157
ย
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
Public Works Extraordinary
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $1,800 in aid of the following votes:-
Public Works, Extraordinary. Hongkong:-
Miscellaneous, Survey of Colony Kowloon:-
Miscellaneous,
Works
New Territories:
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous, Fencing Round
Police Stations Miscellaneous,
Works
Total
Miscellaneous
65
1,400
品
sum
THE CHAIRMAN-This is in connection with the resumption of land on the golf course at Fanling. A considerable sum was expended on the land required for what is known as the relief course, and when all that had been acquired it was found it would be very convenient to have one title for the whole of the land in the occupation of the Golf Club. That meant that in order to put the Govern- ment in the same position towards the Golf Club with regard to the whole of their land, the Golf Club would have to hand over to the Government all land 120 they were originally in possession of for the main courses, and have one lease for 305 the whole lot. As the Club had
already expended
of
89,182 on the land they already held, it was necessary for the Government to pay that back to the Club and put the old land on the same footing as the new. This means that the Government will draw 41 per cent. on the total amount ex- pended. A small sum has also been spent for acquiring land, 3434, and has been added ott to the $9,182, and this, with other small items. makes the total of $9,617.07. The Secretary of State has given his approval for the payment of this money, and the result will now be that one title will be prepared for the whole of the land occu- will get 4 per cent. on the money which pied by the Club, and the Government has been expended.
$1,890
THE CHAIRMAN-These three items are special sums required for the Public Works Department. They are small Bums, with one exception. The only large sum is $2,045 for the maintenance of waterworks in Kowloon. This is owing to more water being used, and more hav- ing to be filtered.
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS -It is for sand-washing, and the cleaning of the filtering medium.
This was approved.
Kowloon-Canton Railway
(British Section)
1
.:
come to
THE CHAIRMAN-If an explanation is required by any member regarding any of these items-for instance, transport and travelling $500, which is more than was expected it will be given. These are works which have been authorised, but no provision was made in the estimates. Is the Director of Public Works in a position to say anything in regard to this? THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
THE CHAIRMAN-Now we -A certain vote is provided annually for miscellaneous works, and is allocated for this account of the Kowloon-Canton Rail- certain work. In the course of the year,asked for was more than $400.000, and since way. On the 10th April, 1913, the amount for which the money is allocated, more then, as you sex overleaf, definite proposals, work becomes necessary. Consequently, this additional work is authorised, but involving capital expenditure, have been the supplementary vote is not taken unti. tion is put at the round sum of $250,000. approved. The Kowloon Railway Sta- the total amount required is exactly Up to the end of this year the
expended is $98,459. The carriages and underframes are required to bring up the total number to what is required for the efficient working of the line. As to duced from a larger sum to the lowest typhoon damages: This sum has been re- possible figure, and it is for strengthen ing the banks in the exposed portion of the railway between Shatin and Taipo Stations, The typhoon of August, 1913,
known.
These votes were approved.
Golf Courses
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $9,617.07 in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary, New Territories, Resumption of Land for Golf Courses at Fan-Ling.
sum
expenditure.
116
158
IION. MR. HEWETT-Well, we have got to spend the money, and it seems to me that when the Budget was put before us in October, 1913, some sort of recogni- tion should have been given to this pos sible expenditure.
THE CHAIRMAN-The only item then was the Kowloon Station.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL did a considerable amount of damage, and it became clear that unless the work could not have been put in the Colonial THE CHAIRMAN-This expenditure was thoroughly taken in hand subsequent estimates because it is not part of the typhoons might make the railway quite Colonial expenditure, dangerous. The extension to the engine
It is capital shed and loco yard I have already ex- plained. The item $124,000 is the reduced estimate for the new buildings required. The present carriage shed will become the paint shop, and there should be sufficient carriage sheds built for all the rolling stock that we shall have, and the size of the engine shed will be increased to hold the new engines. With regard to the quarters for the staff, that was explained by His Excellency in his address to the Council when the Estimates were brought forward. The principle adopted is that HON. MR. HEWETT-Well, I cannot which is in force on other railways in conceive why so recently as October, 1913, China; giving quarters free of rent. This is an outside estimate of $70,000, and year, it was
in dealing with the Budget of the present the work will probably be done for rather Surely it must have been understood by not brought before us. less. With reference to the cost of thres somebody or other-the railway authori- locomotives and one motor-coach, the ties or whoever carry on this work-that question of saving expenditure and yet a considerable expense would providing for passengers late in the day curred during 1914.
be in- and during the night has been under con- it would have been more satisfactory if It seems to me that sideration for some time. It has at last the Council had been informed two or been decided to get a motor-coach which three months ago that there would be a will take all the first and third-class possible expenditure of three or four passengers who are likely to want to lakhs over and above the estimates put travel at odd hours and late at night. before us at the time, and that that money It will not involve the keeping of the would be required during 1914. staff on overtime, eor the cost of taking Governor balances his books and puta The a heavy train into the New Terri- before us certain statements, yet on this tory. It is hoped that this experiment last day of the year we are suddenly call- will bring in a revenue without any great ed upon to pass a vote of $348,866.93 over expenditure accruing from it.
One more locomotive is on the line, and also eight fifteen months ago.
and above the estimates put before us main line coaches.
I do not raise this The signalling at in any spirit of calumny, but merely as & Kowloon station has been given very care- point. ful
consideration by the consulting engineers at Home, and two or three THE alternative schemes were considered, and
not the one which has been approved is sup- posed to be the most efficient as well as the most economical to the new station in question.
HON.
this vote.
MR. IIEWETT-There is one point I would like to make in regard to You are asking on almost the last day of the year for a vote of $348,866.93 in addition to the original Budget which was passed here about fifteeen months ago. It seems to me that it would have been better and more satis. factory, seeing that this money was going to be spent-it must have been known that it was to be spent in 1914-if it had been quoted in the estimates and put before us in the autumn of 1914.
sums
are
CHAIRMAN-These connected with the Government that they might have been put in at a revenue and expenditure, but I quite agree much earlier date. This is really part of the construction account, but I think it might have been put before the Council at any rate right months ago. Your point is certainly worth considering.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-My point is that it should have come before us in a nebulous state fifteen months ago.
THE CHAIRMAN-It is hoped that the sumş shown in the additional statement will complete a good deal of the expenditure in connection with the railway, with the exception of any possible cases of exchange of land. If this has to
H
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.