1918-08-29 — Page 1

54 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 29TH AUGUST, 1918.

PRESENT:―

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR SIR FRANCIS HENRY MAY, K.C.M.G.

HIS EXCELLENCY MAJOR-GENERAL F. VENTRIS (General Officer Commanding Troops in China).

HON. MR. CLAUD SEVERN, C.M.G. (Colonial Secretary).

HON. MR. J. H. KEMP (Attorney-General).

HON. MR. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer).

HON. MR. E. R. HALLIFAX (Secretary for Chinese Affairs).

HON. MR. W. CHATHAM, C.M.G. (Director of Public Works).

HON. MR. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C.

HON. MR. D. LANDALE.

HON. MR. E. SHELLIM

HON. MR. LAU CHU PAK.

HON. MR. HO FOOK.

MR. A. G. M. FLETCHER (Clerk of Councils).

Papers

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid upon the table the quarterly return of excesses on sub heads met by savings under heads of expenditure for the second quarter of 1918, and the report of the proceedings of the Public Works Committee meeting held on August 16th, 1918.

Finance

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid upon the table Financial Minutes Nos. 54 to 61, and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and this was agreed to.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid upon the table the report of the Finance Committee, No. 5, and moved that it be adopted.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and this was agreed to.

Charges of the Year 1917

THE COLONIAL TREASURER moved the second reading of a Bill intituled, "An Ordinance to authorise the appropriation of a supplementary sum of two million seven hundred and fifty-two thousand one hundred and fifty-two dollars and fifty-eight cents to defray the charges of the year 1917." He said ―It will be observed that there are only five items on the Bill this year, and all these items have already been covered by supplementary votes. I do not, therefore, propose to offer any remarks on the Bill at this stage. Any explanation with regard to the accounts that may be required will be furnished in committee.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.

HON. MR. POLLOCK―I should like to make a few remarks on the second reading of this Bill, and I will base my remarks, sir, on the pamphlet of the Draft Appropriation Account for the year 1917 which has been supplied to hon. members. Coming now, sir, to page 12, near the bottom of that page, there is an item for Miscellaneous Services, and an increase is shown of $245,000 odd, stated to be for loss on exchange. I should like to have some particulars with regard to that item. What are the items referred to which are included, and how did the loss in exchange occur? Turning now, sir, to page 22, I come to an item headed Lunatic Asylum. Your Excellency will

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 55

remember that there was quite recently laid upon the table of this Council the Medical and Sanitary reports for 1917, and on page 45 of that report there is a special reference to the Lunatic Asylum. I must say, sir, that I was rather astonished when I read this report, because it seems to show that a very considerable number of Europeans and Chinese were admitted to the Lunatic Asylum during the year 1917 and discharged during the course of the same year. That to my mind seems to imply that people are admitted too hurriedly to the Lunatic Asylum. Taking the cases of Europeans, some number between 20 and 30 seems to have been admitted and then discharged in 1917. As regards the Chinese the figures are even more striking, because 160 Chinese were admitted in 1917, and 160 discharged. It is rather difficult for an ordinary person to understand how it is, if people really deserve to be admitted to the Lunatic Asylum, that they should be in such a state of sanity that would fit them to be discharged at the end of the year. As I say, it rather tends to my mind to show that people are too freely admitted to the Lunatic Asylum Of course, I do not expect your Excellency to be prepared to make any statement on the subject at this meeting of the Council, but at some future meeting your Excellency may be able to throw some light on the point.

H.E. THE GOVERNOR ― The point was made, in answer to questions at a recent meeting of the Council, that our Lunatic Asylum does not pretend to be a permanent habitat for lunatics. That is the reason why it is not extended to larger proportions. The Chinese are handed on to their own countrymen. The Europeans are repatriated. Those who remain at the end of the year are only those we cannot get rid of. That is the answer.

