628951-1899-L-C-Minute-No-6 — Page 2

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 22ND APRII, 1899.

NOTICE OF QUESTIONS.-Mr. BELILIOS gave notice that at the next meeting he would ask the following questions :--

(1.) Has the Government received a copy of a letter from the Director of the Manila Observatory, dated the 7th March, in which he complains of a letter addressed by the Director of the Hongkong Observatory to the Weather Bureau of the Government of the United States of America, in which the said passages are said to occur: "The Observatory in Manila is in the hands of men who possess very little scientific education" and that "scandal is caused by the Observatory continually communicating sensational typhoon warnings to the newspapers in Hongkong"?

(2.) Was this communication to the Weather Bureau of the United States Government made

with the knowledge and consent of the Colonial Government?

(3.) Has Dr. Doberck been asked to explain his action in condemning an Observatory to whom the Colony is so much indebted for the timely storm warnings received for a number of '+ years past?

(4.) What action do the Government propose to take in this matter?

(5.) Is not an apology or an explanation due to the Director of the Manila Observatory from

the Government?

(6.) In refcrence to the correspondence between the Kowloon School Committee and the Govern- ment on the subject of the provision of educational facilities for the European children in that portion of the Colony, and which, after extending over some two years, eventually culminated in an offer by His Excellency Major-General Black "to establish a school open to children of any nationality, to provide a teaching staff, to charge fees at the same rate as the fees paid at Queen's College, and to give a purely English education," which was gratefully accepted by the Kowloon School Committee in September last, will the Government be good enough to say what has been done in the matter?

(7.) If the scheme is being carried out, when will the teachers arrive from England? (8.) It being proposed to rent a house for the purpose for a period as a trial, has any building

been secured by the Government?

(9.) If nothing has been done towards redemption of the pledge made by the Government to the

Kowloon School Committee, is it intended to go on with the scheme?. (10,) If not, will the Government give reasons for not so proceeping?.......

QUESTIONS.—Mr. BELILIOS, pursuant to notice, asked the following questions

(1.) There being an understanding between the subscribers to the Fund for the commemoration of Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee that the Jubilee Road shall be constructed, the funds for which are now lying in the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank untouched though nearly two years have elapsed since their subscription, will the Government be good enough to state whether the survey and planning of the load have been completed?

(2.) Will the Government be good enough to state when it is proposed to commence work on the

first section of the Jubilee Road?

(3.) Will the first section be made round Mount Davis?

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(4.) Can the Government give the approximate date of the completion of the section to its juncture

with the Aberdeen Road?

The Colonial Secretary replied.

Mr. Chater, pursuant to notice, asked the following question:-

With reference to the Notes and Comments contained in the "Hongkong Telegraph" of Monday, the 27th February last, relating to the alleged insanitary condition of certain lanes and alleys lying between Queen's Road and the Praya, to the westward of Pedder's Street, will the Government state whether the condition of the lanes and alleys in question is such as it is said to be?

The Colonial Secretary replied.

Mr. WHITEHEAD, pursuant to notice, asked the following questions:---

(1.) Will the Government inform the Council on what grounds it has refused to put an end to the farming out of the Slaughter-houses to a Chinese Contractor as recommended by the Sanitary Board in their resolution of 2nd February last, which reads:-

"That the Board recomniend the Government to transfer the management and "control of the Slaughter-houses to the Sanitary Board upon the expiration of "the present lease to the farmer."

(2.) Referring to the statement in the fifth paragraph of the Secretary of State's Despatch No. 254 of 6th November, 1896, will the Government inform the Council whether the Secretary of State for the Colonics has given any decision as to the reconstruction of the Sanitary Board in connection with Sir William Robinson's recommendations on the subject contained in his Despatch No. 150 of 30th June, 1896.