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ly enacted (by Ordinances 34 of 1899 and 13 of 1901) that lamps erected in private streets and lanes, of which there are many in Hongkong, should be lighted at the public expense.
With reference to paragraph 21, I have to inform you that it was found impossible to proceed with items 22 and 23 of the Public Works Extraordinary in 1901, though at the time of the preparation of the Estimates for 1902 it was contemplated that they would be undertaken before the end of the year. As regards item No. 21, a contract was entered into at the end of November for preparing the site for the Market at a cost of $5,333. Owing to the late period at which work was begun it was found impracticable to make any payment during 1901.
In connection with the Staff of the Public Works Department, and your remarks in the last part of paragraph 18, in which you state that you are disinclined to sanction any addition to the Public Works Staff unless it is absolutely necessary, I transmit for your consideration copy of a minute on this subject by the Director of Public Works. I understand that the recommendations of the Public Works Commission, which I expect to receive in the course of a few days, will to a large extent support the contentions in that minute with regard to the requirements of the Public Works Staff.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient
Humble servant,
M. Y. Gascoigne
Major-General,
Administering the Government.