HON. MR. POLLOCK―Turning now, sir, to page 28, to the reference to the Department of Education, the report of the Director of Education was recently laid upon the table of this Council, and I noticed from it that the ratio of expenditure on education compared with the total revenue of the Colony was 2.29 for 1917. The ratio was 2.44 in 1916, and it was stated that the figure of 2.29 in 1917 was the lowest figure since 1904. The point I would like to make is that I think we might

spend a greater ratio of our revenue reasonably on education in this Colony. There is no doubt it is desirable that the question of child labour in this Colony should be dealt with. It is not at all satisfactory to one's human instincts to see so many children carrying heavy loads, and it is no doubt desirable that the question of child labour should be dealt with more or less side by side with that of educating the children and providing for their being looked after. It is a thorny question, sir, and I just mention it now in the hope that some solution of the problem may be found, and that it may be found possible in the forthcoming budget to devote a more considerable proportion of our revenue to the cause of education. Another thorny question, sir, which is raised also in this Educational report, is the subject of education in British schools. Perhaps I may read the remarks of the Director of Education on this subject.

The reports on the three British Schools may be considered quite satisfactory having regard to the peculiar conditions of these schools. They are adversely affected by climatic conditions, which make the attendance low during the summer months and which lower the stamina and therefore the mental powers of the children who do remain in attendance. As regards the higher classes an even more serious disability is found in the small numbers attending. When there are only three or four pupils in a class it is manifestly impossible to provide them with a number of special masters. A similar class in a big school at Home would have the Mathematics taught by a mathematician, and French taught by a French scholar; there would be suitable laboratories, and so forth. It might be possible to aim at something nearer this standard, if the three schools could be combined into one. That suggestion is frequently made; but without much regard to the difficulties. There is obviously the difficulty of the site. A school for British children should not be in the heart of a native city, and it should have play-grounds about it. Even greater is the difficulty of parents. Their feelings appear to lie altogether in the other direction. At one time the upper classes at Kow-

56 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

loon School were exclusively for girls and those of Victoria School for boys, irrespective of their homes. This plan broke down in face of the opposition to it. Recently, I attempted to get the bigger boys of both schools to meet for instruction in Chinese in a room of the Post Office building. I found that strong objections were raised and that the attendance suffered considerably. The objections would be stronger and better grounded if it were intended to make little children travel daily a distance of many miles in all weathers. The tendency has on the contrary been to demand a separate school for each locality. The Peak School was the last, and another is at present under consideration.

I read that paragraph, sir, from the Director's report for the purpose of showing that this question of education in British schools does not, in his opinion, stand on a satisfactory footing, and I would suggest, sir, as a solution towards a remedy that it might be desirable that a Committee should be formed to consider this question, composed of an officer from the Education Department, and, say, three parents from various districts of this Colony. In that way, sir, there might be a thorough thrashing out of the problem involved and possibly this might result in some useful recommendations being made. No one reading the paragraph of the Director of Education's report which I have quoted can possibly say that the situation in the British schools is satisfactory at the present time. I willingly concede it is a difficult subject to tackle, but I cannot help thinking that the best way to tackle it would be for someone from the Education Department to meet, say, three parents from the various outlying districts of the Colony, so that the whole subject might be threshed out. Now passing on, sir, to page , I note there that this Colony has given no less a sum than two and three quarter millions of dollars towards the military contribution. Of course, sir, we are all very glad, especially in war time, that there should be a very handsome contribution made towards the military funds of the Empire, but one cannot help feeling in this matter that, to a certain extent, charity should begin at home, although I should not use the word charity, but should say that justice should begin at home. And there is no doubt that the question of the service dollar in this Colony is in a very

unsatisfactory state. The unofficial members were in conference with your Excellency on this matter about this time last year, and recently they have written in again upon the subject. As you know, sir, our desire is that the sterling pay should be allowed at the rate of two shillings to the dollar. We have written in upon that subject to your Excellency, and you will find, sir, a good deal of interesting correspondence on the subject, also, in the report of the Chamber of Commerce for 1917, in the schedule marked B 2. That will remind you, sir, of what took place between July and September of last year, and you will probably remember that a number of telegrams were sent Home by the Chamber of Commerce, the China Association and other bodies, urging that relief might be afforded by the rate of exchange of sterling pay being taken on the basis of two shillings to the dollar. I notice, sir, that at one time the question became so acute that I myself drafted a petition which may be seen in the Chamber of Commerce report for 1917. That petition, as a matter of fact, was not signed, as it was understood then that some relief would shortly be forthcoming. At the time that petition was drafted it would appear from its terms that the dollar then stood somewhere in the neighbourhood of 3s. 3d.

