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96
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
New Territory Improvements
The Governor recommended the Coun- cil to vote a sum of $2,185 in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary, New Territories. Miscellaneous, Improvements of Ap Lui Village.
British
Inon, Miscellaneous, Kowloon School alterations to latrines and urinals.
THE CHAIRMAN-This is for an entire urinals at the Kowloon British School. re-arrangement of the latrines and
The extension of the school, amounting THE CHAIRMAN said that this was in
to $6,500, was not proceeded with, so that connection with a scheme for improving amount has been saved on the one hand Ap Lui vilage. In 1913 a. Board of and this sun has been re-incurred on the Arbitrators was appointed and they mad|other. It is very necessary work. certain recommendations, and when the villagers agreed they were paid certain sums. He thought these payment nearly completed the matter.
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS -There are a few outstanding, but the people who have hitherto refused to accept what we offered are comine round and accepting.
The vote was agreed to.
Police and Prison
The Governor recommended the Coun cil to vote a sum of $5,210 in aid of the following votes :-
Police and Prison Department
4. Police, Other Charges:-
Bedding, Mess Utensils, etc. Clothing and Accoutrements
Total
.8 280 4,930
.$5,210
THE CHAIRMAN This is caused entirely by the increased cost of goods which have been ordered from England.
The vote was agreed to.
Travelling Expenses
The Governor recommended the Coun- cil to vote a sum of $100 in aid of the vote Audit Department, Other Charges, Transport and Travelling.
THE CHAIRMAN-These sums are in curred by unforeseen travelling expenses. The ferry fares are higher; many special visits have been necessary to the Rail- way Offices. Two thirds of the amount mentioned will not be incurred again.
The vote was agreed to.
Kowloon British School
The Governor recommended the Coun- cil to vote a sum of $1,000 in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary, Kow-
The vote was agreed to.
Tai Po Buildings
The Governor recommended the Coun- cil to vote a sum of $5,500 in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary, New Territories, Buildings, Tai Po Quarters -addition to provide accommodation for bailiff.
THE CHAIRMAN-This sum is for the quarters for the bailiff at Tai Po, which has been carried out departmentally. This is the first work carried out depart- mentally in the New territories, and though it has cost more than expect- ed it has given the department an insight into the difficulties of construction in the New Territory. I think it is useful.
HON. MR. LANDALE Could not the work have been done by contract?
were
THE CHTIRMAN replied that tenders were called for, some of which rather less than they had spent. The Director of Public Works thought that though a saving might not be effected by doing the work departmentally the result would be beneficial if only for ascertain- ing the difficulties liable to occur in con- nection with work in that district. The lowest tender was about $1,000 less than the cost of the work, bu he thought that the contractor would have been very unwilling to carry out the work, and in view of the experience gained it la not been expensive.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER I expect if you had let the contract for $12,000 you would have had to spend about $15,000.
contract r
THE CHAIRMAN-The might have found himself entirely unable to carry out the work contracted for.
HON. MR. SHELLIM inquired what were the difficulties?
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS Transport of material is one great difficulty, and it is a common occurrence for fever to occur among the work-people out there. Contractors are very diffident about accepting building contracts for that district.
THE CHAIRMAN remarked that gen- crally speaking the cost quoted for New Territory had gone up about 30 per cent. in the last two years. This work was really undertaken as a test to find out the nature of the difficulties. In that case he thought it was justified.
HON. MR. SHELLIM-Do you consider it cheaper to be done by contract, or de- partmentally?
THE CHAIRMAN replied that it had --cost $1,000 more than the tender in this case, but it was impossible to say whether ther the contract would have been carried aut. It might have resulted in compen- sation and other additional sums having to be expended. They could take it that the worst which had happened was that the experiment had cost them $1,000.
The vote was agreed to.
Survey of Colony and
Boundary Stones
The Governor recommended the Coun- cil to vote a sum of $350 in aid of the following votes:—
Public Works, Extraordinary, Hong- kong, Miscellaneous.
(1)-Survey of Colony (2.)-Boundary Stones
Total
.$150
200
.$350
items
THE CHAIRMAN-These two have been caused, one by more boundary stones being required and the other is due to the survey. These were matters which could not be anticipated when the estimates were drawn up.
The vote was agreed to.
Repairs to Dredger
The Governor recommended the Coun- cil to vote a sum of $1,500 in aid of the vote Public Works, Recurrent, Upkeep of Plant, Repairs to Dredger St. Enoch.
97 624
THE CHAIRMAN explained that the dredger had broken down during the work it was carrying out in fulfilment of a promise by the Government.
was
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS remarked that a new iron cable required for the dredger, because the old cable was in such a condition that it was cunstantly giving way, causing very serious delays in the progress of the dredging operations. The new cable cost $1.541.
HON. MR. POLLOCK- What work is the dredger doing?
THE CHAIRMAN-It is dredging the approaches to the proposed new wharf at Kowloon,
The vote was agreed to.
Tytam Water Works
cil to vote a sum of $105,000 in aid of The Governor recommended the Coun-
the vote Public Works, Extraordinary. Hongkong. Water Works, Tytam Tuk Scheme, second section.
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS explained that $75,000 was due to pumping machinery not arriving in 1914 owing to the outbreak of war. It. did not arrive until this year, and the ex- pense had thus fallen into this year. More progress had also been made with the main work than was anticipated.
The vote was agreed to.
Prisoners of War
The Governor recommended the Coun- cil to vote a sum of $68,000 in rid of the vote Miscellaneous Services, Main- tenance of prisoners of war.
THE CHAIRMAN said that up to the end of July the cost of maintenance was $48,600. A sum of $19,400 would be re- quired up to November 30th.
The vote was agreed to.
Resumptions of Land
The Governor recommended the Coun- cil to vote a sum of $1,524 in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary. Com- pensation for resumption of land at Sham Shui Po.
The vote was agreed to.
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