HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL,
/1898,
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on 28th Feb fafternoon in the Council Chamber. Present:
XCRULENCY the ACTING GOVERNOR, Major-Geral BLACK, C.B.
HOB. J. II. STEWART LOCKHART (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. W. M. GOODMAN (Attorney-General), Hon. R. MURRAY RUMSEY (Harbour Master). Hon. F. H. MAY, U.M.G. (Captain Super. intendent of Police).
(Colonial
Hon. Treasurer),
Hou, R. D. ORMSBY (Director of Public Works).
T. SERCOMBE SMITH
Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
Hon. Ho KAI
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS.
Hon. J. J. BELL IEVING.
Hon. WE A YUK.
Mr. J. G. T. BUCKLE (Clerk of Councils). MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting werd read and confirmed.
THE NEW GOVERNOR.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Before beginning the business of the day, I may mention to you the natne of a telegram that I have received from the Secretary of State for the Colonie, in which he intimates that Sir Henry Blake will leare Angland on or about the 1st of Mayf
NANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT The COLONIAL SECRETARY submitted the Report of the Finance Committee (N. 1) and moved its adoption.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded. Carried.
THE PROPOSED NEW GOVERNMENT OFFICES.
HIS EXCELLENCY-In regard to the resolu tion of the Director of Public Works on the subject of new Government Offees, I think it is hardly sary to move the resolution again. It wa ed at the last meeting of Council and the. ore it is better just to ca-
inuo the discussion upon it.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Before the re50- ition is discussed, may I move the resolution hich stands in my name, infconnection with
new Governut Offices?/
Enclosure l.
LAND TRADE REPONT
His EXCELLENC! Will Mr. Belilios, before the Council,
The Clerk of C motion.
called for by the Secretary of State's despatch | $80,000 for the No. 126 of 5th June, 1896.” Sir, the contents square foot wort of that despatch, I feel sure, would be of verf indeed compared great interest to unofficial members. Certain valuation put u plane were prepared by the former Director of site by the hon Puble Works, which, I understand, the Com- The hon. membe. mitte appointed by Sir W. Robinson to inquire doubts in regard into the question, condemned. From a leading valuation. In tha article in the Daily Press of the 3rd of this sent to lay before t month. observe that- The plaus sept home, of their own houses and which have been condemned by Messrs. and is as suitable as Webb and Bell, the Colonial Office Consulting Architects, are those for which Mr. Cooper, the late Director of Public Works, was ré- As they had already been con- sponsible. demned by the Committee appointed to consider the matter, it seems a little unfortunate that they should not have been at once discarded and competitive, designs invited, for their submission to Messrs. Web and Boll has only resulted in delay and feedless expense." It would, sir, be of interest t know whether the plans which were condemned by the Committee were really those which the Government sent bonie. We cannot, think, decide on this question thoroughly anth we have the despatch from the Government with any further explan- ations the Government may have deemed it expedient to give the Secretary of State.
31
HIS EXCELLENCE-The resolution is not conded. The next motion is in the name of the Director of Public Works. That motion has already been moved and the discussion may now proceed.
Hou. T. H. WHITEHEAD--Sir, if I may be allowed to ask question before the discussion is commenced would like an explanation from the Director of Public Works. At the last meeting of Council he said, "The resolution I have proposed commits the Council to nothing." I should like to know what that really means. I do not understand it.
His EXCELLENCY-A question of that sort can hardly be asked. The discussion must proceed. The Director of Public Works has the right of reply after the motion has been argued by the hon. gentlemen present, and perhaps then the Director of Public Works wi refer to the statement he has made, but the discussion must now proceed in the ordinary
way.
The members then proceeded to discuss the resolution, which was in the following terms: That in the opinion of this Council it is S EXCELLENCY-In reality you may move expedient-0) To construct the New Law tion now, but the Government do not Courts and accessory offices on Plot No. 2 on propose to put the paper asked for on the the New Reclamation, namely, the larger of table. The whole of the information contained
the two lots reserved for Government Offices, that paper relating to the question of the immediately in front of the City Hall; and (b) foment building has been before you into retain the sites of the present Post Office and ther papers--absolutely the whole of it. I Supreme Court for the erection of a new Post think 1 am right, Mr.Colonial Secretary, in Office, which should also afford accommodation saying that. I have read it myself and I think for the Treasury and such other offices as may
as right in saying that the whole of the in- be decided on." formation regarding the Government Offices
s before you. That if my impression.
Tho COLONIAL SECRETARY There is hing, sir, in that despatch which would in way facilitate the consideration of the ng which has been before the public for me time, and nothing which would enable us wue to a speedy decision on the question
iscussion.
