(2)
be more stated than simply "$10,000 from the Special Fund." I think we should have some little tables in connection with it. The Central School is not mentioned in the estimates, I presume on account of its not being supposed the building will be required next year, or, it may be, a supplementary vote is intended. But I hope there will not be any great delay in something being undertaken. I am sure the community view, with considerable anxiety, the length of time that has elapsed without anything being done to improve the condition of that school. It is understood to be ill ventilated and unhealthy. I have often heard the sympathy of the community expressed for both the teachers and those taught that no better provision was made for their comfort.
There is no mention in the estimates, your Excellency, with regard to Fire Tanks and provision for the better suppression of fires, in the event of such disasters as we have had. We have had experience in the past, and I would have liked to see some statement on that subject; and that brings me to the larger question of water supply, than which I am not aware of anything more deserving of consideration. There is not an adequate supply of water for the growing population of this Colony, and it is most important that where such a vital necessity as water is concerned we should look ahead. Waterworks to be made on an adequate scale cannot be quickly constructed. They will take a long period. I am not aware how long, but I don't think eighteen months or two years would see them completed; consequently, we should make some step in the way of obtaining what is so desirable.
I think, too, in considering the medical portion of the estimates, that it would have been of interest if the Colonial Surgeon's report had been in the hands of the members of Council and also in possession of the public. It has not yet been published.
I come now, Sir, to what I call the accumulating surpluses of the Colony. It is nice to have them, but I, for one, do not consider it is desirable that taxes should be maintained in order to have them. It would be well that taxation should be reduced when the taxation is known to be on a firm basis and adequate to provide a revenue to meet the expenditure. Nothing but what is needed should be withdrawn from the taxpayers. To have a small surplus is very desirable. To have large surpluses accumulating for the miserable pittance of five per cent. is not good, as I view it, for the general interests of the Colony. The lighter taxation is, the more prosperous people are likely to be. It is well to have these surpluses. No one can find fault with them, and I can only hope that either in water supply or some other outlay the sums may be invested in such a manner as to compensate the taxpayers for not having the money in their own pockets instead of in the Treasury.
very
His EXCELLENCY—Gentlemen, I feel obliged to my honourable friend for having congratulated the Council on what he has been good enough to describe as the satisfactory state of the colonial finances. I concur with him also in thinking that the revenue of the Colony indicates commercial prosperity. So far, therefore, upon the broad question with which this bill deals, none of us—you who assist me or I myself who have the greater responsibility in controlling the expenditure of the Colony—have any cause to complain of the present position of our finances.
With respect to the remarks of my honourable friend upon...
(3)
I received from Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH in 1879, he enclosed for my consideration the following letter, which is from the Royal Society. It is signed by Mr. WARREN DE LA RUE, for the Kew Committee.
"I am instructed by the Kew Committee of the Royal Society to request that you will bring to the notice of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State, the favourable position occupied by the Colony of Hongkong for certain physical observations, especially with regard to the typhoons of the China seas, on Meteorology generally, and on Terrestrial Magnetism, with a view to a communication and of an effort to induce the Government of that Colony to support for a limited term of years an Observatory provided with self-recording instruments.
"Her Majesty's Government have already shown so warm an interest in the promotion of physical research, in connection with the Observatory of the Mauritius, that it is hardly necessary for the Kew Committee to do more than point out to you the extreme importance of obtaining accurate records of the Magnetic and Meteorological conditions of the China seas.
"Our knowledge of these facts is, at present, but scanty. The existing Observatories at which continuous observations are taken on the Eastern Coast of Asia and the adjacent islands are—Batavia, lat. 6 deg. 11 min. S., long. 106 deg. 40 min. E., supported by Holland. Manila, lat. 14 deg. 53 min. N., long. 120 deg. 52 min. E., Society of Jesus. Zi Ka Wei (Shanghai), lat. 31 deg. 13 min. N., long. 121 deg. 27 min. E., Society of Jesus. Peking, lat. 39 deg. 53 min. N., long. 116 deg. 29 min. E., the Russian Embassy.
4
Hongkong, lat. 22 deg. 15 min. N., long. 114 deg. 12 min. E., which divides the distance between Manila and Zi Ka Wei, would form a most valuable addition to the above list.
The India Office have recently reconstituted the Meteorological system of Hindostan on a very extensive scale, and the Committee beg to forward herewith a letter from Mr. BLANFORD, the chief of that organization, in which he states very clearly the great advantages which would accrue, especially to Meteorology, from such a measure as the establishment of an Observatory at Hongkong.
"The Committee estimate the cost of instrumental outfit at about £1,000.
