modification of the scheme is under considera- tion. But it is hoped that a beginning will be made with the work in about five months' time The time occupied in carrying out the work will be from three to four years, according the scheme finally settled.
2 (a), $20,325,59. (b). The Colonial Government. About 1887, an arrange- the Government entered into
Lots the holders of Garden ment, with to convert their holdings into Inland Lots on payment of premium and Crown rent at certain rates. The plan, on which the offer was based, showed a road in the position of Middle Road, and the lessee of the lot bounded by it has demanded ever since that this road should be
The thanks of this Honourable Council | constructed. and of the Community at large are due to the Commissioners and more especially to the Chair-involved. man of the Commission, for the enormous labour they have devoted to the work they have now accomplished and it is my earnest hope that of the improvement in the administration Sanitary Laws and a more healthy tone in the subordinate branches of the Department may follow on their investigation. (Applauss.)
FINANCIAL MINUTES.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of Revenue and over-payments amounting to His Excellency the Officer Administering $143,260.65, making à total excess of assets of the Government, laid on the table Finan-
The Government demurred to construoting is on account of the great cost The sale of Kowloon Marine Lots 74 and 75 in 1902 provided an (pportunity of was availed of, the purchasers of these lots getting the hill out down free of cost and this being required to do the necessary cutting under It proved necessary their conditions of sale. to construct a retaining wall to support the the War hill, which is the property of Depart- meut, and the wall has been constructed acoord. ingly.
The CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, in reply to the third question answered :—
A