155
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
24TH DECEMBER, 1914.
119
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
160
31ST DECEMBER, 1914.
PRESENT:-
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIR F. H. MAY, X.O.X.G.
HIS EXCELLENOY MAJOR-GENERAL F. H. KELLY, c.8. (General Officer Command- ing Troops).
HON. MR. CLAUD SEVERN (Colonial Secretary).
HON. MR. J. H. KEMP (Attorney- General).
HON. MR. E. D. C. WOLFE (Colonial Treasurer).
HON. ME. A. F. CHURCHILL (Director of Public Works).
HON. MR. E. R. HALLIFAX (Secre- tary for Chinese Affairs).
HON. ME. C. McI. MESSER (Captain Superintendent of Police).
HON. MR. WEI YUK, O.M.G. HON. MR. H. E. POLLOCK, 1.0. HON. MR. D. LANDALE. HON. MR. E. A. HEWETT, C...G. HON. MR. E. SHELLIM. HON. MR. LAU CHU PAK. MR. M. J. BREEN (Clerk of Councils).
Minutes
THE COLONIAL TREASURER second- ed, and this was agreed to.
Kowloon-Canton Railway
(British Section)
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the following resolution:-"It is hereby resolved that a sum of $348,886.93 be advanced out of funds in the custody of the Government for the construction of the Kowloon-Canton Railway (British Section) during the year 1914."
In doing so he said-Sir, I beg to submit the resolution which stands in my name, and in doing so I wish to express regret at its being brought forward so late in the year. That is chiefly due to the fact that the Manager of the railway has been on leave since April last, and has only recently returned. In connection with the resolution, I lay on the table the statement of the estimated expenditure and capital account during the year 1914, showing the expenditure year by year up to date on the railway, and a statement overleaf giving particulars of expenditure sanc- tioned since the submission of the state ment on the 10th April, 1913. You will see, in looking at this statement, in column 6, that no actual figures are given opposita the items 1 to 10, as in the other columns.
The minutes of the previous meeting The reason for that is that the items that were confirmed.
Financial
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H. E. the Governor, laid on the table Financial Minutes Nos. 88 to 92, and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER second- ed, and this was agreed to.
Paper
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H. E. the Governor, laid on the table report of the proceedings of the Finance Committee held on December 17th, and moved that it be adopted.
will eventually go into that column cannot be accurately estimated now, and so it is impossible to enter figures opposite each item which would not have to be altered subsequently. I do not propose to móve the resolution now, but, in accordance with the practice hitherto, to move that this account be referred to the Finance Com-
mittee for consideration. While doing so,
I should like to draw attention to one or two items. There is a large item in column 9-stores in suspense, 880,389.79. It is stated in the remarks that this sum represents the cost of one locomotive, carriage underframes, coal in stock, oil and other stores." Now at first sight, with the exception of the locomotive and carriage underframes, these would not
PRESENT:
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, ŠIE F. H. MAY, K.O.M.G.
HIS EXCELLENCY MAJOR-GENERAL F. H. KELLY, 08. (General Officer Command- ing Troops).
HON. MR. CLAUD SEVERN (Colonial Becretary).
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and this was agreed to.
Kowloon-Canton Railway
(British Section)
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the following resolution: It is hereby resolved that a sum of $348,866.93 be advanced out of funds in the custody of
HON. MR. J. H. KEMP (Attorney the Government for the construction of General),
the Kowloon-Canton Railway (British
HON, MB. E. D. C. WOLFE (Colonial Section) during the year 1914." In doing Treasurer).
HON. MR. A. F. CHURCHILL (Director of Public Works).
HON. MR. E. R. HALLIFAX (Secre- tary for Chinese Affairs).
HON. MR. C. McI. MESSER (Captain Superintendent of Police).
HON. ME. WEI YUK, C.M.G. HON. MR. H. E. POLLOCK, E.0. HON. ME. E. A. HEWETT, 0.1.0. HON. MR. LAU CHU PAK.
MR. M. J. BREEN (Clerk of Councils).
Minutes
so he said-Sir, with regard to the resolu tion standing in my name, at the last meeting of the Council I stated that I did not propose to proceed with it then but to refer it to the Finance Committee for onsideration. The various sums which go to make up the amount asked for in the resolution were considered by the Finance Committee and approved of, but attention was drawn by one or more of the unofficial members to the late period in the year on which this matter had been brought for- ward, involving as it does the expenditure of a large sum of capital account, and the hope was expressed that in future years such an account should be brought forward earlier in the year. I had already
The minutes of the previous meeting expressed regret in Council for the late were confirmed.
Financial
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table Financial Minutes Nos.
93 and 94, and moved that they be re- ferred to the Finance Committee.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER second- ed, and this was agreed to.
Paper
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table report of the proceed ings of the Finance Committee held on December 24th, and moved that it be adopted.
period at which the account had been brought forward, and said that the Government will certainly be very careful that such an account is brought forward earlier in the year in future. There were reasons for it being later this year, but I certainly think that it should not have been brought forward at the last moment, as it was in this case. I have already made it clear that all the amounts asked for will be spent on capital account; all these various items are such BS are required to
the complete railway. The hon. member represents the Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Hewett), (Hon.
also suggested that the members of Council should have had something before them at the time the Colonial estimates were under considera- tion. I think he realised that these capital
who