"The expenses of maintenance for chemicals and illumination (Gas or Paraffin) would amount in this country to about £100 a year.
"The staff required would be a Superintendent, with two or three Assistants.
The Committee are not in a position to say what salaries would be required at Hongkong for such officials, but the subordinate duties being such as intelligent non-commissioned officers of the army have before been found competent to perform, they need not be very high.
"The Committee would therefore venture to hope that the Colonial Office will be pleased to forward this suggestion to the proper quarter, with such recommendations on the subject as they are led to anticipate from the interest in the promotion of Science so frequently evinced by your Department; and which Governor POPE HENNESSY is so well qualified to appreciate."
In writing to Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH on the 20th November, 1879, I said—
"I have read with much interest Mr. WARREN DE LA RUE's letter enclosed in your despatch No. 105 of August last, suggesting on behalf of the Royal Society the establishment of an Observatory in this Colony, more especially with reference to Meteorology and Terrestrial Magnetism. As you were good enough to say that I might consider this question when bringing the finances of the Colony before you, I have done so, and I venture earnestly to support Mr. DE LA RUE's suggestions, on local as well as on Imperial grounds.
"Two...
as to the deficit I found here on my arrival in April, 1877, it may, of course, be possible in any Colony where a deficit is discovered to point to the fact that a portion of the expenditure of the preceding year was laid out on the purchase of something which would actually remain in the Colony. For instance, a very large deficit has been discovered in the finances of India, and if we were to be told that a considerable sum had been laid out on public works, it would be true, but it would be no answer to the statement that in conducting your finances you are to avoid a deficit. Whatever sum you lay out should be met by the revenue of that year; otherwise there is a deficit.
My honourable friend referred also to the views entertained with respect to the question of the sale of land. I am sure, coming from my honourable friend, the views he expressed are well worthy of our consideration. There is no doubt whatever that the sale of land in this Colony ought, a priori, to lead to the building of houses and to an increase of revenue indirectly, but I should like to ask my honourable friend, whether in the history of Hong Kong it has ever come to pass that land sales have taken place and that large quantities of land have been purchased, and that those large quantities of land have been held by land speculators to this moment unbuilt?
That which would be of no very great moment in a large Colony is a serious thing in a little island like this, and if the Surveyor General were to turn to his books now and find out for us the lots of land purchased both in the East and West ends of this town and remaining idle—some purchased, I think, by honourable friends of mine sitting at the table; others purchased by the gentlemen who, in the exercise of their own business, have chosen to do so (and they are fully entitled to do it)—we should see that many lots purchased years ago are lying perfectly idle.
When the question, furthermore, is raised, how is it that house-rent is so dear, it is not the Government that is to blame. We have very few building sites in this Colony. The land has passed from the Crown into the hands of private individuals, and I have no power to compel them to build houses on the land. They pay a modicum of rent; they comply with the trust of their deeds; and there, as far as we are concerned, the matter ends. If, for public purposes, I require land, I can, under our Ordinances, reclaim it, but I cannot compel any of these gentlemen to build houses.
At the same time, I must again repeat that my honourable friend's eminent position as a business man entitles any remarks he makes on this subject to the very best consideration of the Council.
Now, with respect to the expenditure, my honourable friend has pointed out that in the Estimates, as they were submitted to the Finance Committee, and as they are now before the Council, there are several omissions. But before referring to the omissions, and very important ones they were to which my honourable friend alluded, —I will say a word on the question of the Time Ball and Observatory. The vote I have taken for that is $10,000. In a despatch years ago, in the first Estimates I prepared in Hongkong, I took the liberty of including a sum of $5,000 for an Observatory and Time Ball. Further consideration has convinced me that, "in addition to what may be necessary for securing an accurate Time Ball, we ought to have in this Colony a thoroughly efficient means of recording such physical observations as Mr. DE LA RUE refers to.
"If, therefore, you will approve of my doing so, I should be glad to submit to the Finance Committee a vote of ten thousand dollars for a general scientific Observatory. I believe such a vote would be cheerfully supported by the majority of the Legislative Council, and that there would be no difficulty in including it in a supplementary Estimate for 1880."
"no...
