HongKong
No 89- 1558. June 1881
Governor
Sir John Hope Hennessy. He wely.
to
Remily.
The Right Honourable
The Earl of Kimberley
Reporting motions made in the Legislative Council for introduction of Tramway Bills.
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, JUNE 14TH, 1881.
THE TRAMWAYS.
HIS EXCELLENCY-I have much satisfaction in telling you I am now going to call on the unofficial members to introduce some Bills. There has been a mistake on the notice paper, as a matter of fact the first Bill that was brought to my notice was from the Hon. Mr. Bulkeley Johnson, and I therefore call on him to move his Bill.
Hon. F. B. JOHNSON-I rise, Sir, in accordance with the notice I have given, to move for leave to introduce an Ordinance to authorise the construction of tramways in this Colony. Since I gave notice of my intention to make this motion I have heard with pleasure that a motion to a similar effect will be made by my honourable friend opposite, who is so well qualified to represent the views of the Chinese portion of the community, to whose presence in the Colony and to whose industry we are so much indebted, as your Excellency pointed out in your eloquent speech upon the Census returns, for our existing prosperity. As I feel well assured of the support also of my honourable friend the senior unofficial member to every measure of progress, I am encouraged to hope that the Council will be unanimous in affirming the principle of the Ordinance I now ask permission to introduce.
I am sure it needs no evidence or arguments from me to show that a system of improved communication and conveyance would largely benefit this Colony. It has been well said that free and unrestricted communication is the soul of industry, and I assume that general principles applicable to the rest of the world apply also to Hongkong. The experience of all large cities, of all populous communities in Europe and America, has been pronounced in favour of tramways by the unerring testimony of the almost universal adoption of the system, and it is not difficult to show that, so far from the circumstances of this Colony being any exception to the general rule, the conditions of traffic here are eminently favourable for its introduction.
For all purposes of trade the City of Victoria may be described as one long thoroughfare 3 miles in length, forming a continuous street through which there is a ceaseless flow of passenger and other traffic from early dawn until after dark. At the west end of this route is the shipping quarter with its contiguous foot of jetties, the wharves of the P. & O. Company, and the Canton and Coasting Steamboat Company; in its centre are the offices of the merchants, the public offices, the quarters of the military forces and the naval stores. At its East end is a long line of godowns terminating in what may be called the manufacturing quarter.
To keep up the communications throughout this great distance we are supplied with sedan chairs, and by that invention of a lively Japanese fancy, the enlarged perambulator, the jinricksha, that estimable "vehicle" which, as your Excellency has just told us, is to necessitate a supplementary estimate of $10,000 for repairs to our roads. It would be as absurd to argue that because we are supplied with chairs and jinrickshas we do not need tramways, as it would be to assert that because London has its four-wheeled cabs and hansoms, it does not need underground railways, omnibuses, or tramways.
I believe the present tariff for a sedan chair with two coolies from East Point to the Clock Tower is 10 cents, and for a jinricksha 6 cents to natives, something more to foreigners. The promoters of the tramway feel confident they will be able to carry passengers the same distance for 2 cents, and for the whole route 4 cents, accomplishing the entire run including stoppages in an hour, and starting cars every ten minutes. It is not necessary to enlarge upon the immense boon which a tramway under such circumstances, and affording protection from sun and rain, would afford to all classes of the community.
... Sir, laid before the Council an interesting statement showing the enormous increase of the population which has taken place during the last 4 years, and as there is every reason to believe that the increase will be progressive it seems to me high time that steps should be taken to relieve the overcrowded centre of the town by opening up communication with its extremities. It is not too much to assert that if tramways were now in operation we should see Belcher's Bay in the West and Causeway Bay in the East occupied by an industrious population, and large portions of land, now lying unproductive, contributing in Crown rents to the revenue of the Colony.
It is now eight years since a few friends and myself proposed to introduce the tramway at Shanghai, but a violent opposition was raised to the scheme and we were compelled to withdraw it. You will perhaps, Sir, be surprised to hear that the opposition did not come from the Chinese. It came from foreigners in that settlement, which is called a model one, and which claims to be the most progressive on the China Coast. We were not met by the old well-known arguments of a class interest of the most obstructive monopolists. The opposition came from the influential class who ride in carriages. Sir, I venture to say it is seldom necessary to legislate for the special interests of those who ride in carriages. They are well able to take care of themselves.
