705452-1870-VOTES-AND-PROCEEDINGS-OF-THE-LEGISLATIVE-COUNCIL-OF-HONGKONG-No-4-OF-1870-THURSDAY-28TH-JULY-1870- — Page 2

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 20ти AUGUST, 1870.

subjects of conjecture. It would be a great improvement if, as is the case in most. of the Colonies having Representative Assemblies, the Estimates were framed in the year for which they were to take effect. Be this as it may, there is a still graver objection to the system which has been adopted for very many years by which large sums have, as in the present case, been expended without authority previously obtained from the Council. Hereafter, this is not to be the case, as in accordance with instructions recently received from the Secretary of State, the Council will be to a certain extent en permanence, that is, a Financial Committee of the whole Council will be required to assemble periodically to consider and approve or disapprove of any new item of expenditure or any increase of specific votes which may, from time to time, be submitted by the Governor. At the close of each all sums so approved will be covered by a short confirmatory Ordinance.

year,

In the table which accompanies the Supplemental Estimates, full explanations are given in each case of the causes influencing increased or decreased expendi ture; and it is unnecessary, therefore, to refer to them specially again.

As regards the Estimates of 1870, they are in very many respects but a reprint of those which met your approval in September last. There are, however, some notable variations to which your attention should be drawn. Thus, you will perceive that in the Financial Estimate, Fol. 3, the Assets on the 1st January are declared to be $123,031.88 as against $120,176.58 assumed last year, and that the Revenue for 1870 is estimated at $841,535 in lieu of $781,665; as also that the Expenditure is now apparently increased to $916,568.45 from $790,720.45.

The increased Revenue is accounted for as follows:--

1st. By receipt of the instalment for the sale of the Mint, which yielded

$40,000.

2udly. By the contribution of $50,000 from the Special Fund, as

authorized by the Secretary of State.

3rdly. By an increased allowance of $11,000 for Stamps, and the Opium

Monopoly.

4thly. By a rectification of the previous emission of $4,000 for Medical

Fees on Examination of Emigrants.

5thly. By an allowance of $9,000 for Departmental savings, that is, for charges placed on the Civil List and Estimates which cannot well be withdrawn, and which will nevertheless remain unpaid.

You will observe that by reason of the transfer to the Special Fund of the interest arising from those Deposits, the credit taken for interest in the preceding Estimates has been reduced by $5,000 in these.

The increased Expenditure provided for in the present Estimates in seeming excess of that contemplated by the Estimates of September last has been caused by the credits then taken for aid from the Special Fund, by which it was proposed to reduce Departmental charges to the extent of $96,460, say: Harbor Master's Department $10,000, Educational Department $4,418, Police $82,012.

Had these sums been added to the Estimates laid before you in September last, the present increase would have amounted but to $29,388, which considering the provision of $40,000 made for the purchase of Mr. DUDDELL's lots, would not appear to be in any way excessive.

On the whole, I think you may safely congratulate yourselves on the sound financial position of the Colony, as independent of the Special Fund and other liabilities which are amply covered by Bank Deposits amounting at this date to $430,000, you had available Assets on the 1st of January amounting to $123,031.88. It is much to be regretted that you are not at present at liberty to. employ a portion of these great resources in works of pressing public necessity, such as the erection of a new Civil Hospital, and Sanitary improvements in the Chinese portion of the Town.

The Bills are then read a First time; namely:-

1st. A Bill to authorize the Appropriation of a Supplementary Sum not exceeding One hundred

and Forty-one thousand Dollars to defray the Charges of the Year 1869;

2ndly. A Bill to apply a Sum not exceeding Seven hundred and Sixty-five thousand Dollars to

the Public Service of the Year 1870.

The following Bills are next read a First time, and by desire of His Excellency The Lieutenant-

Governor, they are explained seriatim by the Honorable The Attorney General; namely:- (1). A Bill to modify the Restrictions and Regulations of the "Chinese Passengers' Act, 1855,"

in respect of Short Voyages within the China Seas.

(2). A Bill for the Punishment of deported Criminals, and other Persons dangerous to the Peace and good Order of the Colony, who may be found at large within the same before the Expiration of the Period of their Deportation.