Enclosure 8
MEMORANDUM by the undersigned unofficial members of the Legislative Council of Hong-kong regarding the estimates for Public Works Extraordinary for 1891.
In connection with the estimates for 1890 the Right Honourable the Secretary of State, Lord Knutsford, addressed a most important despatch to the Government dated 18th April last. We are fully convinced of the appropriateness of Lord Knutsford's views and opinions therein expressed and that they apply with equal if not greater force to the estimates for 1891. So much so that we desire to draw particular attention to the concluding paragraphs of the said despatch.
Para. 11 reads:-
"I do not wish to imply any doubt that the colony, provided the revenue continues to remain expansive, can afford to construct in a substantial way many public works of which there is pressing necessity; but the way in which the estimates have been framed of late years seems to indicate a tendency to initiate numerous works on a perhaps unnecessarily liberal scale, without due regard to the capabilities of the Public Works Department, the relative importance of the works, and the possibility of defraying the total expenditure to which the colony will thus be ultimately committed."
Para. 12 reads:-
"I shall be glad to receive at an early date an accurate statement showing all the public works which are in contemplation, with the estimated cost of each, the amount spent on each up to the 31st December last, and the amount which it may reasonably be expected that the Public Works Department will be able to spend on each during the year. I need scarcely point to the futility of placing on the estimates sums largely in excess of the powers of that Department to make use of. The statement requested should include details and explanations of the item for 'Sanitary Works'; which was originally $1,500,000 (of which about $500,000 has been spent), and as to which no information has ever reached me. The public works to which the colony is actually committed should be distinguished, and a statement made as to the comparative urgency of all. It seems that even if funds are forthcoming it will take many years to carry out the programme now contemplated, and unless some works are altogether postponed others of pressing necessity must be delayed."
And Para. 13 reads:
"Pending the receipt of the information above asked for, I limit my approval to those works to which the colony is already committed, and to those which are deemed to be of urgent necessity."
In the minute of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government on the estimates for 1891, dated 20th October last, paragraph 7 reads.
"The revised estimated ordinary expenditure for 1891 is $1,674,780; the estimated extraordinary expenditure $920,279, instead of $804,279 as stated by the Officer Administering the Government a short time ago, some omissions having been made in the draft estimates as originally prepared. This makes a total expenditure of $2,595,039. Instead therefore of having a balance of $46,000 on hand at the end of 1891 there is an estimated deficit of about $100,000.
"But the greatest increase in expenditure is caused by that estimated as necessary for Public Works.
"As a proof of the continued increase of expenditure under this head, it is worthy of remark that in the year 1875 the amount expended on the Surveyor-General's Department on public works and buildings, roads, streets, bridges amounted to $169,642, whereas for 1891 the estimated sum for the Surveyor-General's, the Water and Drainage, and the Sanitary Departments amounts to no less than $920,279, while the total amount estimated for the construction of such public buildings as have actually been commenced or are in contemplation is $2,540,237, which will have to be further increased should a new gaol be constructed."
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In view of the above very clearly expressed and decided opinions of the Secretary of State regarding the estimates for 1890 and the great and growing increase of public works expenditure pointed out by H.E. the Officer Administering the Government in the minute quoted, we deeply regret the continuance of the practice, hitherto obtaining on the part of the Government when the outlay was on a limited scale, of asking for such large votes of money without providing us with more complete information and more reasonable detailed statements respecting the proposed public works than those which it has been customary to supply. Government has invited us to sanction its spending upwards of $920,000 during 1891. We seriously question whether this amount is not largely in excess of the powers and the capabilities of the Public Works Department to make proper use of. We think such sum should be voted cautiously and with great circumspection.
In addition to the information now supplied, we must desire to record our opinion that for the future before being asked to vote we should be provided with reasonably detailed statements of each of the proposed works, setting forth all the reasons which necessitate and justify the proposed expenditure; also, we think that reasonably detailed designs, drawings, and plans should in each instance be produced. All this should be done, we submit, at such a time that we may have ample and sufficient opportunity for due inspection and deliberation, and of becoming acquainted with all the reasons for sanctioning the proposed work and ascertaining the cost it is really likely to entail.
