for
94
no excess. On the major bridges be hopes $50,000 and on the minor $50,000 below big rates. He hopes to show DO excess on general charges, and expects a smali excess will be met by savings on other items. The next question you would probably like to have answered is, About what time will the railway be completed. If the average rate of construction hitherto maintained can be kept up the heading will be completed in November 1909, and the line should be completed by May 1910. We do approximately about (ne. third of the tunnel a ye: r. Tbe heavy cutting and reclamation on this side has been let by contract but not much progress so far has been made, but the standing of the firm of contractors who have taken that contract gives us every hope that they will not fail us as regards the limit of time for completion. Generally speaking I think we are justified in assuming that the work is being economically done, and that we shall
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
limit of expenditure voted in the I
complete it in ampl time to join the Canton section by the time it is completed. And I believe that the total cost will not exceed £1,000,000 sterling. You must remember that that sum only includes the cost of th private land resumed for the railway, and does not include the cost of the Crown land assigned for railway purposes. In the course of my remarks I have alluded once or twice to the difficulties placed in my way by the fact that the basis of a jiut working agre meut with the Chinese section las not yet been arrived at. I am anxious to begin negotiations in this matter, but you must remeinber the survey of the Canton section has only just been completed, and it will probably be a couple of months before the first sod is turned. The Chi- nese Authorities have several preliminary ques- tions to settle with r g rd to the administration of the line and local control, and until these questions have been settled we are no' in a position to enter into negotiations. I trust it may be go before the end of this year. I have explained now, to the best of my ability, the history of the line and the stage of construction to which we bave reached. I have gone fally into the liabilities which we have incurred, and perhaps it may be of interest if I make a few remarks as to the means we intend to employ to meet those liabilities, You will remember that in the Automa of 1985 the Govern ment raised 8 loan through the Crown Agents for £1,143,933 at about 3 per cent in order to pay a loan of £1,100,000 at 41 per cent to the Viceroy of Wuchang. This was repayable in ten years by yearly instalments of £110,000 with interest, of which we have received two, and the third is dus in October next. As they have been received they have boen used to fluance the railway, but it is obvious from what I have said that the cost of the line will much exceed the amount of th se repayments befra
the
completion of the liue. We sball consequently have to borrow from
the Crown Agents and repay it later from repay. ments we receive from the Viceroy. We provided in the estimates for the current year
A
en
|
the
Estimates ?
The Director of PUBLIC WORKS replied: - Norstraint is placed upon the Contractors for the buildings mentioned with the object of limiting the expenditure on them to the amounts voted in the Estimates. In 19 4 supplement. ary votes were obtained to cover exoss xpendi. ture on the Law Courts and Post Office and since that year there have been large unexpended balano-s nuually on the amounts voted for these works.
sum of £4670, as interest on this balanc which would mean a capital sum of about £120,000 if it were borrowed for a complete year, but as
we shall not require to bor. row uutil probably late in the year the interest provided in the estimates will really cover a very much larger sum than that I have named. We are also paying interest sums advanced to the railway, that is to ss5 £210,000 at £3,13,- per cent. The inter-st paid to that account amounts to £8,030 giving a total of £12,700 provided in the estimates for the current year as our total liability in respect to the interest for railway loans. We shall have spent at the end of the current year, if we do not exceed the estim te contained in the resolution before the Council, the total sum of $6,834.061. I trust, gentlemen, that I have left no point untouched on which I could usefully give information, but if any further, information is required on any point it may be raised when the resolution is referred back to the Finace Committee (applause).
NEW LAW COURT AND POST OFFICE.
Hon. Mr. OSBORNE askele fl. wing question :-Will the Goreromeut at le whether the contractors for the Law Court- and Post Office are free to push ou with the work as they please; or are they instructed to keep within
LAND OCCUPIED BY GOVERNMENT CONTRACTOR,
Hon. Mr. (88RNE also asked:-Will the Government site (a.) The terms of Sang yard adjoining the statue of His Majesty the Lee's 1 nancy of the ground used as a builder's King? (b) with work on public buildings? (c.) Will the Is this yard us d in connecticu
Government cause this land to be laid out as a public garden as 1000 tion of it can be determined?
as Sang Lee's occupi
The IRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied : (a) The terms are: —
(i) Payme of rent at the rate of 2 centa quarterly, in adva: ca. per square foot per annum, or 387.20 per acre
(ii) Certain stipulations as to matsheds or other structures whion might be required by the Contract.r.
(Restriction of cccupation to watchmen
only.
(is) N portion of the grounl to be used preparation of material for the Post Office, for any other purposs than the storage or
|
unless the consent of the Director of Public Works by previously obtained.
(F) No portion of the ground to be sub-let on any accouuf,
(i) The whole or any portion of the ground three months' notice. to be given up at any time on receipt
(b) Answered in (iv) of the above.
[February 8, 1908.