It is because I consider the introduction of tramways into this Colony will improve the value of property, facilitate trade, increase the revenue, and minister to the comfort and convenience of the great mass of the population; because, in fine, it is a good, wholesome measure, which will benefit all classes of the community, I now ask the permission of the Council to introduce the Bill.
Hon. P. RYRIE-I have much pleasure in seconding the motion. There is no necessity now to go into the merits of the different schemes, but the time has fully arrived when the idea should be carried out. I think we have a considerable amount of engineering talent in the Colony, which will be able, with the importation of material from England or America, to construct a line which will be a credit to the Colony and a boon to the great mass of inhabitants.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL explained that in the case of private Bills, before the Governor gave his sanction to them, it was necessary he should be satisfied reasonable notice had been given to the public of their introduction. It was not necessary a Bill should be read when leave was given to introduce it, and he therefore suggested that, leave having been given, the first reading should be postponed until the Council again met.
Hon. F. B. JOHNSON said he proposed to have the Bill printed and published in the Gazette and then at the first meeting of Council afterwards to propose the first reading.
His EXCELLENCY, after some remarks on the course of procedure, said-What I rise now for the purpose of doing, gentlemen, is to say at once I agree with every word my hon. friend has said. Speaking on behalf of the Government, I say I like a measure of this kind. I cannot add a single argument to those which my hon. friend has used in favour of the principle of a Bill of this sort. I am entirely in favour of it. He has made a clear and answerable statement. But I wish to add that, whilst I like the introduction of a Tramway Bill I cannot pledge the Government in any way to consent to the details of this or any other measure at this stage. I simply confine myself to saying I approve of the general principle of the measure, such as my hon. friend has described.
At our next meeting, of which due notification will be given, we will have the Bill read a first time, and in a reasonable period, as soon as possible, after consulting my advisers, we will proceed to the second reading. At this present moment I cannot say what course the Government ought to take, but will merely congratulate my hon. friend on the statement he has made and welcome the introduction of the measure.
Hon. NG CHOT -Your Excellency, I have to ask leave to introduce at the next meeting of this Council a Bill for a similar purpose. My hon. friend opposite has anticipated many of the arguments...
Page 13136
C. O. 152
One Enclosure
HongKong
No 89- 1558. June 1881
Governor
Sir John Hope Hennessy. He wely.
to
Remily.
The Right Honourable
The Earl of Kimberley
Reporting motions made in the Legislative Council for introduction of Tramway
Bills.
The Daily
Press.
HONGKONG, JUNE 14TH, 1881.
THE TRAMWAYS.
There As a
HIS EXCELLENCY-I have much satisfaction in telling you I am now going to call on the un- official members to introduce some Bills. has been a mistake on the notice paper, matter of fact the first Bill that was brought to my notice was from-the Hon. Mr. Bulkeley John- Bon, and I therefore call on him to move his Bill. Hon. F. B. JoHNSON-I rise, Sir, in accor- dance with the notice I have given, to move for leave to introduce an Ordinance to authorise the i constraction of tramways in this Colony. Since I gave notice of my intention to make this motion I have heard with pleasure that a motion to a' similar effect will be made by my honourable friend opposito, who is so well qualified to repre. sent the views of the Chiness portion of the com- manity, to whose presence in the Colony and to whose industry we are so mach indebted, as your Excellency pointed out in your eloquent speech | upon the Census ratuaras, for our existing pros- perity. As I fool well assured of the support also of my honourable friend the senior unofficial member to every measure of progress, I am encouraged to hope that the Council will be unanimous in affirming the principle of the Ordinance I now ask permission to intro- duce, I am sure it noods no evi lenes or arguments from me to show that a system of improved communication and conveyance would largely benfit this Colony. It has been well said that free and unrestricted communication is the soul of industry, and I assume that general prin- oiples applicable to the rest of the world apply! also to Hongkong. The experience of all large cities, of all popalous communities in Europe and America, has been pronounood in favour of tram- ways by the unerring testimony of the almost universal adoption of the system, and it is not difficult to show that, so far from the oizsam- stances of this Colony being any exception to the general rule, the conditions of traffic bere are eminently favourable for its introduction. For all purposes of trade the City of Vio toria may be described as one long thorough. fare 3 miles in length, forming a continu. ous street through which there is a ceaseless flow of passenger and other trallio from early dawn until after dark. At the west end of this route is the shipping quarter with its contiguous foot of jaoks, the wharves of the P. & 0. Com pany, and the Canton and Coasting Steamboat Company; in its neutre are the offices of the marchants, the public offices, the quarters of the military forces and the naval stores. At its East end is a long line of godowns terminating in what may be called the manufacturing quarter. To keep up the communications throughout this great distance we are supplied with sedan chairs, and by that invention of a lively Japanese faney, the enlarged prerambulator, the jinricksha, that estimable "rebiols which, as your Ex- oellency has just told us, is to necessitate a supplementary estimate of $10,000 for repairs to our roads. It would be as absurd to argue that { because we ara supplied with chairs and jiurick- abas we do not need tramways, as it would be to assert that because London has its four-wheeled cabs and hansomes, it does not need underground railways, omnibuses, or tramways. I believe the present tariff for a sedan chair with two coolies from East Point to the Clock Tower is 10 cents, i and for a juuricksha 6 cents to natives, some- thing more to foreigners. The promoters of the tramway feel confident they will be able to carry passengers the same distance for 2 cents, and for: the whole route 4 cents, accomplishing the entire run including stoppages in an hour, and starting oars evey ten minutes. It is not neces sary to enlarge upon the immense boon which a tramway ander such circumstances, and afford- |ing protection from sun and rain, would afford
C. O. 152 13136
REC?
