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October 12, 1908.]
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on Oct. 8th in the Council Chamber.
PRESENT :— HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIR FREDERICK JOHN DEALTRY LUGARD, K.O.M.G., C.B., D.8.O.
COLONEL DARLING, R. E. (General Officer Commanding).
Hon. Mr. A. M. Thomson (Colonial Trea- surer).
Hon, Mr. W. CHATHAM, C.M.G., (Director of Public Works).
Hon. Mr. E. A. IRVING (Registrar- General).
Hon. F. J. BADELEY, (Captain Superinten dent of Police.)
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, M.B., C.M., C.M.G. Hon. Mr. WEI YUK, C.M.G. Hon. Mr. MURRAY STEWART. Hon. Mr. H. A. W. SLADE, Hon. Mr. W. J. GRESSON,
Mr. C. CLEMENTI (Clerk of Councils).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
FINANCIAL MINUTES.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of Hisroellenoy the Governor, laid on the table Financial Minutes, Nos. 57 to 59, and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee. The COLONIAL TREAS DRER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
FINANCIAL.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee, No. 16, and moved its adoption.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
950
the
Colony. That the financial condition of the tions can hardly depend upon a small body of Colony is unsatisfactory is clearly demon- troops which is scarcely more than sufficient to strated, not only by the revised estimates for ensure order and security within the limits of 1908, but also by the leading feature of the Colony. That a small part of this foros the estimates for the coming year. The may be requisitioned to quell a riot in an out- leading feature of these estimates is obvious-port is a minor consideration of its uses which ly the inclusion in the general revenue of cannot be classed as strategical. But whether over $400,000 received from the Widows' for strategical or local purposes, the presence of and Orphans' Fuad. By this means a large the Garrison here is recognised by the unofficial deficit has been provided against, which members as conferring great benefits upon the would otherwise have led Your Excellency Colony. Those who doubt this can hardly have to propose an increase in taxation for the reflected upon the fact to which Your Excellency full amount. That there was some such design also drew attention, that half to two-thirds of we suspected. That the Colony was in reduced the funds devoted to the Garrison come out of Hon. Mr. F. H. MAY, C.M.G., (Colonial circumstances we knew. But that there was the pocket of the British taxpayer. True, Secretary);
such dire need for the succour thus provid- the unofficial members view the method Hon. Mr, W. REES DAVIES K.C., (Attorney-ed some of us, perhaps, did not altogether npo which the contribution is levied as General),
realise; nor could it easily have been imagined a bad оде. That it is open to oritielam from the disinterested attitude adopted by Your Excellency clearly showed, insamuoh the Government in those somewhat breezy as that under the present method debates which resulted in this windfall. his sum payable is increased in a time of financial method of dealing with the proceeds of dibulty. We are pleased to know that Your the fand which, as Your Excellency admit Excellency is at work on a plan which will ted, "should
theoretically be invested in place the levy on a more equitable basis and we some remunerative work which would benefit trust that you will succeed in overcoming the the Colony, and at the same time produce a sum
serious difficulties, which you have not confided equivalent to meet the new charge upon the in us, but which have so far prevented you from revenues," naturally occupied the chief place proposing it to the Secretary of State. But in your elucidation of the estimates. It is though the unofficial members view with favour equally natural that it should have principally the principle of the contribution and, in ordinary occupied the minds of the unofficial members times would willingly consent to its appearance when we met to consider the Govern in the estimates, we wish to make this clear, ment's proposals. The result of our delibera- that the Opium policy of the Home Govern- tions is that although we regard the disposal ment is pushed with sach persistence as to of the Fand as a departure from the principles wreck these estimates, and if the threat of of sound finance, we do not see our way to increased taxation comes to be made good, then oppose it, in view of Your Excellency's pro- we shall hold ourselves free to seek relief by nouncement that it is the Government's only agitating instead for a remission of a part of this alternative to increased taxation. We are contribution. Here it may perhaps not be inappro certainly not prepared to advocate that. We priste to suggest to the Government that instead believe that to raise the rates on property at the of fxing their thoughts upon increased taxation present time would be little short of disastrous. as the only alternative to temporary expedients Moreover, we feel that the argument derived they should bring their minds to bear upon the by Your Excellency from the fact that the possibilities of retrenchment.
