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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND on record; and if so, whether it is binding on the Company. Otherwise, if we pass this resolution this Company may make variations with regard to the punch tickets, and where are we? I desire to know whether it is on record, and whether it is binding on the Company. If it is binding, I will be one to support it.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY The arrange- ment is on record in writing. Of course if the Company went back on the arrangement, the remedy would be to re-impose the workmen's cars, but I think there is no danger of that. The Company desire to give this the fairest chance.
The resolution was agreed to.
KOWLOON-CANTO RAILWAY.
And His Majesty's Government describe the obligation which we undertook to pay the licensees, together with the decrease in the number of chests which the farmer should be allowed to praw, as an earnest of our co-operation in the policy of His Majesty's Governinent. When I made the announcement in the Council of the decision arrived at by the Imperial Government it was received with applause by hon. members, and I think that in view of the consistent attitude which his Majesty's Government has adopted with regard to this question, and in view of the large sacrifices made in India and other Colonies, that we have no ground of com- plaint, especially as no undue burden is laid upon the Colony by the adoption of this policy. I would remind you all that the Colony of HIS EXCELLENCY--Gentlemen, before pro- have to Hongkong has repeatedly declared itself ready ceeding to the business of the day, and anxious to support the Imperial Policy make a statement regarding the progress of the An honourable and learned member of the railway. There is, amongst the papers laid on
sorry to Council, who is not here I am
the table this afternoon, first a report by the in the debate last chief resident engineer, and in connection with say, to-day, remarked May, or, at any rate, he inferred that that report you will no doubt notice that the provided His Majesty's Government adopted various departmental reports which have been the policy pari pussu with China, he was in laid on the table this afternoon are not in the favour of supporting it. The senior unofficial usual form. They do not bear the heading Laid before the Legislative Council" but member, speaking in the name of the Chinese, went even further, and advocated the abolition are headed Appendixith a letter of the of all divans in the Colony. The Chamber alphabet The reason of that slight altera- of Commerce, which is represented by an tion is that we propose in future to some- hon. member who is not here this after-what condense these departmental reports noon, drew up a resolution which I asked to forward to the secretary of State, to the effect that while deprecating any sudden and drastic measures, they would loyally support a policy of gradual reduction. I trust, gentle.afternoon. men, this explanation is sufficient, and that the Council will not desire it should be understood by His Majesty's Government that we repudiate the views which have been recorded in this Council, and of which the Secretary of State has been informed.
was
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY.
HIS EXCELLENCY-The honourable and learned member who is absent from Council to-day [the Hon. Mr. Pollock] asked on March 11th whether the Government could make any arrangements for singalling typhoons the Pratas by Wireless Telegraphy from
Islands. and whether the Government had any information to communicate on this subject. In reply the Hon. Colonial Secretary informed the Hon. Member that if he would repeat his question in three or four weeks' time I hoped to be able to reply more fully. The Hon. Member has not formally repeated his question, but I take it hon, members desire the information. The reason why this Government is unable to take any steps-putting aside the question of cost--to erect a Wireless Station on the Pratas Atoll is because the islands are claimed by China. I have, however, acquainted the Chinese Government through the British Minister at Peking with the importance which would attach to a Typhoon Signal Station on the island, not merely to Hongkong but to the Southern Coasts of China,
moved the
WORKMEN'S CARS. The COLONIAL SECRETARY following resolution Resolved that the Resolution regarding the running of Work- men's Cars by the Hongkong Tramway Electric Company, Limited, now known as the Electric Traction Company of Hong. kong, Limited. passed by the "Legislative Council on the 21st day of June 1906 be and the same is hereby rescinded."
In doing so he said In that resolution, Sir, provision was made for the running of certain workmen's cars in the early morning. These cars, Sir, have been found not to be patronised by the class for whom they were intended, and accordingly it has been suggested that & system of punch tickets at a rate of two cents a ride should be afforded to workmen and others be- tween the hours of 5.30 to 7.30 in the morning and 4.30 to 6.30 in the afternoon. It is hoped, Sir, that these punch tickets will be availed of to a larger extent than were the cars. The Government at the same time reserves the right, if the punch tickets are not a success, to revert to the workmen's car system.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI-Sir, I am not opposing the resolution, but I want to know whether the arrangement which the Hon. Colonial Secretary has told us of the institution of punch tickets, is
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and publish them as a small volume, which will be laid as one document before the Council. But in order not to further delay these reports, such as are already printed have been laid this On February 6th last I made a statement to the Council as to the progross and the financial position of the Canton-Kowloon railway. And again, when introducing the estimates on 24th September last, I reported such progress as had taken place in the interval, aud I promised that I would make an annual report to the Council, bgth as regards finances and the
progress of the railway-the liability which we afe incurring in respect of it and the ways in which these liabilities are being met. I much regret the delay in presenting this annual report and laying this statement. I had hoped it would be ready at one of the earlier meeting of the year. We have no resolution this year before Council for votes for the construction of the railway during the year because, under the new financial instructions, which have been lately received from the colonial Office, the requisite funds for the construction during the year are included in the annual estimates. I propose, however, to follow the course I did last year, and to give you as full a statement.of events connected with the railway as I can, and I will endeavour to make as clear as possible, the situation both as regards expenditure and the prospects both as regards time and date. of completion, And I hope that I shall be able to amplify the report of the chief resident-engineer, and draw your attention to the significance of the figures. I will deal first with the expenditure, and I am sorry to say it is not an exhilarating subject. We first of all had an estimate by Mr. Bruce which amounted to $5,053,274. That estimate as I explained in my former statement, was a It was based on a very rough very rough one. preliminary survey and included no calculation of quantities and many important items such It was as rolling stock, workshops, etc. accepted as a rough estimate by my prede. cessor when the railway first began. The first full estimate that we had from the chief resident engineer, appointed by the consulting engineers, was in June 1907. That amounted to $8.003,642. It did not include any provision for rolling stock or for workshops, because at that time it was impossible to know exactly what rolling stock would be required, and whether or not we should At the end of the same require any workshops. year, December 1957, a further estimate was submitted to the Council, which amounted to Provision for rolling stock was $9,860,283.
