3
256
38
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
erection of the Law Courts, has recently Superinten less been invalided out of the service, and Forestry Department those nearer the se will not return to the Colony. enquiry without his presence as a witness into good specimens.
An being wind-swept were not likely to gras is not possible, and in these circumstances sented by the Director of Public Works I do not propose to ask the Committee to
(b) It was repe- hold any further enquiry.
that the trees being in the middle of the without hope that delays such as occurred central portion of the roadway in oper I am not road rendered it difficult to keep the in the case of the building referred to repair, as it was impossible to r the will not be repeated.
surfacing material in conjunction with The view of Queen Victoria's Statue and that of the side portions of the rod. (^) of the Square as a whole, owing to the trees being in the middle of the road, was much obscured, both from Chater Road THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by planting at the sides of the rods in Royal
and the South side. command of H.E. the Governor, laid on Square flowering trees which will not The question of the table the report of the Finance Com-attain much size is now under considera- mit (No. 3), and moved that it be tion. It is not proposed to remove any adopted.
more trees in the vicinity of Royal Square at present.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER second- ed, and the motion was agreed to.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER second- ed, and the motion was agreed to.
The Removal of Trees from Royal Square
THE HON MR. HEWETT, in the ab- sence of the Hon. Mr. Pollock, asked the questiona stan ing in Mr. Pollock's name.
The first two were:-
(1.)-By whose orders were certain trees in Royal quare, which have been growing there for many years past, cut down on the 9th March and for
what reason (2.)-Will the Government take prompt Action to prevent the further cut ting down of trans in that vicinity? THE COLONIAL SECRETARY replied -His Excellency the Governor, acting on the advice of the Executiv Council, gave orders for the trees in Real Square to be removed. There were altogether, eight in Chater Road, seven ixteen trees to the West of Queen Victor's Statue and one to the East, and eight Wardley Street, three to the North and Ive to the South of the Statue. caused the Government to remove e trees The reasons which were three in number:-(a) The trees were not of a suitable kind for an an exposed spot as Royal Square. Xome
were Aleurites or Candle-nut trees and others-and these the poorer specimen Celtis. As the result of more than ta years' growth only a few of them ha
The Privet Shrub and Hay Fever Mr. Pollock's next question was:-
In view of the fact that the polien from the flowering privat tends to induce coughing and catarrb, will the Government take steps to exter- minate the rivet shrub in the vicinity of dwelling-houses in the Island of Hongkong and in Kow- toon?
plied:-
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY
re-
meat that in Hongkong the flowering There is no efidence before the Govern- privet causes that is popularly known as hay fever. Of the other hand, there are many other plants flowering in Hong- kong, notably roses, which are well-known bo induce the affection referred to. The Government is therefore as at present which, ift induces hay-fever, is only one advised ng prepared to destroy one plant of many which are credited with the same result.
The Fursing Staff at Government Civil Hospital
M Pollock's fourth question was:-
Was any written representation sent in by the Nurses on the Staff of the Government Civil Hospital to the Principal Civil Modical Officer last summer upon the subject of the insuficiones in mumbark of the
B
Proceedings in Finance to
The Law Court Buildings
mitter
His Excellency the Governor recom mended the Council to vote a $18,505, in aid of the voto Public Works, !
Bum of Extraordinary, Hongkong,
New Law Courts:-
(a.)-Award in connection with
the contracts for the construction
Buildings,
$18,505.00
(b.)-Fee for Arbitrator of
same
2,000.00
$18,505.00 HON. MR. HEWETT asked that this minute should stand over for further consideration.
THE CHAIRMAN-You will see the award of the arbitrator is $16,505, as opposed to the claim of the contractor for
much greater amount.
HON. MR. HEWETT-We recognise that the claim and the vote have to be paid. At the same time, we should like to have an opportunity of stating our views, as his Excellency has expressed a pious hope that members will make such observations as occur to them. A fortnight more cannot do much harm, and I move that the matter stand over for that time.
HON. MR. WEI YUK seconded,
A division was taken, the voting being as follows:-
AYES: Hon. Mr. Lau Chu Pak, Hon. Mr. Shellim, Hon. Mr. Hewett and Hon. Mr. Wei Yuk.
Nors:-The Captain Superintendent of Police, the Colonial Treasurer, the Attorney-General, the Director of Public Works as the Chairman.
The motion for an adjournment was declared lost.