H.E. THE GOVERNOR ― How does this question affect these charges with which we are dealing?

HON. MR. POLLOCK ― The question is whether it is fair, whether we should in justice to the Services out here continue to remit this money Home whilst there is this hardship being inflicted upon the troops here for whom primarily, it is presumed, this military contribution is made. That is how I would bring the matter in as relevant.

H.E. THE GOVERNOR―It does not affect the Bill.

HON. MR. POLLOCK―It is in the Draft Appropriation Account which has been submitted to us.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER―That is only for information.

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 57

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY ― The military contribution is fixed by Ordinance.

HON. MR. POLLOCK―It must be obvious to anyone that with a heavy rise in the dollar during the last few weeks the hardship has become greater. Of course, a certain concession was made by the naval and military authorities about the end of November last. That was only a partial concession, and not so big as that asked for by the members of this Council. I will merely say, in concluding, that as your Excellency was sympathetic with us about a year ago, I trust you will be equally sympathetic now with the unofficial members and that with a joint push―if I may use the term ― by unofficial and official members some definite and tangible relief may be obtained from the Home authorities. Now, sir, I will turn to pages 38 and 39 of the Draft Appropriation Account. Reference is made there to a new beacon which has been put on a rock in Cheung Chau channel. It is a comparatively small point, but I would urge also that a beacon be put on a reef that your Excellency, as a yachtsman, will remember at Tsat Tze Mui, on the west side of Quarry Bay. Your Excellency will remember that there was formerly a beacon on those rocks and I think I am correct in saying that a few years ago, since the beacon was destroyed in a typhoon, a launch went on them. I think it would be a good thing if a beacon was placed there now. On page 41, there is mention of a provisional vote of $14,500 for Nathan Road extension past the hill north of Yaumati theatre. I should like to hear from the Director of Public Works what that refers to. Does it refer to the direct road through the hill, because I rather understood that the other road had been made?

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS― This item refers to the provisional road which has been made. In taking the vote the cost of the resumption of certain property was included in the vote, and, subsequently, that cost was defrayed from another heading in the estimates for compensations and resumptions. Consequently the full amount was not expended.

HON. MR. POLLOCK―I am obliged for the explanation. There are other items on pages 43, 45 and 47 of the Draft Appropriation Account

to which I should also like to refer. On page 43 you will find the words "Not found possible to proceed with this work." On page 45 with regard to five items there are the words "Less work done than was anticipated," and again, "Work postponed on account of the war." On page 47 in connection with several items there is the remark "Not found possible to proceed with this work." The question I should like to ask is, why it has not been found possible to proceed with these various works, whether it is due to want of material or to insufficient staff in the P.W.D.? Passing on now, sir, to page 49 in connection with the resumption of ferry piers and the marginal note that it has not been found possible to complete the resumptions, I should like to ask the Director of Public Works whether this new ferry service is likely to be soon inaugurated. It seems to have hung fire a good deal, and, also, I would like to suggest for consideration that greater provision should be made for an improved ferry service, say, to a place like Aberdeen. I cannot help thinking, sir, that Europeans would go more to Aberdeen in the summer time to bathe, or possibly to walk from there to Deep Water Bay for bathing, if there was improved ferry service. The ferry service to Aberdeen is of a very scratch character as far as Europeans are concerned. The accommodation for Europeans can hardly be described as first class. Turning now to page 51 there is a big item of $135,000 written off the value of the dredger St. Enoch in the Stores books. I would like to ask what condition the St. Enoch is in at the present time. I know that constant votes were being brought up a few years ago in the Council for repairs to this dredger, and the late Mr. Hewett complained that the dredger was a very expensive vessel to maintain. I should like to know what is proposed to be done with the St. Enoch and what state of repair it is now in. Turning to page 52, we come to the Kowloon Canton Railway, and, sir, it is very satisfactory to find that a saving of nearly $90,000 seems to have been effected in the working of this railway. I would simply add this remark with reference to the railway, and it is repeating an observation I have made several times before in this Council, that it seems most desirable that the Chinese authorities should be strongly urged to link up Canton with Hankow so that the railway from Kowloon to Canton may make part of the big trunk system extending throughout China.