that estimate also includes inserted, and the cost of the resumption of the deep sea wharf in the neighbourhood of Blackhead's Point, but it still did not include any provision for work- shops as the subject was still under discussion. The provision made in that estimate for land was also somewhat vague. No final decision had been taken as regards the site for the terminal station. The estimate which is included in the papers laid this afternoon, amounts, as you will
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{May 15, 1909. see, to $11,004,128. This includes workshops and all items, but it is still possible that the land resumption may not be fully adequately provided for, as all matters in connection with that subject are not yet finally concluded. The excesses of this estimate over the one which was laid be. fore the Council in December last amount to $1,143,845, but if you turn to column E. on page 10 of the report, in which the figures in italics represent savings, you will see that of this total sum $996,409 represented the cost of the tunnels. $120,000 of this excess is provided for λ balance of workshops, and there remains $27,436 which is distributed over various items. But you will see also in the later estimates that there is a great variation of the figures from those contained in the estimate of last year. There is a saving of $82,400 for rolling stock, and $51,700 in ballast and permanent way, making a total of $134,000 saving on these two items. This is met by an excess of $90,000 on salaries and 843,003 on accounts, making $133,000. Bridges show an excess of $47,261; half of that is met by savings on various items, and the other half goos to complete the total excess in the estimate of $1,443,000. These large over and under estimates are most unsatisfactory, and they show that the figures which have been supplied have not been reliable. But at the same time I would remind you that the mere question of estimates does not mean a reflection on British engineering. It is due partly to the fuct that we are engaged in constructing a tunnel such as has not been undertaken in this part of the world before, and under which the conditions both as regards labour and as regards explosives were extremely difficult to foresse. The variations also under the estimates are in part due to the fact that all the data of the rail- way were not known, and indeed are not known fully yet. Even had the railway been in the hands of contractors there would have been many items excluded, for which supplementary estimates would have been required. Neverthe- less, we have this fact: that this tunnel will cost. nearly a million more that the estimate given us at the end of last year, and that in spite of the fact that the engineers had acquired already a year's experience in dealing with the conditions under which the tunnel had to be constructed. During the year that is passed, the quality of the labour has greatly improved. The coolies have become more emcient, and understand the work better. We have been able to engage a number of coolies returned from South Africa who have been trained
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miners, and have been a great acquisition to work in the tunnels. There has been less sickness and fever. The tunnel has been found to be approximately 44 feet less in length than it had been anticipated, owing to error the original triangulation. These causes have reduced the cost per foot in a very remarkable degree. You will see on page 2 a very striking statement in this connection. The heading cost per foot in 1907 $184, which has been reduced to $70.04. The enlarging in 1907 cost $275, which has been reduced to $140.86; the bricking-in was $221 and has been reduced to $113.54. Now, if it were not for these very large reductions per lineal foot the excesses would have been some- thing I dread to calculate. Obviously it is beyond my personal control whether or not the estimate formed by the engineers is adequate. The staff which has been employed has been re- duced wherever it has been possible to do so without detriment to the efficiency of the work. The medical arrangements, which are practically carried out by Government, have increased in efficiency. Everything, in fact, that the Government has been able to do has been done. The cost of the tunnel-I speak of the big tunnel only; you will of course recollect that sum includes the smaller one as well as the large one-is estimited as you will see in the report, at $3,000,000.. Its length is 7,212 feet, which works out at $416 per foot; that is to say $2,196,342 a mile, or in round figures about £200,000 a mile. If we add to that, the cost of the permanent way and the share for the tunnel's length and the general charges of the railway, you will see that the cost of this tunnel is not less than one-third of the total cost
of
As the railway. regards the special difficulties which have been met with, and which are held accountable for
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