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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2ND MAY, 1891.
2. To ask the Honourable the Colonial Treasurer, if the arrears of the Military Contribution for the year 1890, payment of which was authorized by this Council on the 19th March last, has been paid, and if paid on what date, or dates, it, or any portion of it, was paid, and if so upon what authority.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD asked the following questions:--
1. What was the total expenditure of the Government under the head of salaries for the years 1887, 1888, 1889, and 1890, and what is the estimated total expenditure for the current year under the same heading on the basis of the increased pay and allowances recommended by this Council?
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2. What was the total expenditure on the Public Works Department in the years 1887, 1888, 1889, and 1890, for salaries and wages, and what is the estimated expenditure under the same heading for the current year on the Public Works Department and Water and Drainage Department combined?
3. How is it that there has been no meeting of the Public Works Committee appointed in October
last?
4. Does the Government intend to give effect to the recommendation of the Un-official Members in their addendum of the 20th December, 1890, to submit to the Public Works Committee full details and estimates of all Public Works?
5. What arrangements have been made for examining and checking accounts sent to the Treasury for payment, and have any difficulties arisen, since the new system of audit was introduced, in checking and examining accounts for payment?
6. What are the duties of the Treasury Department and the Treasurer, under the new organization
of that department?
7. Can His Excellency the Governor inform the Council whether the Audit System recently introduced in Hongkong is in force in Singapore, Ceylon, or any other Crown Colony, and if not for what special reasons has it been introduced in this Colony?
8. Will the Government lay on the table a statement showing the present position of the Light- house Works on Gap Rock, the amounts actually expended to the 31st March last, and the sums then due although not actually paid, and an estimate of the monies still required to complete the work?
9. Will the Government lay on the table a statement showing the actual cost to date of the S.S."Fame"; the monthly expenditure for wages and running expenses, interest, &c.; the number of trips she has made to the Gap Rock, and the cost per trip to and from the Gap Rock?
10. Have the plans for the construction of the sea-wall of the Praya Reclamation as designed by the late Surveyor General and approved by Sir John Coode been altered in any respect since the commencement of the work?
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11. If they have been altered in any respect, what is the nature of the alteration? What addi- tional expense (if any) does it entail beyond the sum mentioned in the Government Gazette of the 6th July, 1889 ?
12. With reference to Government Notification No. 139 of the 28th March, 1891, from which it appears that there are various cases of default in the performance of Covenants entered into on the purchase of Crown Lands, will Government lay on the table a detailed list of the Lands referred to in that Notification, specifying as regards each lot,-the date of sale, the name of the purchaser, the name of the successive Assignees and of the present tenant, the area, the premium, the annual Crown rent, and the nature of the covenants unperformed.
The Acting Colonial Secretary replied.
The Acting Colonial Secretary moved that the Honourable Ho KAI be appointed a Member of the Public Works Committee in room of the Honourable C. P. CHATER absent on leave.
The Attorney General seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD moved the following resolution :--
That in consequence of the enhanced Military Contribution still demanded by the Imperial Govern- ment, this Colony is not in a position to pay the increased Salaries recently recommended by the Un-official Members and that the Secretary of State be requested by telegram to withhold his Sanction.
The Honourable P. RYRIE seconded.
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