With such evidences of wastefulness and extravagance as attended the building of the Victoria College, as are connected with the building of the Civil Hospital Staff Quarters at a cost of $73,000, and seem to be attendant on the making of the foundations of the New Central Market, and for other good reasons, it is absolutely incumbent upon us to vote public moneys cautiously and with due circumspection. The resolution agreed to, after modification, by the Legislative Council on the 3rd ultimo asked for a general statement embodying reasonably detailed particulars of each proposed work and setting forth the necessity for such work, in order that the Council might know exactly why and for what they are voting the money.
The information supplied us has not in our opinion been of a sufficiently detailed nature, and we desire to express a hope that previous to being asked to vote large sums in the future all such particulars will be given as will enable us to judge of the extent and nature of the work proposed and of the cost which its completion will entail in so far as such can possibly be ascertained.
As an instance of how matters have been carried on we may be permitted to here quote an extract from the Surveyor-General's letter of 17th June last to the Acting Colonial Secretary.
"I attempted to prepare a satisfactory estimate for the new year, but failed, for the simple reason that for some of the works included in the estimates for 1889 which had to be carried on to the present year no detailed designs or estimates, so far as I can ascertain, had been prepared, and it was hopeless, without assistance, in the very limited time available before the date fixed for sending in the estimates, to prepare all the estimates and designs."
And further, the Surveyor-General's letter of 14th August last, also to the Acting Colonial Secretary. Para. 2 reads:-
"The preparation of these estimates has involved an unusual amount of labour owing to the introduction of the new form of estimate and to the practice which appears to have prevailed in the past of sanctioning and commencing works before detailed drawings and estimates have been prepared.
We earnestly and respectfully recommend that in the case of any new work proposed the Surveyor-General should in all future cases lay a statement before the Public Works Committee, giving the fullest details and estimates. The Public Works Committee would then consider...
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Enclosure 8
MEMORANDUM by the undersigned unofficial members of the Legislative Council of Hong- kong regarding the estimates for Public Works Extraordinary for 1891.
In connection with the estimates for 1890 the Right Honourable the Secretary of State, Lord Knutsford, addressed a most important despatch to the Government dated 18th April last. Wel are fully convinced of the appropriateness of Lord Kaatsford's views and opinions therein expressed and that they apply with equal if not greater force to the estimates for 1891. So much so that we desire to draw particular atten- tion to the concluding paragraphs of the said despatch.
Para, 11 reads :-
"I do not wish to imply any doubt that the colony, provided the revenue continues to re- main expansive, can afford to construct in a sub- stantial way many public works of which there is pressing necessity; but the way in which the estimates have been framed of late years seems to indicate a tendency to initiate numerous works on a porhaps annecessarily liberal scale, without dun regard to the capabilities of the Pablic Works Department, the relative import. ance of the works, and the possibility of defray. ing the total expenditure to which the colony will thus he ultimately committed.”
Para. 12 reads:-
"I shall be glad to receive at an early date au accurate statement showing all the public works which are in contemplation, with the estimated cost of each, the amount spent on each up to the 31st December last, and the amount which- it may reasonably be expected that the Public Works Department will be able to spend on oach during the year. I need scarcely point to the futility of placing on the estimates.i sums largely in excess of the powers of that Department to make use of. The statement requested should include details and explans. ations of the item for "Sanitary Works"; which was originally $1,500,000 (of which about | $500,000 has been spout), and as to which vo information has ever reached me. The public works to which the colony is sotually committed should be distinguished, and a statement made as to the comparative urgency of all. It seems that even if funds are forthcoming it will take many years to carry out the programme now contemplated, and unless some works are alto- gether postponed others of pressing hecessity must be delayed."
And Para. 13 reads:
"Pending the receipt of the information above asked for, I limit my approval to those works to which the colony is already committed, and to those which are deemed to be of urgent necessity." | In the minute of is Excellency the Officer | Administering the Government on the estimates for 1891, dated 20th October last, paragraph 7 reads.
