Sessional_Paper_1887-1888 — Page 67

No. 18.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

FINANCE COMMITTEE,

AT A MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, HONGKONG,

On the 19th November, 1887.

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PRESENT:

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary (FREDERICK STEWART), Chairman, The Honourable the Acting Attorney General, (EDWARD JAMES ACKROYD). the Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER).

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the Surveyor General, (JOHN MACNEILE PRICE).

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HENRY GEORGE THOMSETT, R.N.

WONG SHING..

CATCHICK PAUL CHATER, (rice the Honourable FREDERICK DAVID SASSOON,

on leave).

ALEXANDER PALMER MACEWEN.

JOHN BELL-IRVING.

ABSENT:

His Hongur the Acting Chief Justice (JAMES RUSSELL), vice His Honour SIR GEORGE

PHILLIPPO, Knt., on leave.

The Honourable PHINEAS RYRIE, on leave.

The Committee meet this day at the request of the Colonial Secretary.

The Report of the proceedings of the last Meeting, held on the 19th September last, having been taken as read, is confirmed.

(1.)

Supplementary Estimates, 1886.

The Committee consider the Bill to authorize the appropriation of a supplementary sum of $392,462.30 to defray the charges for the year 1886.

After explanation by the Colonial Secretary of the various items stated in detail in the Supplementary Estimates for 1886, the Committee recommend that the amount mentioned in the Bill be approved.

The Committee desire, however, to call attention to the advisability of obtaining from the Military Authorities a detailed statement of the amounts expended for fortifications. (See item Extraordinary Military Defence at page 6 of the Supplementary Estimates for 1886).

(2.) Estimates for 1888.

The Committee then proceed to consider the Bill to apply a sum not exceeding $1.162,801 to the public service of the year 1888.

After explanation by the Colonial Secretary of the various increases and decreases as compared with the Estimates of the previous year and given in detail in the statement atcom- panying these Estimates, prepared by the Colonial Secretary and Auditor General. the Com- mittee make the following recommendations:-

(3.)

Surveyor General's Establishment, (page 16).

The Committee are informed that provision has inadvertently been omitted to be made for the salary and allowances of a Land Bailiff. The Committee are informed that the services of a Land Bailiff are absolutely necessary to prevent unlicensed squatting in the Rural Districts, and are assured by the Treasurer that the expenses incurred in this respect will be more than covered by a proper and systematic collection of the Rates, &c., which, under the present system, inany occupiers of land escape undetected. Under these circumstances, the Committee recom- mend the insertion of the following items:-

Salary for a Land Bailiff, $1,440 per annuin.

Allowance for conveyance, $288 per annum.

There is also added, salary of 6 Foremen of Street Cleaners at $300 each, $1,800, rising to $360 each after two years.