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by rainstorms and typhoons will be charged against it. Against this there is a set-off of $7,000, by which amount the votes for Chinese cemeteries have been reduced by transfer of new works to Public Works Ex- traordinary. These votes were largely in- creased last year in wy absence, and as I think wrongly, because the money was re- quired not for necessarily recurrent work, but for extensions and new works which should properly be included under Publi Works Extraordinary and receive the ex- press sanction of Council. They are so included this year.
to the Director and his assistants has been carried out after a very great deal of en- quiry and discussion. There will be three first grade and four second grade Executive Engineers, with a duty pay of £60 per annum, and four first grade Assistants with a duty pay of £50, with five second grade Assistants (duty pay £40). It is hoped that the new rates will dispose of a grievance which has long been felt by a. class of Government servants who deserve well of the community, and than whom none work harder. The new classification with its rates of pay and duty pay (which has not yet received the sanction of the Secretary of State, though he has concurred. in the principles adopted), will somewhat I come now to the interesting question of improve the position and prospects of the the way in which I propose to the Council engineers, and will, I hope, tempt men to that we should spend our Margin on capital remain in the Government service instead works. That margiu usually consists of a of leaving it, as so many have done, to sum of eight or ten lakhs, and, as I said at practice independently. The establishment the beginning of my speech, we have fully is reduced by two overseers of the first the average amount to spend next year. class, and two of the second class, and by In addition we have the expenditure on the one foreman, in consequence of the comple- Typhoon Refuge, which, as you know, is pro tion of the Government Offices and Lawvided from a special fund, consisting in part Courts. These temporary appointments should never have been horne on the esti- mates, bat charged to the work.
New Works
of Special Light Dues and in part of our Re- serves, which stand at the very sutisfactory figure of $1,452,879, and to which each year since I have been here we have added a little, in spite of this special fund, and of trade depression, etc. The Law Courts and the Government. Offices have for many more years than I have known Hongkong figured as the two first items on our list. The lat- ter disappears entirely, and for the Law Courts only $10,000 is asked to complete, and is due chiefly to various internal altera. tions desired by the Judges. There will, I fear, be a further sum of $10,000 for archi- tects' fees, of which I was not aware till the
Recurrent Expenditure. The votes under Public Works Recurrent have in some cases been considerably alter ed. In some few it has been found possible to reduce them, judging by the average expenditure of the last few years, but in most cases there has been an increase, resulting in a net increase to the vote of $12,900. As new works are completed in a growing colouy, the recurrent vote for their maintenance must increase yearly. The main increase in the present estimates, estimates were closed. The provision of however, is due to the large sum of $19,500 | public conveniences, which is so essential for which I have added to the vote for typhoon | The proper sanitation of a populous city, con- damages. The sum now shown is about the average expenditure on this account, over and above the ordinary maintenance votes It appears to me a false presenta tion of the estimates of expenditure to place this vote at $12,500 only, and to ask this Council for a supplementary vote regularly each year.
Care will, however, be taken by the Director of Public Works to see that this vote is not drawu upon for ordinary maintenance, and expenditure under it will in each case need the Governor's sanction, so that only unforeseen devastation caused
tinues to progress year by year, and $11,500 is provided for creating three more in 1912. The next large building-of which this Council has already approved by placing $20,000 on the estimates for this year-is the reconstruction of the Magistracy, since the lack of proper accommodation has been a source of complaint for many years. hope that we may be able to utilise the very valuable site occupied by the present two- storey building to much better advantage, and perhaps to provide extra quarters for married police on a third storey. They are
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the work.
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for a time in order to obtain the views of the Chamber of Commerce on certain points as to situation, etc., will probably be completed, but it is thought advisable to have a dupli- cate clock-work gear in case of accidents. The vote of $10,000 provided this year for additions to the Maternity Hospital will be spent, and $3,000 more is now provided to complete.
Roads in Kowloon and the New Territory
very urgently required, but the needs of the Magistracy itself are also great, and it is uncertain to what extent the enlargement of the Central Police Station can be under- taken.
I am not satisfied with the initial design which has been prepared, and I pro- pose when a better has been drawn to refer it to the Public Works Committee of this Council for their opinion. Till that has been done no complete estimate can, of yourse, be given. The present is an auspi Sious time to undertake this work, as we shall shortly have the old Law Courts in which to temporarily house the Magistracy. Omitting for the present now works under On the completion of the new building the the sub-head" Buildings," the votes which old Courts and the site on which they stand follow for forming roads and streets through- can be sold or otherwise dealt with, as may
out the Colony and in the New Territory, be considered to be most to the public ad-training nullahs, etc., have with many others vantage. Of the sum voted this year, prob- in past years been entered on the estimates ably little or none will have been spent by without any details as to how it was pro- the end of the year. $88,000 is provided for posed that the large sutas voted should be spout, or any estimates of the cost of the For the sanitary department offices and works proposed under them. In the present sheds at Wanchai, a sum of $15,000 was estimates the principal works are shown voted last year, of which little, if any, will with their estimated cost. Under "Kowloon be spent. The present vote is for comple- roads and streets" a sum of $20,000 is pro- tion at a total estimated cost of $18,000.vided for the prolongation of Nathan Road, Another important building which you de- and $5,000 for channelling Gascoyne and cided last year to commence is the recon- Chatham Roads. Under "New Roads, New struction of the Western Market. The esti- Territory," $15,000 is provided to enable the mate for this work is $240,000 in addition last section of the Castle Peak-Sha Ta to the sum of $55,500 which the Council Kok road, viz., from Au Tau to Sau Tin, to voted on November 19th last for resumption to be undertaken, with the exception of the of buildings. Of the sum borne on the esti-bridge near Au Tau, which is a large work. mates for this year (825,000), probably You will recollect that when I inaugurated about $15,000 will have been expended by the construction of this main trunk road the end of the year, and $76,000 is provided through the New Territory in 1908, I in- for continuing the work next year. For the formed you that I proposed to run it right extra storey at Yaumati School $16,000 was through at a breadth of 6 feet only, but to provided, of which $13,000 will have been purchase land sufficient to broaden it even- spent. The estimate has been increased to tually to 14 feet, and to build all bridges at $24,000 principally because the lowest ten- that breadth. This will have been accom- der received is over $3,000 in excess of the plished when the sum now provided, and a estimate, and also to include school furni- further sum of $21,000 in 1913, has been ture and some alterations in design. expended. In future years we propose to $11,000 is provided to complete it. The broaden it to the fall 14 feet as a cart road market and slaughter-house at Aberdeen, in such sections as show a prospect of cart for which the estimate is $11,400, requires traffic, especially between Au Tai and Castle $3,000 to complete, Yaumati sheds and Peak. stables for the sanitary department appeared in the estimates for 1911 with provision te the extent of $10,000 out of a total estimate of $16,000. A commencement will shortly be made on this work, and about $2,000 will be spent this year.
The balance, $14,000, to complete is provided next year. The Kap Sing Lighthouse, which was delayed
From Fauling to Shau Tau Kok a light line, as you are aware, is being laid along this road, and will, I hope, be completed this year. The roadway of this light line, like the rest of this road, has been paid for out of this vote. The balance required to com- plete it is estimated at 821,495, the greater part of which will be expended this year.
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