"The revised estimated ordinary expenditure for 1891 is $1,674,780; the estimated extraor dinary expenditure $920,279, instead of $804,279 as stated by the Officer Administering the Government & short time ago, some omissions having been made in the draft estimates a originally prepared. This makes a total expen- ditare of $2,595,039. Instead therefore of having a balance of $46,000 on haud at the end of 1891 there is an estimated deficit of about $100,000.
"But the greatest increase in expenditure is caused by that estimated as necessary for Public Works.
"As a proof of the continued increase of ex- penditure under this head, it is worthy of remark that in the year 1875 the amount expended ou the Surveyor-General's Department on publis and works and buildings, roads. Atreets bridges amounted to $169,642, whereas for 1891 the estimated sum for the Surveyor-General's, the Water and Drainage, and the Sanitary De. partments amounts to no less than 3020.279, while the total amount estimated for the con- straction of such public buildings as haver actually been commenced or are in contemplation is $2.540 237, which will have to be farther in- creased should a new gaol be constructed."
on
REC
1882
REG 28 JAN 31
in view of the above very clearly expressed and decided opinions of the Secretary of State regarding the estimates for 100 and the great and growing increase of public works expendi- ture pointed out by H.E. the Officer Adminis- tering the Government in the minute quoted, we deeply regret the continuance of the practice, hitherto obtaining on the part of the Govern- | ment when the outlay was on a limited scaly, of asking for such large votes of money without providing us with more complete information and more rasonable detailed statements respect- ing the proposed public works than those which it has been customary to supply. Go- vernment has invited us to sauction its spend- ing upwards of $920.000 during 1891. We seriously question whether this amonut is not largely in excess of the powers and the capabili- ties of the Public Works Department to make proper useof. We think sneb sumsubould be voted cautiously and with great circums, ection. In addition to the information now supplied, we ruastly desire to record our opinion that for the future before being asked to vote we should be provided with reasonably detailed statements of each of the proposed works, setting forth all the reasons which necessitate and justify the proposed expenditure; also, we think that rea- sonably detailed designs, drawings, and plaus should in each instance be produced. All this should be done, we submit, at such a time that we may have ample and sufficient opportunity for due inspection and deliberation, and of be- coming acquainted with all the reasons for sano- tioning the proposed work and ascertaining the oost it is really likely to entail.
With such evidences of wastefulness and ex- travagance as attended the building of the Victoria College, as are connected with the building of the Civil Hospital Staff Quarters at a cost of $73,000, and seem to be attendant on the making of the foundations of the New Central Market, and for other good reasons, it is absolutely incumbent upon us to vote public moneys cautiously and with due circumspection. The resolution agreed to, after modification, by the Legislative Council ou the 3rd ultimo asked for a general statement embodying rea- sonably detailed particulars of each proposed work and setting forth the necessity for euch work, in order that the Council might know exactly why and for what they are voting the money.
The information supplied ns has not in our opinion been of a sufficiently detailed nature, and we desire to express a hope that previous to being asked to vote large sums in the future all such particulars will be given as will enable us to judge of the extent and nature of the work pro- posed and of the cost which its completion will en- tail in so far as such can possibly be ascertained. As an instance of how matters have been carried on we may be permitted to here quote an extract from the Surveyor-General's letter of 17th June last to the Acting Colonial Secretary. "I attempted to prepare a satisfactory es- timate for the new year, but failed. for the simple reason that for some of the works in- cluded in the estimates for 1889 which bad to be carried on to the present year no detailed de- signs or estimates, so far as I can ascertain, had boou prepared, and it was hopeless, without assistance, in the very limited time available be- fore the dato rod for sending in the estimates, to prepare all the estimates and designs.”
And further, the Surveyor-General's letter of 14th August last, also to the Acting Colonial Secretary. Para. 2 reads:--
The preparation of these extimates has in- volved an unusual amount of labour owing to the introduction of the new form of estimate and to the praction which appears to have pre- railed in the past of sanctioning aud commenc ing works before detailed drawings and estimates and been prepared.
We earnestly and respectfully recommend that in the case of any new work proposed the! Surveyor-General should in all future cases ley a statement before the Public Works Committee, giving the fullest details and estimates. The Publio Works Committes would then
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