Enclosure C
¡REC?
C. O.
545
1140
REC 21 JAN 90
The Daily Press.
ITI
HONGKONG, DECEMBER 19th, 1894.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Legislative Council was held yesterday. There were present:---
His Excellency the Governor, Sir WILLIAM ROBINSON, K.C.M.G.
Hon. J. STEWART LOCKHART, Acting Colonial Secretary.
Hon. W. M. GOODMAN, Attorney-General.
Hon. N. G. MITCHELL-INNES, Colonial Treasurer.
Hon. A. COOPER, Director of Public Works.
Hon. R. M. RUMSEY, Harbour Master.
Hon. C. P. CHATER.
Hon. Ho KAI.
Hon. J. J. KESWICK.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, C.M.G.
Hon. A. McCONACHIE.
Mr. J. G. T. BUCKLE, Acting Clerk of Councils.
MINUTES.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.
FINANCE.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table a financial minute and moved that it be referred to the Finance Committee.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded. Carried.
THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1895.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY--I have the honour to move the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to apply a sum not exceeding $2,420,501 to the Public Service of the year 1895. At a recent meeting of the Council your Excellency explained generally the financial position of the colony and of the estimates of revenue and expenditure for 1895. In view of that explanation and of the fact that the details are fully set forth in the papers which have been in the hands of hon. members for some time I do not propose to detain the Council with any remarks now. When this Bill has been read a second time I intend to move that it be referred to the Finance Committee. When it is considered there I will be happy to answer any questions hon. members may ask and to give any information that may be desired.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded. Bill read a second time and referred to the Finance Committee.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was held after the Council meeting, the Acting Colonial Secretary presiding.
DEFICIENCY IN A POSTAL AGENT'S ACCOUNTS
The CHAIRMAN--The first minute I have to lay before the Committee is one in which the Governor recommends the Council to vote the sum of $940.05, the amount of deficiency in the accounts of the late postal agent at Ningpo, now deceased. I regret to say the late postal agent at Ningpo died some time ago and there was a deficiency in his accounts. I am glad, however, to be able to tell you a letter has been received from Mr. Playfair, the Consul at Ningpo, who has been taking very active steps on behalf of the Hongkong Government informing the Government we may recover nearly the whole, if not the whole, of this amount. I hope therefore the full amount will not be required.
Hon. Ho Kai--Are the postal agents' securities secured?
The CHAIRMAN--I understand they are not secured in any way.
Hon. Ho Kai--Surely if they have large sums of money passing through their hands they ought to give some security; otherwise, what would prevent a repetition of this?
Hon. C. P. CHATER--Are no steps being taken to prevent a recurrence of such deficiencies?
The CHAIRMAN--The question of the postal agents at the treaty ports is now under the consideration of the Government, and when it has been decided I will inform you what steps have been taken. In the meantime I ask you to pass this vote.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded. Carried.
THE APPROPRIATION BILL, 1895.
The CHAIRMAN--We now come to the consideration of the Appropriation Bill for 1895. I propose in accordance with the precedents of former years to take each vote of the Bill in succession, and if any hon. member has any question to ask or desires any information I shall be very glad to supply it.
The Public Debt.
In connection with the vote of $311,716, charge on account of public debt, the CHAIRMAN said that if they referred to page 7 of the estimates they would see "Sinking Fund." The Treasurer had suggested that instead of "Sinking Fund" it should be termed "Expenses in connection with payment of interest." If hon. members had no objection it was proposed to make that change.
Agreed.
Public Works Department.
The vote under the head of Public Works Department was increased by $1,200, the salary of a clerk which had been accidentally omitted. The salary of the correspondence clerk was formerly $2,400, but a vacancy having occurred it was proposed to fill it at a salary of $1,200.
Postal Transit Charges.
The CHAIRMAN said, in connection with the Post Office vote, it had been suggested that the item "Refund of postage to London, France, Italy, and other countries" should be altered to "Transit charges, etc.," which explained better what the money was really spent on.
Carried.
The Military Contribution
The amount asked for under the head of Military Expenditure was $396,000.
Hon. C. P. CHATER--I should like to have a little information on this subject. I think the matter was brought before the Council about this time last year by the hon. member opposite (Hon. J. J. KESWICK) and afterwards by myself, and I think it was then suggested the Governor should write and suggest to the Secretary of State a reconsideration of the amount of this Military Contribution. The amount was increased from £20,000 to £40,000, and owing to the depreciation of exchange the amount in dollars has steadily grown; and now I see another increase of $64,000 for 1895. I should like to know what has been done in the matter. I think we were informed that His Excellency had written a despatch on the subject, but I do not recollect having heard of any answer being received, or at any rate given to us. That being the case, unless we are assured the matter is having the consideration of the Secretary of State, I for one am not prepared to vote this amount.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY--His Excellency has, I know, made more than one representation to the Secretary of State on this subject, but no definite decision has yet been received.