1925-12-04 — Page 1

112 HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 4TH DECEMBER, 1925.

PRESENT:―

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY (HON. MR. A. G. M. FLETCHER, C.M.G., C.B.E.).

THE COLONIAL TREASURER (HON. MR. C. MCI. MESSER, O.B.E.).

HON. MR. H. T. CREASY (Director of Public Works).

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

HON. MR. P. H. HOLYOAK.

HON. MR. CHOW SHOU-SON.

HON. MR. A. O. LANG.

HON. MR. H. W. BIRD.

HON. MR. R. H. KOTEWALL.

FINANCE COMMITTEE

A meeting of the Finance Committee was held on December 4th, the COLONIAL SECRETARY presiding.

The Committee met pursuant to summons.

Read the following Minutes under the hand of His Excellency the GOVERNOR:―

95. ― Public Works,

Extraordinary, New

Territories,

Miscellaneous, 124,

Compensation and

Resumptions ..................... $4,468.00

96. ―Attorney General's

Department, Personal

Emoluments ...................... 14,168.00

97.― Public Works,

Extraordinary, New

Territories, Miscellaneous,

124, Compensation and

Resumptions ..................... 4,465.00 98.―Miscellaneous Services:―

Crown Agents' Commission...... $6,100.00 Grants in aid of other Institutions:― Imperial Institute................... 660.00

Yunnan Scholarships at

University.......................... 300.00 Language Study Allowances..... 9,100.00 Motor Cars Running Expenses . 7,000.00 Newspapers and Periodicals...... 800.00 Printing and Binding:―

Blue Book.............................. 335.00 Civil Service List .................. 90.00 Government Gazette ............. 800.00

Purchase and Upkeep of

Typewriters............................ 610.00 Rent Allowances:―

European Subordinate

Officers................................ 7,500.00 Asiatic Subordinate Officers. 8,000.00 Rent of Offices .......................... 500.00 Rent of Public Telephones ........ 4,350.00 Stationery................................... 27,000.00

Telegrams sent and received by

Government........................... 1,500.00

Transport of Government

Servants ................................. 2,000.00 Charitable Services:―

Charitable Allowances to:―

Mrs. M. A. Cole.................. 240.00 Mrs. F. M. Foster ................ 34.00 Wong Yui-sham's children.. 19.00

Other Charitable Allowances.... 4,000.00

$80,938.00

HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 113 Upkeep of Motor Lorries .. $2,000.00

99. ― Public Works, Recurrent,

Kowloon:―

Buildings, 27, Maintenance

of Buildings .................... $2,000.00 Waterworks, 40,

Maintenance of

Waterworks..................... 13,000.00

$15,000.00

100.― Kowloon-Canton

Railway, Special

Expenditure Water Tank

and Tower at Kowloon ... $2,500.00 104.― Public Works,

Extraordinary, Kowloon,

Miscellaneous,

Expenditure for Sunday

work to the unfinished

house on Kowloon

Inland Lot No. 1734 re

entered ............................ 68.00 105.― Medical Department, B.

― Hospitals and

Asylums, New

Territories, Personal

Emoluments.................... 26.00

106.― Imports and Exports

Department other

Charges:―

Launch, Fuel................... $2,500.00 Launch, Stores................ 150.00

$2,650.00

107.― Public Works,

Extraordinary, New

Territories,

Miscellaneous, General

Repairs on the

bungalow, Taipo,

formerly occupied by

Mr. H. B. Mould ............. $2,000.00 114. ― Public Works,

Extraordinary, Kowloon,

Miscellaneous

Temporary Store for

Earthen Pipes, Kowloon. 850.00 121. ― Public Works, Department

other Charges:―

Public Works, Recurrent,

Hongkong:―

Miscellaneous:―

17, Dredging Foreshores.... 3,000.00 18, Typhoon and Rainstorm

Damages........................... 20,000.00 21, Survey of Colony ......... 1,000.00 Water Works:―

22, Maintenance of City

and Hill District ............... 30,000.00 26, Water Account (Meters) 6,000.00 Public Works, Recurrent, New

Territories:―

Buildings, 42, Maintenance

of Buildings ........................ 12,500.00 Water Works, 51,

Maintenance at Lai Chi

Kok ..................................... 2,000.00 Public Works, Extraordinary,

Hongkong:―

Water works, 50, New

Principal Water Mains in

the City of Victoria............. 10,000.00 Public Works, Extraordinary,

Kowloon:―

Water Works, 96,

Miscellaneous Water Works 2,000.00 Public Works, Extraordinary,

New Territories:―

Communication, 114, Roads,

(d), Widening eleven

bridges ................................ 4,500.00 Miscellaneous:―

118, Refuse Dump ―

Cheung Sha Wan.............. 2,000.00 124, Compensation and

Resumptions..................... 3,407.00 Water Works:―

125, Extension of Kowloon

Catchwater ....................... 20,000.00 127, Shing Mun Valley

Scheme:―

(d) North Conduit............. 15,000.00 (e) Tunnels and South

Conduit.................... 50,000.00 (h) Pipe Line..................... 180,000.00 (i) Pipers Hill Reservoir... 25,000.00

$388,407.00

114 HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

The Committee unanimously agreed to recommend that the above votes be passed.

At the request of the HON. MR. BIRD, the COLONIAL SECRETARY stated that a report regarding the use of the Bell filters would be circulated to Members.

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY gave an explanation with regard to the expenses incurred in connection with the strike. It was agreed that a statement should be circulated for consideration. The expenditure of $5,932.67 for the Labour Maintenance Association for November was approved.

Arising out of the subject of payment of volunteers during the strike, the COLONIAL SECRETARY undertook to raise the question of the Amendment of the Volunteer Ordinance, 1920, with regard to payment.

The question of charging expenditure in

respect of the purchase of the Berlin Foundling Home and of Rennie's Mills against the Departments, on whose behalf they were acquired, was considered.

THE COLONIAL TREASURER advised that such expenditure properly came under Public Works Extraordinary and his advice was accepted.

HON. MR. LANG raised the question of the responsibility of private firms of architects and contractors for damage incurred owing to the effect of rainstorms where proper precautions had not been taken by them.

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied that action had been taken on previous occasions and that the matter was under consideration.

The Committee then adjourned sine die.