CO129-294 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [10-12] — Page 391

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Rea? 26 PEC 39

MEMORANDUM BY THE UNDERSIGNED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONGKONG, REGARDING THE ESTIMATES FOR PUBLIC WORKS EXTRAORDINARY OF 1900.

1. We have carefully studied the Estimates for the coming year in the light of His Excellency the Governor's speech at the meeting of the Legislative Council held on the 11th October last, and it is with great satisfaction we observe that, notwithstanding the large expenditure which has already been incurred in connee- tion with the taking over of the New Territory, there will still remain a balance of revenue over expenditure of no less than $400,000 (including last year's balance) at the end of the current year.

2. When this is taken in conjunction with the fact that within the past five years the resumption of Taipingshan has been carried out at a cost of over $850,000, defrayed entirely out of reserve, and of which hut a fractional part has as yet been returned to the Treasury, the result is still more satisfactory.

3. Fortunately, the sales of Land have been large, and have in a great measure enabled this surplus to be attained, and we desire to impress upon His Excellency the necessity for expending during the coming year this surplus upon current and important Public Works within the limits of the Colony exclusive of the New Territory.

4. Whilst we are ready to concede that certain of the contemplated works in the New Territory may be defrayed out of the general revenue, we are most decidedly of opinion that the principal works for developing it should be provided for by a Loan.

The public works in this island have been long deferred for want of funds, and now that they are available for proceeding with the most important of these works we feel bound to deprecate, in the strongest manner, any proposal to divert such funds to any other purpose whatever.

5. In his speech His Excellency alluded to the works which had been ap- proved by the Public Works Committee as among those to be undertaken next year, and paid for out of the surplus. A reference to the list of these works shows that the three most important are connected with extensions of the Waterworks.

6. The necessity for undertaking these works immediately has been demon- strated by the repeated introduction, year after year, of the intermittent supply which occurs just at the period when an abundant supply is most urgently needed, numely, when Plague begins to make its appearance. Though extensions have recently been carried out, experience has shown them to be insufficient, and a reference to the statements published monthly in the newspapers shows that the consumption is ever on the increase. From the latest return, this increase amounts to 8% over the corresponding period of last year, and no time should therefore be lost in carrying ont further extensions.

7. The construction of Roads is also a matter of great importance. The rapidity with which sites have been taken up along the roads recently constructed is the best proof not only of the necessity but of the sound policy from a financial standpoint of proceeding with the roads already projected.

In connection with this subject it may be worth considering whether the Government should not give the utmost encouragement to any scheme for con- necting the centre of Victoria with the eastern or western suburbs by tramways in order the better to provide for the expansion of the city and the provision of house accommodation.

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