CO129-433 - Governor Sir May - 1916 [5-6] — Page 257

Endlosures,

HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

23RD APRIL, 1914.

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PRESENT:...

IS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIA FRANCIS HENRY MAY, K.C.M.G.

HN. MR. CLAUD SEVERN (Colonial Secretary).

HON MR. J. H. KEMP (Attorney General).

HON. MR. E. D. C. WOLFE (Colonial

Treasure).

HON. MR. A. F. CHURCHILL (Director Public Works).

HON. ME C. McI. MESSER (Captain Superintendent of Police).

HON. MR. WEI YUK, o.M.G. HON. MR. A. HEWETT, C,M.G.

HON. MR. DALANDALE.

HON. MR. E. HELLIM. HON. MR. LAU CHU PAK. MR. M. BREEN (Clerk of Councils). Minutes

The minutes of the last meeting were confirmed.

New Members

The Law Courts Building Contracts With regard to Financial Minute No. 12, relating to a vote of $18,505 in con- nection with the building of the new Law Coarts, the COLONIAL SECRETARY said:-I have a copy of the award given by Major Wenborn which I will circulate for the

inspection of members of the Council.

HIS EXCELLENCY, in connection with Financial Minuto No. 12, said-It will be within the recollection of members that on the occasion of the debate on the

Estimates for 1913 the honourable mem. bir nominated by the Chamber of Com- merce animadverted upon the delay in the building of the Law Courts and the Post Office; and on behalf of unofficial members asked for a Commission to enquire into the administration of tho Public Works Department and the cause of delays in carrying out Public Works. In consequence of those representations a Committee was appointed to enquire into the delay and excess expenditure over Estimates in the case of the Law Courts and Post Office, and their report on the subject of the Post Office was laid on the table some months ago. It was impossible for the Committee to prosecute their inquiries into the building of the Law Courts, because the accounts for that work had, owing to disputes with the contractor, not been closed. The contractor claimed THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by 855,448.23 for value of extra work per command of His Excellency the Governor, formed in connection with the above laid on the table the following papers building, and as no agreement could be Financial Returns for the ear 1913: arrived at on the subject it was agreed Sessional paper No. 4 and Jurors' List to submit the question to the arbitration for 1914: Despatch from the Secretary of of Major Wenborn, whose services were State (Sessional Paper No. 5) transmit-kindly lent by his Excellency the General ting letter from the War Office with en- Officer Commanding for the purpose. closures relating to the cost of the Garri

Mr. J. H. Kemp, MA A. F. Churchill and Mr. E. D. C. Wolje took the oath and assumed their seats as members of Council.

Paper

son in Hongkong for the year 191 13.

Financial Minutes

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table Financial Minutes Nos.

9 to 12, and moved that they be referre to the Finance Committee.

The award is $38,360.35 less $16,954.58 overpaid to the contractor, or a nett sunt of $18,505. The arbitrator's award is laid on the table for the perusal of members. His fes amounts to $2,000, and on the recommendation of the arbitrator it is proposed that this bee should be defrayed by the Government. Mr. H. G. C. Fisher, the Executive Engineer in charge of the