to all olasses of the combat Lastwebld kou) | Sir, laid before the Council an interesting statem ment showing the enormous increase of the po- pulation which has taken place during the fast 44 years, and as there is every reason to believe that the increase will be progressive it seems to me high time that steps should be taken to re. lieve the overcrowded centre of the town by opening up communication with its extremities. It is not too much to assert that if tramways were now in operation we should see Belcher's Bay in the West and Causeway Bay in the East occupied by an industrious population, and large portions of land, now lying unproductive, contri. buting in Crown rents to the revenue of the Colony. It is now eight years since a few friends and myself proposed to introduce the tramway at Shanghai, but a violent opposition was raised to the scheme and we were compelled to withdraw it. You will perhape, Sir, be surprised to hear that the opposition did not come from the Chi- bese. It came from foreigners in that settle- ment, which is called a model one, and which claims to be the most progressive on the China Coast. We were not met by the old well-known arguments of a class interest of the most obstruo. tive monopolists. The opposition came from the influential class who ride in carriages. Sir, I venture to say it is seldom necessary to legislate for the special interests of those who ride in carriages. They are well able to take care of themselves. It is because I consider the introduction of tram- ways into this Colony will improve the value of property, facilitate trade, increase the revenue, and minister to the comfort and convenience of the great mass of the population; because, in fine, it is a good, wholesome measure, which will benefit all classes of the community, I now ask the per- mission of the Council to introduce the bill.
Hon. P. RYRIE-I have much pleasure it seconding the motion. There is no necessity now to go into the merits of the different anhomes, but the time has fully arrived when the idea should be carried out. I think we have a considerable amount of engineering talent in the Colony, which will be able, with the im. portation of material from England or Amerios, to construct a line which will be a credit to the Co- lony and a boon to the great mass of inhabitants. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL explained that in the case of private Bills, before the Governor gave his sanotion to them, it was necessary he should be satisfied reasonable notice had been given to the pubic of their introduction. It was not necessary s Bill should be read when leave was given to in- troduce it, and he therefore suggested that, leave: having been given, the first reading should be postponed until the Council again met.
Hou. F. B. JOHNSON said he proposed to have the Bill printed and published in the Gazette and then at the first meeting of Connoil afterwards! to propose the first reading.
His EXCELLENCY, after some remarks on the course of preendure, said-What I rise now for the purpose of doing, gentlemen. is to say at once I agree with every word my hon. friend has said. Speaking on behalf of the Government, I ¡ say I like a measure of this kind. I cannot add a single argument to those which my hou.friend has ased in favour of the principle of a bill of this sort. I am entirely in favour of it. He has made a clear and ausnswerable statement. BatIwastadd that, whilst I like the introduction of a Tramway Bill I cannot pledge the Government in any way to consent to the details of this or any other measure at this stage. I simply confine ayself to saying I approve of the general principle of the measure, such as my hon friend has described. At our next meeting, of which due notification will be given, we will have the Bill read a first time, and in a reasonable period, as soon as possible, after consulting my advisers, we will proceed to the second reading. At this present moment I cannot say what course the Government ought to take, but will merely congratulate my hon. friend on the statement he has made and welcome the in- troduction of the measure.
Hon. NG CHOT -Your Excellency, I have to ask leave to introduce at the next meeting of this Council a Bill for a similar purpose. My hou. friend opposite has anticipated many of the
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