Confidential
Government House.
12 February 1907
My Lord,
Referring to my confidential dispatches dated 15 September and 9 October 1906 on the subject of the slow progress made on the construction of the Hong Kong section
2. My principal reason for this request is my great fear that the large sums of money that are now being expended on this construction are not being spent in the most advantageous manner. Since the commencement of November, the sums amount to over $500,000 or about £56,000. For this amount, according to the latest returns from the Chief Resident Engineer of the work on the railway, including the reclamation of station site, should have been completed. I am convinced that nothing like this proportion has been carried out. Again, according to the weekly progress reports that have been submitted to me, not more than 200 men have on an average been employed on the works.
I am not at present sure how payment of this number of the staff and for the materials, which the local purchases have been reported, can account for anything like the money expended.
3. In these circumstances, I have directed the Local Auditor, with the assistance of the Chief Resident Engineer, to make a special examination of our expenditure.
4. I have further directed that no contracts in reference to exceeding $500 in value are in future to be entered into without a reference to the Director of Public Works, who will examine the same.
5. I have also ventured above to suggest that I consider some more complete control of the railway construction should be vested in this local government than exists under the present system, under which the Chief Resident Engineer reports to and takes his orders from the Consulting Engineers at home. The Chief Resident Engineer is in effect the officer of our Consulting Engineers, and our Government can only suffer through its own officers in the way in which he carries out his work at the dictation of the Consulting Engineers, relieving them of the responsibility that naturally rests on them for efficient and economical construction of the railway.
In practice, Your Lordship will probably, and the people of Hong Kong will certainly, hold me responsible if there is great delay or waste of money in the completion of the railway, and it is therefore essential that I should decide to exercise control through an officer in whom I have confidence.
I have great confidence in Mr. A. E. Griffin's capacity to take independent charge of a work of such magnitude. I consider he lacks organising power and I know that he does not get on well with his staff. The Director of Public Works – Mr. Cathcart Methven – does enjoy my confidence and I see no reason why the railway should not be placed under his control in the same way as other large Public Works in this Colony have been carried out in the past.
The Hon'ble
The Earl of Elgin
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REG 23 MAR 07,
Confidential
Government House.
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12 Fromuary 1907
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Reforming to my confidential dropatikes dated 15 Sipdamon and 9 October 1906 on An sabfect of the slow progress made on the constructions of the Hong hông section
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deopatcher on the 18′′ uithout asking for your dnaship's sanction to my plaing this Conshuction and is the couhol of the divator
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2. My principal wason for this request is my grast fear this the way langz sums of money that an now bruig Zepended (really on this condutaking are not being Spent in Ou met advantageous manner. Surce the commuuement of November, this £ Sums Amunt & our $500,000 42 abruð £ 56,000, For this amount ausding totuu oriquiet salmate froth of the work on the taikong, uncluding the reclamation of station vite, shone havs bien completed. I am convnind the nothing with this proportion has be carried out. Again according to an wukly propop refours that have you vuimited to me not sure than 200omen have on au avuaqt bien Employed on Atm works.
I am not at present su how paymend of this numbn, of the staff and for this materials
which the local purchase than been reported can account for anything like the money Exported.
8. Je bust critumstanu, t'ham dirano in Diialog Åsh; lovikes with h tem assistance
On Locul Muditor, a of An This Decidend Engineer to make e speural Ekamuialin LG Our Expenditure ?
* I have further diverted that no contrada
rifuence to Excuding $500 in vaiul are in future to be Entered into without a
Fable waki the which wih andait an examusialion y ta. Director of
4. I have also vond in beepam above ugous to as I consider that Some moll compute control q un railway construction shentë be owlad in this local qovernment than Extelo unde în privind system cunding to which the Chitf Resident Enguices uports to and tathes his adoro from the Consulting Exyseicers at home. The Chic Roridend Enquisar is in effect
With the
oficer of Our Fourulting Ery, and tur Couns Government can only uibuffre through its owen offens way in which he currice out his work at the Export of extirving the Courulting Engingers of the responsibility that thenstiually work on them for Outfitent and I conomicat construction of the railway. S
> Să practice Your dotstrip will probably, and the people of Moushong will certavily, hold imz
Ecopomaticle if there is quend delay on waste of money in the completion of the railway
and it is theufire hadical thus Iohould ducite to Exurcer contol through an officer is cohou dl have confédeush.
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5. I have to great confiármas uï IT ́10.9. Evin capacity to take independent change of a
such magnitude. I cousin he lacks organising powth and & Krisw that he does not get on cock with his staff. The Divator & Public Isakis – Mols Chathan- dous cujoy my coufidence and séu no lason why the railway should not be placed with his coutrot ui aurßamu with tin system audu soleich lange Fublic looks hi tius Coley have been carried out in the prand The Rig 5 Hon
The Emo Elpin
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