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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
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Council. It has recently taken over month for an application to erect a cover- ing to a motor pump in a private lane which is also a cul-de-mic to come before the Council and, 50 far 48 I know, it has not reached there yet. I do not think the Public Works Committee could quite deal with these matters because un- less there happens to be a member of the Council with techoi d knowledge, and conversant with
ance, the opinion of the Director of Public Works would carry too much weight.
his
has ever been a time when there have been so many building sites in process of being dealt with. The number, in the last three months, is double that in any other previous three months in the history of the Colony, and sometimes one lot repre- sents twenty-five houses. With regard to building plans being submitted, we are undoubtedly under-staffed and the officer in charge is over-worked. I may say Building Ordin-work is not rendered less by any little evasions that appear on plans sent in. I know architects have a right to do the best they can for their clients, but the staff has to look to the interests of the community to see that these evasions do not take place. We have also, very often, to see that the land proposed to be built he is proposing to build on someone else's. on is actually the man's own; sometimes
totally unallowable and the plans are sent Then again, something is sent in which is back and the architect sends in the plans again and says, "Perhaps they won't and back they go again, and so on, the present time there are more new build- ings and than ever in the history of the Colony new roads being constructed
and never has the work gone through in quicker time.
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS- I should like to make a few remarks upon the general criticisms that have been pass- ed upon the Public Works Department. As to the motor pump mentioned by Mr. Bird there has not been a minute's delay because the pump was erected before the
matter
notice it this time." We do notice it.
At
ever got to the Council.- (Laughter). With regard to the staffing of th office 1 may say that the Colony has always been going ahead quicker than the staff had been able to keep up with it. The staff to-day is double what it was four or five years ago, and, even so. it is not up to the work. There is no town that has gone ahead like this, or one that presents greater difficulties to con- tend with. Also I may say, that even if
H.E. THE GOVERNOR--I do not wish to we have a larger staff we have no accom-
say anything to prejudice the decision modation for them: the office is congesteding that I have been myself a member, of the committee but I cannot resist say- everywhere; if you give us permission for president or secretary of many committees ten more men we could not find room for and I have never yet found a committee them, With regard to decentralisation there is no one more anxious to decen of five or six persons which did work in tralise than myself. As far as I can, 1
less time than one man did it. If six leave matters to the heads of departments will take at least six times as long as people are going to examine plans it and content myself with minuting them and forwarding them, but to gather up However,
the Director of the Public Works taken. important matters in my own hands is appointing a committee and suggest the I have much pleasure in absolutely essential. With regard plans for building before I took charge,
members be the Director of Public Works, 1 had established systems that directly Bird.
Hover of the resolution and Mr. the engineer had finished a road I got him to indicate possible sites on the roads. and for the last two or three years we have had plans to refer to the Govern- ment as early as possible for them to reserve plots and for the others to be put
up
to
to the public. The worst of it is people in Hongkong always want "spurs" and all kinds of places where no water pipes had been laid. It is not like towns at home where sites are regular. We are already dealing with many modifications that I hope will tend to bring lots for sale on the market quicker but. at the present moment, I do not suppose there
the
The Supplementary Appropriation
Ordinance
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY I beg to move the first reading of the Bill to authorise the appropriation of a supplementary vote of $1.457.784.74 to defray charges for 7 the year. 1920. I regret that this Bill has come forward rather later in the year than usual. The amount to be provided under this Bill is considerably less than it has been during the last few years. I think I need only refer to the
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changed and that rate is too low. It in proposed, therefore, to delete the maximum and leave the rate unrestricted. Clause 3 cor- ance. rects a slight mistake in the principal Ordin- section 13-provides that funds for the The section which it amends- payment of interest shall be to meet the interest on all outstanding set aside debentures. outstanding, have ceased to carry in- Sonne debentures, though
tion, although redemption has not been terest because the time has come for redemp- claimed. This clause will provide that funds respect of debentures which to pay interest need only be provided in Under Charit-standing and
three items which make up the bulk of the sum required. The first is Miscel- laneous Services $742.979. This may prac- tically be stated to be the balance between the million dollars which the Colony voted to the University of Hongkong and a sum of over $300,000, that was realised by the sale of rice. That sale of rice reduced the loss under all transactions in rice from August. 1919, up to the end of the Rice Ordinance, to the sum of rather over $2,700.000. Under Police and Prison Department there is a large supplement ary vote of $378.000, due not only to the considerable increase of salaries, but the high cost of equipment. able Services, the sum of $100.000 was voted by this Council towards the relief of the famine in China. I move the first reading.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER second- ed, and the motion was carried. The Bill was read a first time.
General Loan and Inscribed Stock Ordinance
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled, An Ordinance to amend the General Loan and Inscrib- ed Stock Ordinance, 1913.
state:-
The" Objects and Reasons " This Bill is introduced on instructions from the Secretary of State for the Colonies in order to bring our existing loan legislation into line with present day requirements.”
He said: That Ordinance deals with the questions of loans raised in England and does not apply, of course, to loans raised locally, With regard to loans raised in England, it supplies a skeleton form and lays down terms and conditions of such loans to be raised for the Colony in England. Two kinds of loans are authorised; one, raised by the issue of debentures, and the other, loans raised by the issue of inscribed stock. The Bill proposes to make few small changes in the principal Ordinance which lapse of time has rendered necessary. Clauses 2, 3, and 4 refer to the debenture form of loan, and clauses 5 and 6 to the inscribed stock form of loan. Clause ? amends section 6 of the principal Ordi- That section provides that the interest to be charged on debenture loan is to be 5 per cent. per annum. Unfortunately, times have
nance. maximum
a
are
out-
on which liability to with the sinking fund to be provided interest has not ceased. Clause 4 deals
for the redemption of the debenture loan. The section of the principal Ordinance amended by clause 4 lays down that the amount to be set aside each half year for the sinking fund shall be not less than one half per cent. on the total nominal value of the debenture issued. The clause in this Bill proposes to remove that restriction and it provides that in future the amount to be set aside for the sinking fund shall be such amount as may be specified in the pros- pectus of the loan or the terms of issue. Clause 5 deals with the maximum in- cipal Ordinance the maximum is 4 per terest of inscribed stock. Under the prin-
that maximum and, in fact, to provide cent. This clause proposes to abolish that there be no statutory maximum at all. Clause 6 deals with the sinking fund for the redemption of inscribed stock and is similar to the provisions of clause 4 which deals with the sinking of the deben-
ture loan.
and the Bill was read a first time.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded,
Praya East Reclamation Ordinance
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled, An Ordinance foreshore and sea bed off Praya East, to provide for the reclamation of the Victoria, in the Colony of Hongkong.
The "Objects and Reasons state:- 1. The object of this bill is to legalise and to provide for the Praya East Re- clamation Scheme.
2.-It seems unnecessary to go into details because the bill represents the