58 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS ― With reference to the questions regarding the reasons why it has not been possible to proceed with certain works―in the case of the Imports and Exports office the building required very extensive planning. It proved to be a work of very considerable magnitude and great difficulty was also experienced over the temporary arrangements to be made for housing the staff while the new building was under construction. All these things caused a great delay in proceeding with the work. In the case of the rented quarters for European subordinates at Leighton Hill, the reason was that the staff was so fully engaged in other work that we could not possibly proceed with it. Our staff in that particular branch has been reduced by resignations and it has not been possible to fill the vacancies. In the case of the quarters for subordinate officers at Mount Parish this was a small work and it was considered inexpedient to proceed with it, as there was no site really very accessible for the purpose. As regards those works in which it is stated that less work has been done than was anticipated, all the figures which are inserted in the estimates are estimates only, and it is impossible to proceed exactly in accordance with what is laid down. In many cases the hon. member will observe that votes have been exceeded, and in those cases more work has been done than was anticipated.

HON. MR. POLLOCK ― The fact that absolutely less work has been done can surely have nothing to do with the estimates.

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS―You cannot always carry out in any given year the exact amount of work for which provision is made in the estimates. Sometimes a tender received is lower than was estimated and in that case the expenditure is lower. You cannot exactly arrange beforehand that a contractor shall keep an exact number of men on the work, nor can you estimate exactly the number of men that should be kept on it. It would be an impossible state of affairs for anyone to work to estimates like that.

H.E. THE GOVERNOR ― The additional service reservoir at West Point is one of the cases where less work has been done than was anticipated. In that instance the work of excavating the site proved to be very much more difficult than was anticipated.

HON. MR. POLLOCK―Then there is the work

postponed on account of the war.

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS―That is the telephone cable from the General Post Office to No. 2 Police Station. The Crown Agents represented that it was almost impossible to obtain cables at the present time, the demand for war purposes being so great, and it was decided to postpone the work as it was not absolutely necessary. At the present time there are overhead lines carrying on the same work, but they are more liable to injury by typhoons. The quarters for subordinate officers at Kowloon appears to be the only other item calling for explanation. In this case it was found necessary to resume a portion of a lot in order to provide a suitable site which would permit the new quarters to be economically arranged on land that was available and which belonged to the Government. Quite a considerable time was spent in negotiating for the resumption of a portion of this extra Lot. As regards the Ferry Services, all arrangements are in progress to enable the new services to be started on the 1st of January next. Tenders have been invited. With regard to the dredger the vessel is, unfortunately, in a very poor state of repair. The dredging machinery requires practical renovation and it is recognised that at the present time it is impossible to secure the necessary machinery to replace it. In any case there is no demand at present for the services of the vessel and it is simply laid up. The engines are in excellent condition and the hull of the vessel is in fair condition.

H.E. THE GOVERNOR―There are only two other points to which the hon. member referred. One is that a greater proportion of our revenue should be devoted to education. Well, personally, I am strongly of opinion that as we are dealing principally with an alien population it is much more important to spend as much as ever we can on housing them well, on their water supply, their sanitation and general well being than to give them a very elaborate education. They are, after all, an alien people. Few of them are subjects of our own. The hon. member will probably find that some of the occupants of my chair here have not been of the same opinion. The point that has been raised with regard to British schools I would like to look into. I cannot promise a committee. I have a sort of inherent objection to committees. They

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 59

usually end in very little good being done, but hon. members will always be consulted on anything that may be considered necessary for the betterment of our schools. As for our railway the hon. member can rest assured that we are only too anxious to do anything we can to get our system linked up with the railway system of China. The connection he referred to I am afraid is a long way off, looking at the present condition of our great and friendly neighbour.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER ― With regard to the reference made to the loss on exchange, if you have a rising exchange throughout the year, if you have regular commitments to the Crown Agents and a balance with them at the end of each month, it is obvious that at the end of the year you will have to write off the loss that has been caused during the twelve months by the higher exchange.

The Bill was then read a second time.

Council went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause. The Bill passed through Committee without alteration and, upon Council resuming,

THE COLONIAL TREASURER moved the third reading of the Bill.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and the Bill was read a third time and passed.

