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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
HIS EXCELLENCY-You that way.
can do it
HON. MR. POLLOCK-I beg to move that.
HON. MR. WEI YUK seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
HON. MR. HEWETT-The explanation of the Director of Public Works on all the points I have made is eminently satis- factory, but I think he slightly misunder- stood me when I spoke on the question of the estimates for his department. I quite understand estimates ought to be made as closely as possible, and that is what we ask. We do not ask to have close estimates made for such buildings as the Law Courts and the Post Office. A decrease of $130,000 in 24 million is, of course, going as near as any reasonable man could expect to get. With regard to the hon, Colonial Treasurer's remarks on sub- sidiary coinage. I understand that $11,000,000 has been withdrawn from circulation. The original amount was about $38,000,000 or $40,000,000, and we require from $2,000,000 to $2,500,000 for our own use. As $11,000,000 is wiped out, that leaves $26,500,000. We may reason- ably take it that about one-third of that at least has disappeared into bullion. Therefore, I presume that the Colonial Treasurer will be called upon to buy some thing like $13,000,000 or $14,000,000 more. That is further loss, and we stand to lose 15 or 16 per cent. on that sum of money. I wanted to arrive at some sort of estimate as to how much more this Colony will have to pay for the rehabilitation of its coinage. With regard to what the Colonial Treasurer said about house rents, I think he overlooked the fact that in assessing the value of house property it is generally taken at 75 per cent. of the value; because there are always a certain number of houses which are empty. Therefore, I maintain that the present assessment, taken a year or two ago, is probably higher than any which has been taken in the last five years. With regard to what was said about the railway, if $62,000 represents the cost of that coal, and good steaming engine coal is put into the tender, then it works out at a price of about $8 to $83, which is not excessive.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY I can give you the figure. But in the yard the cost is $8.30 per ton.
HON. MR. POLLOCK-I was not deal- ing with the price. I was speaking of the value.
HON. MR. HEWETT-The price seems to me, even if it were $10 in the yard, not excessive. With regard to the procedure of the debate, I must say I am sorry I cannot refer to the old question. Were the Governor to get up and make his speech verbally, as I said, it would be very much more illuminating, and I don't think there is anything more to be gained by sitting in conference, as suggested by the Colonial Secretary, and it would be making a travesty of the debate if the whole thing were done in committee. With regard to the moorings, your Excel- lency misunderstood what I have said. I entirely favour the relaying of the moorings, but I object to the new system and am afraid of it. Your Excellency has for the first time told us what the price is to be per diem for the use of these moorings, and I think the charge is very high, far higher than I charge for the use of my moorings when I let them to my friends. My point is that if it is necessary to relay the moorings I certainly think it is better to do so than to go to the vast expense of dredging the harbour, but let the shipping companies have their moor- ings in their present positions. Your Excellency speaks of relaying moorings once in four years.
HIS EXCELLENCY-No. We are taking them by degrees, ten a year.
HON. MR. HEWETT-Roughly speak- ing, there are 39 or 40 moorings, and the calculation is $10.000 a year to relay ten moorings. I would not attempt to leave my moorings down for four years. remove mine every two years.
I
HIS EXCELLENCY-The hon member does not understand me. We cannot take up the whole forty and relay them all at once because there would be no buoys available.
dare to keep your moorings down for four HON, MR. HEWETT-But you cannot
years without relaying them.
HIS EXCELLENCY—I will make a note of that.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
flox. MR. HEWETT-I remove mine every two years. Even then in that condition I have seen steamers break away from their moorings in a typhoon and go down the harbour. With regard to the question of the annual accounts rendered, I still think it would be of very great assistance if we could have a detail of the revised estimates put in the body of the accounts, because in many cases there is a large difference between the orginal estimates and the revised estimates. Now, Sir, I beg to move the elimination from the account of the amounts of $10,000 and $250,000 voted for the Harbour Master's Department.
HIS EXCELLENCY-You had better wait until we get into Committee to do that.
HON. MR. HEWETT-Very good, Sir. The motion was then put to the meeting, and the Bill was read a second time.
Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
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A meeting of the Finance Committee followed, the COLONIAL SECRETARY presid ing, when the following votes were passed :-
Public Works
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $23,500 in aid of the vote Public Works, Recurrent, Hongkong, Water Works, Maintenance of City and Hill District.
Judicial
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $3,240 in aid of the vote Judicial and Legal Departments, Special Expenditure, d.-Supreme Court, New Furniture.
Military
The Governor recommended the Council HON. MR. HEWETT then moved the
to vote a sum of $3,240 in aid of the vote rejection of the vote of $250,000 for the Military Expenditure, B.-Volunteers, Harbour Master's Department.
Other Charges, Capitation Grant for Recruits, Efficients and Proficients.
HON. MR. POLLOCK seconded. The motion was declared lost, but Hon. Mr. Hewettt wished to divide.
A division was taken, and resulted as follows:-
For Hon. Mr. Lau Chu Pak, Hon. Mr. Hewett, Hon. Mr. Pollock, Hon. Mr. Wei Yuk.
:
Against The Captain Superintendent of Police, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, the Director of Public Works, the Colonial Treasurer, the Attorney-General, the Colonial Secretary and the General Officer Commanding.
On Council resuming,
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL reported that the Bill had passed through Com- nittee without amendment, and moved that it be read a third time and passed.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER second-
ed, and the Bill was read a third time and passed, the unofficial members all voting against it.
His EXCELLENCY-Council stands adjourned sine die.
Compensation
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $148.50 in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary, Compensa- tion to owner for resumption of Lot No. 33, Ho Mun Tin.
War Department
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $50,000 in aid of the vote War Department Expenditure, in order to provide for all expenditure incurred by the Civil Departments of Government whether such expenditure is ultimately to be recovered from the Imperial Govern- ment or not.
For the Governor
The Governor recommended the Council Governor, Other Charges:- to vote a sum of $1,118 in aid of the vote
Furniture:
Piano
$450
Supervising of Inventory 468 Incidental Expenses
200
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