66892-1920-Legislative-Council-Minutes-No-8 — Page 2

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, DECEMBER 10, 1920.

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The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (ARTHUR GEORGE MURCHISON FLETCHER, C.B.E.).

the Attorney General, (JOSEPH HORSFORD KEMP, K.C., C.B.E.).

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the Colonial Treasurer, (DAVID WILLIAM TRATMAN).

the Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM, C.M.Ġ.).

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the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, (EDWIN RICHARD HALLIFAX, O.B.E.).

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the Director of Education, (EDWARD ALEXANDER IRVING).

Mr. HENRY EDWARD POLLOCK, K.C.

Mr. LAU CHU-PAK.

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Mr. PERCY HOBSON HOLYOAK.

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Mr. Ho FOOK.

Mr. EDWARD VICTOR DAVID PARR.

Mr. JOHN JOHNSTONE.

ABSENT:

The Council met pursuant to adjournment.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on the 28th October, 1920, were confirmed.

PAPERS. The Colonial Secretary laid on the table the following paper:-

Return of Excesses on Sub-Heads met by Savings under Heads of Expenditure

for the 3rd Quarter, 1920.

FINANCIAL MINUTES.-The Colonial Secretary laid on the table Financial Minutes Nos. 104 to 108, and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee :

No. 104. Education Department, Capitation Grants, ......$ 7,640.00 No. 105.----Public Works, Recurrent, Hongkong, (17) Ty-

phoon and Rainstorm Damages,

35,000.00

No. 106.—Public Works, Extraordinary, Hongkong, (16) Roads, (k) Shaukiwan,-Widening existing road between North Point and Quarry Point,... 20,000.00

No. 107.--Public Works, Recurrent, Hongkong, (16)

Dredging Foreshores,

1,500.00

No. 108. Public Works, Extraordinary, Hongkong, (16)

Roads, (e) Lugard Road Extensions,

5,000.00

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Colonial Secretary laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee (No. 7), dated the 28th October, 1920, and moved its adoption.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

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

1. In view of the fact that the Government have been able in 1920 to issue Financial returns monthly, instead of at times with more than one month's Receipts and Payments grouped together, will they give the usual total receipts for January, February and March, 1919, also those of December, 1919, which have not been published, in order that some comparison can be obtained with the 1920 figures?

2. As the publication of the monthly Cash Account some three to four months later detracts considerably from its value, and in view of the fact that the Imperial Government is able to issue its Statement within a month after date, cannot some improvement be instituted (possibly by standardising the items and obtaining Crown Agents London figures by telegraph for incorporation) whereby the publication can be made within the month following?

3. Whereas the Monthly Financial Return merely gives the Receipts and Payments in one item respectively, which is the minimum of information which can be produced, and as the Government doubtlessly keep its Accounts in the form of the "Financial Returns for the year

cannot a Monthly Account be published to enable the Officials and public to follow the Returns intelligently on such lines as follows, e.g. :-

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