Well, gentlemen, in reply to that despatch of mine the Secretary of State authorised me to deal with the question in the Estimates that are now before you, and I have acted on that authority. With re—
Page 382
1
(2)
be more stated than simply "$10,000 from the Special Fund." I think we should have some little tables in connection with it. The Central School is not mentioned in the estimates, I presume on account of its not being supposed the building will be required next year, or, it may be, a supple- mentary vote is intended. But I hope there will not be any great delay in something being under- taken. I am sure the community view, with considerable anxiety, the length of time that has elapsed without anything being done to improve the condition of that school. It is understood to be ill venti- lated and unhealthy. I have often heard the sympathy of the community expressed for both the teachers and those taught that no better provision was made for their comfort. There is no mention in the estimates, your Excellency, with regard to Fire Tanks and provision for the better suppression We have had experience in the past, and I of fires, in the event of such disasters as we have had. would have liked to see some statement on that subject; and that brings me to the larger question of water supply, than which I am not aware of anything more deserving of consideration. There is not an adequate supply of water for the growing population of this Colony, and it is most important that where such a vital necessity as water is concerned we should look ahead. Waterworks to be made on an adequate scale cannot be quickly constructed. They will take a long period. I am not aware how long, but I don't think eighteen months or two years would see them completed; consequently, we I think, too, in considering the should make some step in the way of obtaining what is so desirable. medical portion of the estimates, that it would have been of interest if the Colonial Surgeon's report had been in the hands of the members of Council and also in possession of the public. It has not yet been published. I come now, Sir, to what I call the accumulating surpluses of the Colony. It is nice to have them, but I for one do not consider it is desirable that taxes should be maintained in order to have them. It would be well that taxation should be reduced when the taxation is known to be on a firm basis and adequate to provide a revenue to meet the expenditure. Nothing but what is needed should be withdrawn from the taxpayers. To have a small surplus is very desirable. To have large surpluses accumulating for the miserable pittance of five per cent. is not good, as I view it, for the gencral interests of the Colony. The lighter taxation is, the more prosperous are people likely to be. It is well to have these surpluses. No one can find fault with them, and I can only hope that either in water supply or some other outlay the sums may be invested in such a manner as to compensate the taxpayers for not having the money in their own pockets instead of in the Treasury.
very
His EXCELLENCY-Gentlemen, I feel obliged to my honourable friend for having congratulated the Council on what he has been good enough to describe as the satisfactory state of the colonial finances. I concur with him also in thinking that the revenue of the Colony indicates commercial prosperity. So far, therefore, upon the broad question with which this bill deals, none of us--you who assist me or I myself who have the greater responsibility in controlling the expenditure of the Colony-have any cause to With respect to the remarks of my honourable friend complain of the present position of our finances.
upon.
(3)
I received from Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH in 1879, he enclosed for my consideration the following ter, which is from the Royal Society. It is signed by Mr. WARREN DE LA RUE, for the Kew Committee.
"I am instructed by the Kew Committee of the Royal Society to request that you will bring to the notice of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State, the favourable position occupied by the Colony of Hongkong for certain physical observations, especially with regard to the typhoons of the China seas, on Meteorology generally, and on Terrestrial Magnetism, with a view to a communication Governor POPE HENNESSY and of an effort to induce the Government of that Colony to support for a limited term of years an Observatory provided with self-recording instruments.
"Her Majesty's Government have already shown so warm an interest in the promotion of physical research, in connection with the Observatory of the Mauritius, that it is hardly necessary for the Kew Committee to do more than point out to you the extreme importance of obtaining accurate records of the Magnetic and Meteorological conditions of the China seas.
"Our knowledge of these facts is, at present, but scanty. The existing Observatories at which continuous observations are taken on the Eastern Coast of Asia and the adjacent islands are-Batavia, Fist. 6 deg. 11 min. S., long. 106 deg. 40 min. E., supported by Holland. Manila, lat. 14 deg, 53 min. N., long. 120 deg. 52 min. E., Society of Jesus. Zi Ka Wei (Shanghai), lat. 31 deg, 13 min. N., long. 121 deg. 27 min. E., Society of Jesus. Peking, lat. 39 deg. 53 min. N., long. 116 deg. 29 Fain. E., the Russian Embassy.
4
Hongkong, lat. 22 deg. 15 min. N., long. 114 deg, 12 min. E., which divides the distance between Manila and Zi Ka Wei, would form a most valuable addition to the above list.
The India Office have recently reconstituted the Meteorological system of Hindostan on a very extensive scale, and the Committee beg to forward herewith a letter from Mr. BLANFORD, the chief of that organization, in which he states very clearly the great advantages which would accrue, especially to Meteorology, from such a measure as the establishment of an Observatory at Hongkong.
"The Committee estimate the cost of instrumental outfit at about £1,000.
"The expenses of maintenance for chemicals and illumination (Gas of Paraffin) would amount in this country to about £100 a year.
"The staff required would be a Superintendent, with two or three Assistants.