Hon. B. R. BELI Post Office and Treg course materially e adjoining lots, by occupancy at high re course of erection or heuce my hou. frie offices removed thithe
HIS EXCELLENCY- that is legitimate, M you should impute wo
Hon. E. R. HELILIC HIS EXCELLENCY-- in this Council on you ask you to keep to the defended you if there because I am certainly s as an honest man in th munity, but you must hon. gentlemen who ba which you can take obje
Hon. E. R. BELILIC
a large majority of th been lost sight of by posite, who have been own interests. The hon. in his scheme, propose Office on a portion of Praya. Ho proposes of of valuable land to util feet, leaving 8,363 squat sacrificing some $80,00 Surely the hon. memt moment think of dealing himself in this manner. build to the very utmost him He bases his estimates and position, bare opinion. Th to place before the Cou authority-ou the report It never occurred to the n mission to retain the Post on their present site; the much riveted to the Gover Reclamation.
The que
COPY.
сову
ENCLOSURE
66
1094.09
Memorandum by the Director of Public Works.
With regard to the designs for the New Law
Courts I have consulted with the Chief Justice,Mr. Justice
Wise and the Attorney General. I put before them Mr. Cooper's
plans,Mr. Cooper's report on the same to the Colonial Secre-
tary No.252 of the 8th. April,1806, and the report of the Con-
sulting Architects on the same to the Crown Agents cated
the 15th. September, 1897. We agreed that generally speaking
the accommodation provided in Mr. Cooper's
1
plans is all
is required. We then considered the remarks and the objec-
tions raised by the Consulting Architects which are as fol-
that
lows:
y a
never discussed by thom. the arrival of the present Works we have new ideas – mi Hon. E. R. BELILIOS-Your Excellency, in will not only save the colony a la support of the resolution which is now before but secure its greatest conven the Council and in connection with the recent friend opposite contends that report of the Public Works Committee on the present Post Office is more valu: proposed new Government Offices, I wish to Praya sites; if that is really the offer a few remarks. I think they are called because the position is more cent for, inasmuch as I am put on my defence by the fore better adapted for the purpose. action of the lion. member representing the ing the present site we should also save a la Chamber of Commerce, who entered a protest sum in piling foundations and by using H. WHITEHEAD-I would point out against my voting on the division which took of the present materials. I am confident! spatch, dated 5th June, 1896, re- place. He has asserted that he took this course public are in favour of the scheme put fort rnment to forward the report by because I as an interested party ought not to by the Director of Public Works, and I hea appointed to report ou the Gov-
vote. In that case I respectfr"'y suggest that be my hon. friends opposite, if not unconscion and any further explanations should have included the hon. member represent- biased by their own interests or inclinati ent may wish to give I subunit,ing the Bench of Justices in his protest. My would be compelled to admit its superior ad
interest in this matter is small compared to that ages. Turning now to the memorandum of EXCELLENCY-Are you moving the of the last named gentleman, whose extensive hon. friend the member representing the Be I have told you already that the holdings on the Praya frontage are so well of Justices, he has therein set down three t rumeft do not propose to puta copy of known. The property known as Beaconsfield, viz., $150,000, $40,000 and $50,000 @ corong despatch on the table for the which the hon. Director of Public Works aggregate of $240,000 as the sum requires ons have just stated,
proposes the Government should purchase, was erect his ideal block of Government Office not offered by me, it was leased fora period of ten Plot No. 1, the marine lot in front of the years at a rental of $400 per month to Butter Hall and close to the Hongkong Club held and Swire and considering the rise in rents reference to page 8 of the report of the since then it is now cheaply let at a rental mission appointed to consider this question of $425 per month for six years to the will be found that $700,000 is laid down Government, which will give me a return of 6 amount necessary to cover Plots 1 and 2 * per cent. per annum on the proposed purchase buildings. The box, member on my right money. I am spending a large sum on its Ormsby) proposes to devote $400.000 of repair and improvement, and I consider it to be sum to the erection of new Law Courta) worth more than the amount named.
Plot No. 2 next to the City Hall. This rate it is worth that to me, and it is immaterial leave $300,000 for the provision of to me whether it is purchased from me or not. Office and other departmental buildings. Beaconsfeld covers an area of 14,754 square feet, hon. friend the member for the Jus
Aney
a. 7. H. WHITEHEAD--I think, air, with permission, I will move the motion that my name That the Government lay table a copy of its covering despatch > the Colonial Office the Riport, vember, 1896. of the Comittee September, 1894, by His Excel dan Robinson to report on the be Government Offices and the Jogating the various Government under one roof, together with a ther explanations the Governmen iven in connection therewith and al
At any
A. "The order of procedure in the Law Courts
in Hong-Kong does not differ in essentials from that which
obtains in England,&c. I
This is a mistake, the procedure in HongKong
differs entirely.
B. "There should be a Central Hall x x x
for the use of the General Public,&e.'
This is quite unnecessary as the Public do
not attend the Courts here, while for the very few persons
who
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