161
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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
sums for the railway have nothing to do
HON MR. POLLOCK-Sir, I simply with the ordinary revenue and expenditure rise to say that I quite agree with what of the Colony, but he thought that the has fallen from my bon. friend opposite., Council should have before them some idea
revenue
of what they were committing themselves to ou account of the railway, because, incidentally, the Colonial
is affected by the interest charges on the capital sum expended on the railway That is so, and if it is possible, at the time when the estimates are brought forward, to give some indication of what might have to be spent ou the coming year, that will certainly be done. In this particular case I have pointed out that the only sum out of the $1,100,000 approved of that was known to be necessary when the estimates were under consideration in October, 1913, was the sum for the Kowloon Railway Station. All the other items have arisen since, as there was necessity for them. I now beg to move the resolution.
HIS EXCELLENCY The point which the hon. member has drawn attention to will be borne in mind. That is all the business. There will not be another meeting until the New Year, and i there- fore wish you all a happy and prosperous one. Council stands adjourned sine die.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee followed, the COLONIAL SECRETARY presid-
ing.
Judicial and Legal
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of 8250 in aid of the vote Judicial and Legal Departments, D.— THE COLONIAL TREASURER second- Attorney-General, Other Charges, Inci- ed.
dental Expenses.
HON. MR. HEWETT-I should like to say one or two words in reply to what the Colonial Secretary said just now. The point I raised at the last meeting was it was in Committee that it was just as necessary for the authorities In charge of the British section of the Kowloon-Canton Railway, as for any other business undertaking, to pre pare the estimates in advance and thus give some indication of the amounts which may have to be expended during the year.
I quite understood that it was the capital account which was affected, and that this amount had nothing to do with the Colonial vote. But it did not seem to us (the unofficial members) that there was any reason why the railway authorities should not have prepared the estimates in advance and put their figures before this Council. As it is necessary for a business man to give a forecast of the possible expenditure during the next twelve months, so it is equally necessary for the Government, when placing the Budget before us, to show what they pro- pose to spend and hope to gain during the next twelve months. It seemed to me unbusinesslike that this money should have been asked for at the last moment, not only the $80,000 odd on the railway station, but also that the rest of these three and a half lakhs would probably be expended during the current year. That
was the whole of my point.
THE CHAIRMAN-This is a special charge owing to pressure of work which has taken place in the Attorney-General's It was thought desirable department. that assistance should be obtained in framing certain legislation which it was desirable to bring before the Council at an early date. It is a fee which has to be paid for the preparation of legislation, and it is desirable that it should be paid before the end of the year. The work has been done, and the Bill, which has been prepared, will be brought before Council. THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL-It is one Bill and a set of regulations.
Police and Prison
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of six thousand six hundred and eighty-four dollars and twenty-eight cents ($8,684.28) in aid of the following
votes:-
A.-Police, Other Charges. Clothing and Accoutrements Launches and Boats-Repairs Light
Passages and Bonuses Small Stores
$1,402.57 2,666.72
610.53
1,077.55
36.40
B-Fire Brigade, Other Charyes
Stores
891.5.1
Total
$6,684.28
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
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and the extra punkab pullers cease, THE CHAIRMAN-This hos been
cost for current is very little. "Passages brought forward at a very late moment.
and bonuses : This is due to more As to "Clothing and Accoutrements recruits being engaged from England and $1,402.57"; This is due to the increase
more married men going Home on leave in the price of materials and the low than was anticipated when the estimates
rere drawn up. exchange, and also the providing of
The charge for stores accoutrements for the Special Constables. for the Fire Brigade is due to 1,500 feet It was expenditure which could not be of hose being ordered urgently from foreseen. "The second item, Launches England. It is for the float.
and boats, repairs, $2,665.72": This vote includes a sum of $1,225 for alter- ing & launch which was chartered to replace No. 2 launch. This launch was past repair, and has since been sold. There were also repairs to certain other launches. When these launches come in for repairs it is frequently found, when the boilers are lifted out, that great deal more has to be done than had
estimated for. The account of light is really not for light,
account but chiefly on
of installing fans in various police stations in place of punkahs. As a matter of fact, there is a saving really, because the wages of the
been
excess
OD
THE CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE-It is chiefly due to the big fire at Laichikok when hose was destroyed by the fire.
Council then resumed.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY-Sir, I beg to state that Financial Minutes Nos. 93 and 94 bave been agreed to by the Finance Committee, and I move that they be adopted.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER second- ed, and this was agreed to.