The Committee
are not in a position to say what salaries would be required at Hongkong for such officials, but the subordinate duties being such as intelligent non-commissioned officers of the have before been
army found competent to perform, they need not be very high.
"The Committee would therefore venture to hope that the Colonial Office will be pleased to for- "ward this suggestion to the proper quarter, with such recommendations on the subject as they are led to anticipate from the interest in the promotion of Science so frequently evinced by your Depart- ment; and which Governor POPE HENNESSY is so well qualified to appreciate."
In writing to Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH on the 20th November, 1879, I said—-
"I have read with much interest Mr. WARREN DE LA RUE's letter enclosed in your despatch No. 105 of August last, suggesting on behalf of the Royal Society the establishment of an Observatory in his Colony, more especially with reference to Meteorology and Terrestrial Magnetism. As you were good enough to say that I might consider this question when bringing the finances of the Colony *before you,
I have done so, and I venture earnestly to support Mr. DE LA RUE's suggestions, on local as well as on Imperial grounds.
"Two
a
as to the deficit I found here on my arrival in April, 1877, it may, of course, be possible in any Colony where a deficit is discovered to point to the fact that a portion of the expenditure of the preceding year was laid out on the purchase of something which would actually remain in the Colony. For instance, a very large deficit has been discovered in the finances of India, and if we were to be told that a con- siderable sum had been laid out on public works, it would be true, but it would be no answer to the statement that in conducting your finances you are to avoid a deficit. Whatever sum you lay out should be met by the revenue of that year; otherwise there is a deficit. My honourable friend referred also to the views entertain with respect to the question of the sale of land. I am sure, coming from There is no doubt my honourable friend, the views he expressed are well worthy of our consideration. whatever that the sale of land in this Colony ought, a priori, to lead to the building of houses and to an in- crease of revenue indirectly, but I should like to ask my honourable friend, whether in the history of Hong kong it has ever come to pass that land sales have taken place and that large quantities of land have been purchased, and that those large quantities of land have been held by land speculators to this moment unbuilt That which would be of no very great moment in a large Colony is a serious thing in a little island like this, and if the Surveyor General were to turn to his books now and find out for us the lots of land purchased both in the East and West ends of this town and remaining idle-some purchased, I think, by honourable friends of mine sitting at the table; others purchased by the gentle men who, in the exercise of their own business, have chosen to do so (and they are fully entitled to do it)-we should see that many lots purchased years ago are lying perfectly idle. When the questionFurthermore, the clearness of the atmosphere at certain seasons would admit of a valuable record is raised, how is it that house-rent is so dear, it is not the Government that is to blame. We have very few building sites in this Colony. The land has passed from the Crown into the hands of pricum individuals, and I have no power to compel them to build houses on the land. They pay a modicum of rent; they comply with the trust of their deeds; and there, as far as we are concerned, the matter ends. If, for public purposes, I require land, I can, under our Ordinances, reclaim it, but I cannot At the same time, I must again repeat that my compel any of these gentlemen to build houses. honourable friend's eminent position as a business man entitles any remarks he makes on this subject to the very best consideration of the Council. Now, with respect to the expenditure, my honourable friend has pointed out that in the Estimates, as they were submitted to the Finance Committee, and as they are now before the Council, there are several omissions. But before referring to the omissions, and very important ones they were to which my honourable friend alluded, --I will say a word on the question of the Time Ball and Observatory. The vote I have taken for that is $10.000. In a despatch
years ago, in the first Estimates I prepared in Hongkong, I took the liberty of including sum of $5,000 for an Observatory and Time Ball. Further consideration has convinced me that," "in addition to what may be necessary for securing an accurate Time Ball, we ought to have in this Col- ony a thoroughly efficient means of recording such physical observations as Mr. DE LA RUE refers to.
competent observers.
king made of sun spots. Incidentally, such questions as the tides and the varying temperature in the sea surrounding Hongkong, the remarkable disintegration of the granite which can be noticed almost from day to day in the island and in British Kowloon, and certain extremely slight, but not unfrequently occurring earthquake phenomena would probably be deserving also of the attention of "If, therefore, you will approve of my doing so, I should be glad to submit to the Finance "Committee a vote of ten thousand dollars for a general scientific Observatory. I believe such a vote would be cheerfully supported by the majority of the Legislative Council, and that there would be
difficulty in including it in a supplementary Estimate for 1880.”
"no
Well, gentlemen, in reply to that despatch of mine the Secretary of State authorised me to deal with the question in the Estimates that are now before you, and I have acted on that authority. With re-
382
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.