Copyright Ordinance, 1918

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled, "An Ordinance to modify and to add to the provisions of the Copyright Act, 1911, in its application to the Colony of Hongkong." In doing so, he said:―The Copyright Act of 1911 of the Imperial Parliament applies to the whole of the British Dominions subject, as regards the self-governing Dominions, to the consent of the legislatures of those Dominions. The Act is drafted primarily for the United Kingdom and its application to the Colonies requires certain minor modifications and additions to be made. In this case the only modifications required are in two sections. Section 14 of the Act makes it an offence to import into the United Kingdom any infringing copies of works in which copyright exists. It also gives the Commissioners of

Customs of the United Kingdom power to seize such infringing copies and provides for notice to be given by the owner of the copyright to the Commissioners of Customs in London. These provisions are obviously inapplicable to Hongkong and Clause 2 of the Bill, therefore, proposes to make the necessary modifications in order to enable that section to be applied to the Colony. It substitutes for the Commissioners of Customs the Superintendent of Imports and Exports. It provides for the making of regulations by the Superintendent which must be approved by the Governor in Council, and it makes the offence of importing infringing copies an offence under the Importation and Exportation Ordinance of 1915. The power to make these modifications is given by Section 27 of the Imperial Act. This clause―Clause 2 of the Bill―is based on a skeleton clause which was supplied by the Secretary of State as a basis for legislation in the colonies generally. The other section of the Act which requires modification here is Section 13. I should say rather in this case that it is an addition which is required, because Section 13 of the Copyright Act applies only to the United Kingdom. That section makes it an offence to make or sell or distribute or import infringing copies of copyright works, and it provides for summary penalties to be recovered before magistrates in England for these offences. As I say, this section applies only to the United Kingdom, and Clause 3 of this Bill proposes to make these offences offences in Hongkong and to impose summary penalties to be recovered before a magistrate here. It is simply a transcript of the English section with the necessary alterations, such as the substitution of dollars for shillings. The power to make this addition is also given by Section 27 of the Act.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time.

Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause. The Bill passed through Committee without alteration, and, upon Council resuming,

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved that the Bill be read a third time.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.

60 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Anglo-Portuguese Commercial Treaty Ordinance, 1918

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to repeal the Anglo-Portuguese Commercial Treaty Ordinance, 1917." In doing so, he said―Article six of the Anglo Portuguese Treaty imposes on Great Britain, and on such of the Colonies of Great Britain as adhere to the Treaty, the obligation to prohibit the use of the word port or madeira in respect to any wine not produced in Portugal or Madeira, respectively. In England the necessary Parliamentary sanction has been given by the Anglo-Portuguese Commercial Treaty Act, and it is now an offence there to apply the word port to any but Portuguese wine or madeira to any wine but wine made in Madeira. This Colony proposed also to adhere to the Treaty and in order to carry out the obligation of Article 6 and to make it an offence to use the word port or madeira except in the way specified, the Anglo-Portuguese Ordinance of last year was passed. H.M.'s Government now ascertains that there are certain difficulties in applying that article outside the United Kingdom and H.M.'s Government, therefore, has decided that the Colonies and Protectorates of the Empire shall not adhere to the Treaty. That being so the Ordinance passed last year is unnecessary and this Bill proposes to repeal it.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time.

Council then went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause. The Bill passed through committee without alteration and, upon Council resuming,

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved that the Bill be read a third time.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and the Bill was read a third time and passed.

Council then adjourned sine die.

FINANCE COMMITTEE.

——

A meeting of the Finance Committee followed, the COLONIAL SECRETARY presiding.

New Lamps

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of six hundred dollars in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary, Hongkong, Lighting, (9) Extensions of Lighting.

THE CHAIRMAN―This sum of $600 is for new lamps in the city of Victoria. Twenty-four new lamps are required in various streets, including a new one on Battery Path. The balance of the vote is $750. The cost of the lamps is $1,250. The financial minute should have been made for $500 instead of $600, but another lamp may be required this year, and, therefore, although a mistake has been made in the Minute it would perhaps be as well to allow the $600.

The vote was agreed to.

Typhoon Damage

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of five thousand one hundred dollars in aid of the vote Kowloon-Canton Railway, Special Expenditure, Typhoon and Rainstorm Damages.

