Enclosure. 5.
The Daily Press.
Hongkong, November 24th, 1899.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
Yesterday afternoon a meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held in the Council Chamber at the Government Offices, there being present:-
His EXCELLENCY the Governor (Sir HENRY BLAKE, G.C.M.G.)
His EXCELLENCY Major-General GASCOIGNE, C.M.G. (Commanding the Troops).
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G. (Colonial Secretary.)
Hon. R. MURRAY RUMSEY (Harbour Master).
Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Captain Superintendent of Police).
Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer).
Hon. R. D. ORMSBY (Director of Public Works).
Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
Hon. Dr. HO KAI.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD.
The Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, C.M.G.
Hon. WEI A YUK.
Hon. J. J. KESWICK.
Mr. R. F. JOHNARON (Acting Clerk of Councils).
FINANCE.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to lay on the table Financial Minute No. 25 and to move that it be referred to the Finance Committee. I also beg to lay on the table the reports of the Finance Committee Nos. 8 and 9 and to move their adoption. Your Excellency will observe from report No. 9 that the Finance Committee yesterday considered the remaining portion of the Estimates for 1900 and that the items were unanimously recommended by that Committee with the exception of the item referring to the new Law Court. With regard to that item an amendment was proposed by the honourable member who represents the Chamber of Commerce, but it was not carried.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded.
HIS EXCELLENCY ON THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS' MEMORANDUM.
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR--Before I put the motion I wish to mention to this honourable Council that I received a memorandum which was presented by the unofficial members and signed, I believe, by all with one exception, and as far as I can gather the exception was taken as to the degrees of necessity of the public works rather than as to the question of the advisability of carrying out a great number of those works. I wish to tell the Council that I have gone carefully over this memorandum, and I may say that I am as much in favour of carrying out these works as any member of this Council--(Hear, hear), but I think it is well that the Council should understand clearly the position of the Government in this matter. The reason why those works have not been included in the Estimates is perfectly plain. We are restricted by instructions (which have been rather frequent) to confine our Estimates to the amount of money which we have actually estimated as coming into the revenue for the year. The question as to what is to be done with the money that may remain over as a surplus is a matter which must go forward to the Secretary of State for his sanction and be laid before this Council for their sanction when we have the money in our hands. That is a very safe principle, I think.
The honourable members of the Council know, there has been a certain amount of discussion, which I have read carefully. There is no certainty in human affairs, but we have almost a certainty that we shall have a large balance at the end of the current year, and so soon as that balance is available we can deal with it. In the meantime we shall go on with these works that have been placed in the Estimates. We have already got your authority for these, and no doubt we shall have the sanction of the Secretary of State. As soon as we have that surplus, and before the money which has been voted has been expended.
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Enclosure. 5.
The Daily Press.
Horexone, November 24th, 1899.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
Yesterdag afternoon a meeting of the Boug. kong Legislative Council was held in the Coun- eil Chamber at the Government Ofoes, there i being prosent :-
Bis EXCELLENCY the Governor (Sie HENRY BLAKE, G.C.M.G.)
H19 EXCELLENCY Major-General Gas- COIGNE, C.M.G. (Commanding the Troops).
Hon. J. H STEWART LOCKHART, Č.M.G. (Colonial Secretary.)
Hon. R. MURRAY RUMSEY Harbour Master.) Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Captaiu Super- intendent of Police.)
Hon. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer). Hou. R. D. ORMSBY (Director of Public Works).
Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAL
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD.
The Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, C.M.G.
Hon. WEI A YUK.
Hou, J. J. Keswick.
Mr. R. F. Jonnaron (Acting Clark of Councils).
FINANCR.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I bug to lay on the table Financial Minute No. 25 and to move that it be refered to the Finance Com- mittee. I also beg to lay on the table the reports of the Finance Committee Nos. 8 and 9 and to move their adoption. Tour Excellency will observe from report No. 9 that the Finance Committee yesterday considered the remaining portion of the Estimates for 190) and that the items were unanimously recommended by that Committee with the exception of the item referring to the new Law Court. With regard to that item an amendment was proposed by the honourable member who represents the Chamber of Commerce, but it was not carried.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded. HIS EXOGLL NOT ON THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS' HUMORANDUM.
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR--Before I put the motion I wish to mention to this hon- ourable Council that I received a memorandum which was presented by the unofficial members and signed I believe by all with one ex- caption, and as far as I can gather the exception was taken as to the degrees of necessity of the public works rather thanas to the question of the advisability of carrying out great number of those works. I wish to tall the Council that I have gone carefully over this memorandum, and I may say that I am as much in favour of carrying out these works as any member of this Council--(Hoar hear, but I think it is well that the Council should understand clearly the position of the Government in this matter. The resson why those works have not been included in the Estimates is perfectly plain. We are restricted
by instructione (which have been rather frequent) to contin our Estimates to the amount of money which we have actually estim- ated as coming into the revenue for the year. The question as to what is to be done with the money ny remain over as a surplus is a matter which must go forward to the Secretary of State for his sauction and be laid before this Conncil for their sanction when we have the money in our bands. That is a very safe prin- ciple, I think,
the honourable members of the Council know, there has been a certain amount of discussion, which I have rand carefully. There is no eer- tainty in human affairs, bat we have almost a certainty that we shall have a large balance at the end of the current year, and so soon as that balance is available we can deal with it. In the mesutime we shall go on with these works that? have been placed in the Estimates. We have already got your authority for these, and no donbt we shall have the sanotion of the Secre tary of State, Assoon as we have that surplus, and before the money which has been voted has been
expended
390
C.0.
35017
8:00
Sec? 26 DEC 19
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