Hon. POLLOCK-1 submit the Colonial Trea surer is not in order to make that observation,
CHINESE EMIGRATION ORDINANCE.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-Sir, I rise to move the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend
the Chiarze Emigration Ordinance, 1889. The Bill is designed to remove certain restrictions at present imposed on bona fide free emigrante, and to sifeguard the interesta of Assist ed emigrants as distinguished from in- dividual emigrants. Un er the existing law various classes of emigrants are accorded lik treatment but it is found in practice that a regulation is nquired to make effective the control of contract labour and in the case of frea passengers that it is unnecessary and
Iations. The main object of this Bill, Sir, is to amend the law relating to free emigrants, And I propose in committee to amend the de- finition so that contract and labour for hire will not be essential conditions. The Bill is
comparatively simple in its form and I beg to move that it be read a sond time. The COLONIAL SECRETARY reconded, Council then resolved itself i to a committee of the whole Ccunoil to ocnsider the Bill olansa by clanse,
Hon. Mr. Po LOCK spoke as to some minor alteration be thought necesary.
The COLONIAL TREASURER-This drafting and wording of sectious is not worth troubling The committee of the Council with. It ought to be referred to the Law Committee, and I think the hou. member should have seen that corrected before he came here.
Hou, Mr FOLLOCK-I think the language of the Colonial Treasurer is most impertinent and mt unparliamentary.
The COLONIAL TREASURER-It is quite pertinent. This pint was raised quite regular- fly, and I am answering it.
te). It is proposed to obtain the sanction of the Secretary of State to lay out as a garden a piece of ground corresponding in area to the garden of the Hongkong Bink opp sits to i'.
ENFORCING JUDOMENTS OUT OF THE JURISDICTION.
the
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK asked :—Will Government lay upon the table all the papers connected with the proposals which have been made with a view to improve the system of enfor iug julgments of the Supreme Court of this Colo y in China a d Macao?
The COLONIAL SECRETARY replied: The correspoud-no. tonohing as it dnes relations with two Foreign Governments is for the most part e nfidential aid cannot therefore be publish- d If, however the Honourable Member takes a personal interest in the questions referred to he is at liberty to peruse the material portious of the correspondenes in the office of the olenial Secretary.
certain
Hon. Mr. POL OCK-I don't think the hon. Colonial S-cretory's answer qui'e deals with
I understand that my questio. proposals bare ben made amongst others by the Chi-f Justice of this Colony with ference to this question, and I dont' see why these proposals should not be laid on
the table.
re-
no.
On Council resuming. the ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that the Bill had passed through committee with
elight amend- ments, and It Was read A
second time.
THE STATUTES ORDINANCE. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to facilitate the admission in evidence of strutes passed by the Legislatures of British possessious and British protectorates, including Cyprus, In doing so he said-I may ray that the Government introduced this Bill on the sugges- tion of the hon and learned friend on my left, The object of the Bill is stated in the objecta and reasons, and I own add nothing to them. It in to facilit-te in the Courts here the admission of proof by the statute law of other British possessions.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded Council then went into committee on the Bill. and cousid red it olause by clause,
On resuming the ATTORNEY-GENERAL re- ported that it had passed through the com- mittee stages with slight amendment, and it
was read a second time,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL then moved the third reading of the Bill.
The COLONIAL 8 CERT RY seconded, and the Bill was read a third time, passed aud became law.
FIRE INSURANCE COMPANIES ORDINANCE. The ATTORNRY GENER L-8ir. I rise to more the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinano- to authorise the removal of Fire Insurance Companies from the Register of Companies in certain cases The object of the
The COLONIAL TREASURER-Really, the Government's auswer to the question is "
HIS EXCELLENCY - 1 he answer given by the hou. Colonial Secretary I think is a complete, Sir, as stated in the objects and reasons, answer to the h. n. member's question.
Hon. Mr. POLLOCK – I think not, Sir. day't Pink a freign Government « proposal—
The LONIAL SECRETARY - The hop, Diem. bris trespassing beyond the limits. Surely he must understand that no matter from what part it emustes it involves correspond ·nce, and the question, touching as it dies the relations with a foreign government, in sich that it cannot possibly be mods pablie.
Hon. Mr. Pʊ Lock-Do I understand that that the Gor-razent regarde it an oonidential?
His EXCELLENCY -1 cannot allow far
Bay ther debate on the subject
Hon. Mr. Luer-1_think the Hon. Colonial Seerwary's answer is not a satisfactory one to my question.
The COLONIAL TREASCEAR—Then more a resolution.
is to give the Governor-in-Council power to [strike off the registar of Companies any fire insurance company proved to his satisfao- tion to be so apsound se to be virtually fraudulent. The matter his rro-ived the consideration of the Government, and also the Chamber of Commerce, who are agreeab's to the proposal.
The COLONIAL 8 C‹ETARY seconded. Council then went into committee on the Bill and considered it clause by clause.
Hoo. Mr. Osborne-Am I in order if I ask why life insuranos companies hire boon taken out of this Bill. They were in when the Ordlaanon was drafted.
HIS EXCELLENCY –They are included la a
different bill.
Hon. Mr. OsnoRNE—Originally the Ordin. ince included fir and life insuranos companies. The COLONIAL SECRATART-I think the