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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
whole work has now been completed at a total cost of $124,000, $36,000 below the estimate; but under expenditure on the $140,000 approved in 1931 has resulted in an excess of $15,000 over the $20,000 approved for 1932.
The approval of the Council for the over expenditure of $150,000 in 1932 is requested to regularise the account.
I therefore move the motion standing in my name:-
"That with reference to the Colonial Secretary's motion passed on the 10th December, 1931, this Council approves of the additional expenditure of $15,000 on the filters in connection with the Shing Mun Valley Water Supply Scheme, during the financial year 1932, which sum shall be met from a future loan and shall meanwhile be charged as an advance from the surplus balances of the Colony."
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the resolution was agreed to.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY. Honourable members are aware of the discussions and negotiations connected with the Shing Mun Valley Water Supply Scheme and as they have consistently and very strongly pressed for the construction of the Gorge Valley Dam, I have no doubt that they will readily approve of the first part of this Resolution. It becomes necessary to put the matter on a proper footing by means of this formal resolution.
Certain charges have already been incurred in connection with the Gorge Valley Dam which it is desirable to bring into this year's account. They include the consultants' fees for work already done and the cost of certain borings which were made on their advice. Further the Government has been in communication with Messrs. Sir Alexander Binnie Son & Deacon (who will directly undertake the work of the construction of the Dam) with a view to ascertaining the possibility of carrying out preliminary works before the arrival of their own engineers. Only one such work is possible, the making of the approach road, and the work that can be done in this connection will not exceed in cost the sum of $40,000. The second part of the resolution regularises the expenditure of these three sums, Consultants' fees $25,000, boring $10,000, approach road $40,000, making the total of $75,000 on account of 1932 for which your approval is sought.
I therefore move:-
(a) That this Council approves the construction of the works connected with the Shing Mun Valley Water Supply Scheme, 2nd Section, at an estimated cost of $9,200,000.