THE CHAIRMAN ― This is to repair a serious break in the Railway bank just beyond the Taipo market. In the recent typhoon the river ran very high and washed away part of the bank.

The vote was agreed to.

Coaling Yard

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of five thousand five hundred dollars in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary, Hongkong, Miscellaneous, Repairing and Coaling Yard for Government Launches.

THE CHAIRMAN―This is a re-vote. An electric capstan was ordered two years ago, but it has only recently been delivered and has to be put in position, and paid for.

The vote was agreed to.

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 61

Contribution to War Funds

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of three hundred thousand pounds on account of Miscellaneous Services, Contribution to Imperial Government for War Purposes.

THE CHAIRMAN―This is the second gift to H.M.'s Government this year from the Colony. No dollar equivalent is necessary, because the £300,000 were in London with the Crown Agents.

HON. MR. LANDALE ― This vote was agreed to in a letter from the unofficial members of the Council and then it was telegraphed to the Secretary of State. Could not the procedure be adopted of bringing the matter up at the Legislative Council, to be discussed in the Council, before the opinion of the unofficial members on the vote is asked for?

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY ― The suggestion is that the matter should be brought up in Council.

HON. MR. LANDALE ― My reason for making that suggestion is that, until our advice is taken with regard to the fixing of the Service dollar at 2/-, I myself am not prepared to vote these amounts, and I hope other unofficial members will also agree with me. We are all very anxious to contribute as largely as possible to Imperial War Funds, but I think this local matter of the Service dollar should be fixed before we are asked to vote any further sums. Of course this particular vote has already been agreed to.

THE CHAIRMAN―I trust the matter will be settled long before another vote is asked for.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER―Of course, we all sympathise with the members of the Services in their present painful position, but I cannot understand what connection the value of the Service Dollar has with this Council. That is a matter for the Imperial Government.

THE CHAIRMAN―This Government has offered to pay the difference in the exchange.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER ― That would then be a matter for this Committee. The Committee, of course, would be asked to vote a sum to make up the difference.

HON. MR. E. SHELLIM ― We want an opportunity to express emphatically our opinion on this matter.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER―There are many ways of doing that.

The vote was agreed to.

Railway Wharf

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of thirty-one thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine dollars and seventeen cents in aid of the vote Kowloon Canton Railway, Special Expenditure, Reinforced Concrete Wharf at Kowloon Terminus.

THE CHAIRMAN―Last year a vote was taken of $97,000 for building a goods examination shed at Kowloon station. The shed has been built for a much lower price, but it has been found that for the convenience of bringing cargo direct from the ships a wharf is necessary. It is proposed to spend the balance of $31,000 from the shed this year and to insert in the 1919 estimates a sum of $10,220 dollars for the completion of this wharf.

The vote was agreed to.

Police Reserves Belts

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of one thousand six hundred and sixty-six dollars and fifty cents in aid of the vote Police and Prison Departments, A. ― Police, Other Charges, Clothing and Accoutrements for Police Reserve.

THE CHAIRMAN―This sum is for 550 leather belts for the Police Reserves at $3.03 each.

The vote was agreed to.

62 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Fuel

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of six thousand three hundred dollars in aid of the following votes:―

Imports and Exports Department, Other Charges:―

Factory, Fuel ..................... $5,000

Launch, Coal .................... 900

Incidental Expenses ......... 400

———

Total ............ $6,300

———

THE CHAIRMAN―Part of this vote is due to the largely increased cost of fuel. In the case of the incidental expenses the new statistical department of the Imports and Exports office has been a heavy drain on this vote, and it has had to buy stationery outside. Also a sum of $437 was spent on a truck in order to convey articles as rapidly as possible to the place where sold.

The vote was agreed to.

Cleansing and Light

The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of one thousand three hundred dollars in aid of the following votes:―

Police and Prison Departments, C.―Prison, Other Charges:―

Cleansing and Sanitary

Materials ....................... $1,000

Light .................................... 300 ———

Total ............... $1,300

———

THE CHAIRMAN―This vote is due to the enormously increased cost of materials in the first place. The second item is due to the advance in the price of gas owing to the raising of the contract price by agreement between the Government and the Gas Company.

The vote was agreed to.

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