Is there really taxpayers of the day are being called upon to no such possibility? Are all means of cutting shoulder a disproportionately heavy burden of down expenses exhausted? Are all methods of the cost of railway construction is strong effecting those small economies that lead to enough to olear 118 from the charge of large economy conscientiously employed in all indifference to the claims of posterity, the Departments of the Government? When Those who will come after us will profit at our oue glances over the pages of those estimates expense inasmuch as that the interest on the and see the long lists of minor appointments railway loan is being paid out of current revenue
the frequently recarring items of charges for instead of being debited to capital account as
allowances, extras, incidental expenses and what might properly be done. In fact, in this case, not it is difficult to repress a doubt as to whether in defiance of the proverb, it is possible to
the administration could not be rua on more argue that two wrongs make a right, The economical lines. In particular one cannot The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded.
realisation that in spite of this windfall help wondering whether greater economies Hon Mr. STEWART-The duty has devolved it has only just been possible to make could not be effected in the Sanitary Dapart. upon me of stating in outline the views of the both ends mset is sufficient cause for ment. The comparatively small saving shown unofficial members on the provisions of this satisfaction that negotiations with the Home in the estimates under this head has been noted Bill, and of making a few brief comments apoa
Government have not, so far, made it necessary
with some disappointment. The recent authori« the luoid and interesting statement with which to provide for any reduction in the revenue tative pronouncement of the Indisa Plague it was introduced. This time last year the from opiam. The narrowness of the financial Commission has made it clear that many of the representative of the Chamber of Commerce straits through which the Colony is passing expensive and irritating methods hitherto opened his speech on the Estimates by congrata. will inevitably wreck these estimates, should the employed in combating plague in the Colony lating Your Excellency ou the satisfactory Home Government insist upon pushing the were absolutely fatile; as for instance, the free financial condition of the Colony. Exchange claims of the extreme section of the anti-opiam use of disinfectants, lime-washing and the rest was then high and believed in. The long agitators. The unofficial members discussed of it. The number of coolies engaged by the period of commercial depression was already the possibility of this in connection with the Department when it was thought necessary to thought to be passing away. Land sales were subject of the military contribution. Ia carry out these mistaken methods could surely estimated to bring in 3 laos, The burden of speaking upon this fruitful topic of con-
be still further reduced and so, one would think, the cost of railway construction bad hardly troversy Your Excellency evidently anticipated might the number of Inspectors employed to begun to make itself felt. Optimistic forecasts an attack upon the principle underlying the look after them. This would not only effect were the order of the day. We all know what impost, and you referred to some strong remarks an actual saving, bat would indirectly benefit happened. We know that a world-wide depres-made last year on the subject by the honourable the revenue by encouraging Chinese to come sion had yet to come. We remember that it fell member whose place on this Council I tem. here, instead of driving or keeping them away upon us almost immediately, and that exchange porarily occupy. The quotation from these
as at present, In this and other ways the also promptly began to fall. The results are remarks which Your Excellency made might lavish expenditure which grew up during years to be found in the figures of the Financial perhaps, isolated from its context, convey of exceptional prosperity, and which originated Statement to which, a fortnight ago, Your a wrong impression of his attitude and it partly in the careless habit of mind which Excellency invited our attention, preliminary to is only fair to point out that he also prosperity brings, should be resolutely reduced. dealing with the estimates for next year. The said this, "I for one think and have always The unofficial members are by no means figures of the revised estimates for 1908 em maintained that it is correct that the persuaded that no retrenchment is possible. phasise the unwisdom of overdrawing upon the Colony should contribute something towards Neither, I believe, are the general public imaginary resources of a problematical period the Imperial Troops, but for
so persuaded. Before agreeing to may fresh of prosperity, anticipated mainly for the reason Colony the sum of $1,200,000 is excessive." taxation they will require to be. I do not that it is so much to be desired." The net result Speaking for the unofficial members of the propose to follow Your Excellency into any of of such drawings in the present instance is, day I have to say that we are of one mind
the details of these estimates, but there are one in the words of Your Excellency, "that a regarding the principle of the contribution or two matters especially interesting to the debit balance of $581,000. is anticipated to and in full accord with the views of Your Ex. public upon which it may not be out of place to socrue from the working of the current year.” cellency as regards the advantage to the Colony | saf a few words. First and foremost in the Under the circumstance that the balance of of the presence of the Garrison. I for public eye stands, of course, the railway. It our assets is thus expected to decline from over one have never been able to appreciate the is satisfactory to learn that, speaking generally, a million and a half dollars, at the end of last force of the objection raised against the progress has been well maintained. In partion- year, to a little over $950,000 at the end of contribution on the ground that the Garrison la it is satisfactory to know that the pace at this year, it is unfortunately impossible on is retained here mainly for strategical and Im which the work of reclamation at Kowloon the present occassion to congratulate Your perial purposes. Imperial strategy in these advancing has of late been notably socalerated. Excellency on the financial condition of the parts is obviously a nával matter and its deposi- The arrest of the bridge work is a matter upon
THE ESTIMATES. The COLONIAL SECRETARY-Sir, I beg to move the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to apply a sum not exceeding Five million five hundred and seventy thousand four hundred and twenty-seven Dollars to the Public Service of the year 1909.
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