596
75
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
have been concluded, and Government will obtain possession of them at the end of the current year. The construction of the three small work under item 6 is very desirable on sanitary grounds.
Under the heading "Communications,”” item 7 (a) is retention money on a work which will be completed this year; (b) is to complete a path which the Government undertook to construct, while the sum of $15,000 provided under (c) is put as low as possible to meet probable requirements.
Under the heading "Drainage," the only important work is that in item 8 (d). It is necessary on sanitary grounds to make a start on the work of draining the Soo kunpoo Valley in view of the occupation of the old Cotton Mills by the French Con- vent and the general development of the neighbourhood. Under item 9 the sum of $20,000 provided is considered absolute ly necessary.
>>
Under the heading Miscellaneous,' items 11 to 14 are required to meet the services of an ordinary year. Item 15 is to complete the dredging off Kowloon Point and item 18 is to cover unforeseen minor works. The sum provided for com- pensations and resumptions is lower than usual, but in the present state of our finances it is necessary to curtail such expenditure. I have already referred to the large sum required for the waterworks under construction, but having regard to the contracts and the urgent necessity for these works, it has been impossible to reduce these items.
With regard to Kowloon, the sums esti- mated are
those required to meet the ordinary services of the year. of $30,000 provided under item 28 is the The sum retention money on the contract for the Typhoon Refuge. This work was completed in August, some months under the con- tract time, and I think that honourable members will agree with me that its con- struction reflects much credit on Mr. Jaffé and those who were associated with him. Under the heading "Waterworks," a sum of $14,000 has been provided for an addi- tioral filter-bed, which is required.
|
tories, but it has been impossible to do
$0.
spend on Public Works Extraordinary 18 The total sum which it is proposed to $1,279,400, which is nearly a million dollars less than the sum provided this year. Even this reduced expenditure, however, will result in a deficit in the budget, as a whole, of $473,764, which will have to be met from the surplus balances of the Colony.
Post Office
Under "Personal Emoluments
the
post of Senior Clerk has been abolished, proposed to appoint in his place a Postal causing a saving of $3,762. and it is Inspector, whose principal duties will consist of the inspection of the branch the post offices, and the general supervision of postmen. No salary has been inserted in the estimates for this post, as it is proposed for the present to con- by a Lance-Sergeant of Police is acting in the post. tinue the temporary arrangement where- saved by the discontinuance of the sea- sorting of mails on board Peninsular and A sum of $2,880 has been
Oriental Mail Packets.
Radio Telegraph Staff of two 3rd Grade An addition has been made to the Telegraphists, who will be trained for the work at the Cape D'Aguilar Station. By this means
it is anticipated that future economies may
be effected. Under "Other Charges," the share of the Mail Subsidy payable by this Colony is increased by $5.544, due to the lower rate of exchange at which the calculation is made. A sum of $11,429 has been Telegraphic Station at Cape D'Aguilar. provided for Stores for the Radio- made by the Naval Authorities, who are responsible for This is in accordance with an estimate
Station.
the working
of the
Kowloon-Canton Railway
an
of the Kowloon-Canton Railway appear In those estimates the working expenseg urgently in detail in the body of the Estimates.
instead of
being included in | Appendix. The estimated expenditure next year is $313,905. which is $9.550 lews than the estimate for current year. The only two
would refer are
In the New Territories the principal for expenditure is for road construction. I
should have liked to provide much larger the sums for the development of those Terri-items to which
as
pro-
come
76
these
year.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL follows:-On page 109 provision has been | Minute No. 30 was brought before this made for nine additional porters at a cost of $1,296, which is necessitated by the reasons which had led me to recommend Council I explained at some length the expansion of the traffic. On page 110 that the Government of this Colony an increase of $1,000 has been made in the should vote for Fuel Lighting, etc., for carriages, institutions
to the aid of stations, and offices, as the amount
during the current and the same vided previously was under-estimated. year.
reasons apply to next The The estimated Revenue from the railway of the estimated receipts from local sum provided is exclusive next year is $432,600, or $3,000 less than philanthropists, from the Education De the estimated Revenue for the current partment, and from the sale of work. year, leaving a net balance of earnings which are expected to amount to $2.840. over working expenses of $118,695. The financial position of the Railway is shown in detail in Note 3, in Appendix
The Balancing of the Budget II., on page 121, from which it will be seen that the deficit to be met next year 8473.764 will have to be appropriated As I have already stated, a sum of from Colonial Funds is
2 suni of $523,625. In accordance with the pro- the estimated expenditure for the year from surplus balances in order to meet posals which I made in my Despatch No. 137 of the 22nd April last, which has inclusion in the estimates of two extra- 1916. This deficit is occasioned by the already been laid before you as Council Paper No. 15 of 1915, the capital coordinary items, namely, the War Expen- struction account is to be closed at the diture and the expenses of construction end of this year, and the expenses
of the Kowloon-Canton Railway. construction beyond the authorised loans Budget which is in the hands of h nour- of £1,100,000 and £250,000 are
able members has been drawn up with to be included in the annual expenditure of the great care to meet the circumstances in Colony. They appear in detail
which we find ourselves. It is intended page 112 of the Estimates. The sum
to meet the needs of the Public Service required in 1916 is $386,198, the major of this Colony, and no more than these portion of which is due to expenditure
needs. It is a Budget framed with due on the Station Buildings at Kowloon, regard to economy, and it contains no and the new loco, and carriage sheds at expenditure which cannot be defended Hunghom.
from that point of view. I hope it will meet with the convenience of honourable the Supply Bill on Tuesday, the 26th members to take the second reading of
October.
of
Un
Charge on Account of Public Debt
Under this head there is
ઈં total increase of $81,039, due partly to the lower rate of exchange on which the Estimates are calculated, partly to the inclusion of Crown Agents' charges on the 1906 loan, which were formerly paid out of a special fund, and to the interest due on the cost of railway construction.
Pensions
Under this head there is an increase of $54,000 due to lower exchange, and to additional pensions.
Charitable Services
The
The text of the Bill is as follow:- Whereas the expenditure required for the service of this Colony for the year 1916 has, apart from the contribution to the Imperial Government in aid of Military Expenditure and Charges on account of Public Debt, been estimated at the sum of nine million eighty-one thousand two hundred and nine dollars.
kong, with the advice and consent of the Be it enacted by the Governor of Hong- Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-
-
1. This Ordinance may be cited as th Appropriation Ordinance for 1916." 2. A sum not exceeding nine millior The only item to which I wish to refer eighty-one thousand two hundred and nine under this head is the provision of dollars shall be and the same is hereby $15,000 as a grant in aid for the main-charged upon the revenue and other fund tenance during the year 1906 of the three of the Colony for the service of the year German Charitable Institutions, namely, 1916 and the said sum so charged may be the Berlin Foundling House, Blinden- expended as hereinafter specified, that is heim and Ebenezer. When Financial to say:-
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