;
190
Military Expenditure---
Military Contribution
Volunteers...
Public Works---
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
Public Works Department
Public Works Department
Special Expenditure
Public Works, Recurrent
Public Works, Extraordinary. Post Office.
Kowloon-Canton Railway Kowloon-Canton Railway Spe-
cial Expenditure Charge on account of Public
Debt
Pensions
Charitable Services
Total...
Dednet sums provided in ac-
cordance with law :--
Charge on account
Military Expenditure $1,372,089
306,949 273,869
of Public Debt. Pensions
575
sound basis to meet our liabilities. I trust $1,372,089 that the figures before you will, to some ex- 40,920 tent at any rate, justify that hope. In spite of the increase of pay given to cadets on ster. 353.958 ling salaries, and the cost of the scheme for assisted passages to Eugland for subor- dinate officers, in spite of an extra lakh 429.100 to be provided for Postal transit charges, 1,147,980 and about one and a half lakhs in railway 553,150 expenditure, the total estimated expendi 200,973
65,000
726,263
tare exclusive of Public Works Extraordi- nary is almost a million dollars less than th estimated revenue. Of this a lakh, derived from the special light dues, is ear-marked for typhoon refuge,but we are left with fully 273,869 the average sum for expenditure on capital 24,380 works, and the programme of these is as large as our staff of Engineers can pro- $7,852,678 Perly supervise. This result is one upon which I venture to congratulate the Council, since we are for the first time since the con- struction of the railway was undertaken facing our full, and indeed our maximum, recurrent expenditure in the form of inter- est and sinking fund on the loan for that great undertaking. I confess that in past 1,952,907 years I have somewhat dreaded the day when this fall liability for the service of the loan in addition to running expenses and maintenance would have to be faced. and it is a matter of congratulation that it has not necessitated the imposition of any HIS EXCELLENCY-In laying before
fresh taxation, or any invasion upon our the Council the Estimates for the coming explain, remain at a very high figure indeed. reserve funds, which, as I shall presently year, I shall endeavour, as has been my If, as we all anticipate, the receipts from the custom in the past, to afford a full ex-railway increase each year, we may reason- planation of all important changes in these ally hope that the burden, which now, after estimates and of the reasons which have led deducting estimated receipts, stands at 32 to them. In doing so I must of necessity lakhs, will be steadily reduced. ask your patience in dealing with figures, but I shall quote them as little as possible, the more so that I desire to avail myself of this annual opportunity of explaining to the Council the policy adopted and the pro- gress made in various departments of ad- ministration.
$5,899,773
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL seconded.
The first and most important point on which you will desire information is, What is the general finaucial position of the Colony as shown by the estimates? Speaking at the Jubilee dinner of the Chamber of Com- incrce last April, I ventured the forecast that "so far as the Colonial Budget is concern- el, we may hope that we have surmounted our financial difficulties, satisfactorily and permanently, and placed the revenues on a
revenue.
Revenue
1 will first briefly review the estimates of The principal increases are as follows:-$82,000 under the new general assessment, and additional assessments of new buildings; $6,500 under Companies local register; $6,600 under liquor licences; $4,000 under registration of deeds; $20,000 under medical examination of emigrants; and $5,000 under water supply. Last year's estimate for liquor has been retained, viz, $725,000. The actual receipts in 1910 were only $387,788, viz., $212,212 below the es- timate of $600,000, which has nevertheless increased for this year to 7 lakhs. We ex-
sent.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
191
expansion. The sun shown is the rental we hope to receive until such time as the third floor may be required by Government. The four heads under which revenue from land is shown exhibit an increase of $13,00 ), while markets show a steady increase, being $10,000 over the estimates of 1910 and $6,600 over the actual receipts. Cass 4 is chiefly remarkable for the large increase of $16,500 in the sum received for conservancy contracts. The total estimated revenue is -7,077,488 as against $6.950,867 actually realised last year--an increase of six laklis over the estimate of the current year and of sevou lakhs over the actual receipts of 1910.
Expenditure
ex-
pect, however, to realise $670,000 this year, and as the old stocks held before the duties were instituted are yearly decreasing, and looking to the fact that the scale of duty on Chinese liquors was doubled on March 16th, while the rebate is no longer granted to the Services, we anticipate that next year we ought to realise the full amount estimated, and I hope we shall exceed it. Our total revenue from opium and spirits amounts to only half that of the Straits, which has a Population of only 65,000 more adults Their figures stand at $4,441,963 and ours at $2,150,970. We lose the contribution of $27,000 from the Imperial Government to- ward the expenses of the Postal Agencies in China, the cost of which is now borne by the Home Government, though this Govern- ment continues to control them for the pre- Under expenditure two higher grade On the other han 1, you will observe clerkships are created in the Treasury that a sum of $137,143 (£iz,000), which is to assist in the formation of an recurrent for one more year only, appears amining branch in conjunction with the as an Imperial contribution for loss on local audit of expenditure, which I am glad opium revenue consequent on the effect to say has now been instituted. In the given by the Colony to Imperial policy in Harbour Department, and in various other this matter. Stamp duties, which prior to departments a considerable economy, esti- last year stood constantly at ix lakhs, aremated at $4,700 has resulted from plac- shown at 720,000, a conservative esti ing the purchase and issue of coal for mate in view of the fact that we realised Lunches under Commander Beckwith, and $753,886 last year, and I have strong procuring it under a single contract. The hopes that special means which I ami
amount now appears under Miscellaneous proposing to take to check evasion of Services. Under Observatory, provision this tax may result in a considerable in- has been made to continue his salary to the crease. Public school fees show a decrease present Director, till the end of June while of $7,000 owing to the closing of two of the on leave, as well as for his successor. new primary schools, the fees from which Figg will then retire ou pensiou after 20 were estimated at $6,00, a matter which I years of service in this Colouy, to which his will more fully explain when I'come to deal long experience has been of great value. with expenditure upon education. The de- The heading Miscellaneous Services includes crease of 8,000 in timber sales is due to a sum of -2,000, to which I iovite the assent the expiry of the contract for felling a large of this Council for the expenses of the Congress We have found by actual experience of the Far Eastern Association of Tropical that the supposed profit from selling areas Medicine, who will assemble in this Colony of timber is fallacious for it costs more to on January 20th next. We desire to afford replant, etc., than we realise, and I do not a most cordial welcome to these rep esenta- therefore propose to continue the schem. tives of scientific research in a field of in- The estimat d revenue for the railway is vestigation so vitally important to each one put at $489,600. We have as yet no lata of us, and I take this opp rtunity of ex- from through traffic to enable us o judge pressing an earnest hope that the Congress whether this is a liberal or a cautious esti- may be well attended, and that its delibera- mte. You will find a full explanation of its tions may prove fruitful and stimulating. details in Appendix II. In class 3 of the re- venue, "rent of buildings" has been in- creased by $11,000, to which extent I hope that the taxpayer will benefit in the shape of interest on the capital outlay involved by adding a third storey to meet further
area.
The University
Mr.
There is also a sun of $9,000, to which I trust that this Council will annually agree, for the establishment of a Professorial
113
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.