Sessional_Paper_1894 — Page 12

NEW DRAINAGE ŠEPARATE SYSTEM.

Will the Government furnish the Council with a return shewing—

(1) The extent to which the new drainage scheme on the separate system as designed

by Mr. Osbert Chadwick, C.M.G., has been carried out,

(2) The departures, if any, from Mr. Chadwick's designs,

(3) The total amount of moneys expended on the new scheme up to 31st December,

1893,

(4) The quantity of work remaining to be done,

(5) The estimated cost of completing the same,

(6) The cost of the deep sewer, commencing at the Murray Barracks Nullah, running down Arsenal Street, and along the Praya to its outfall about Fenwick's Yard, What amount of the cost of this deep sewer, running through and draining pro- perty, nearly one half of which belongs to the Imperial Government, has been paid or will be refunded by the Military Authorities,

and (7)

and further, will the Government state whether in the opinion of the responsible authorities the separate system has worked satisfactorily up to date, and if not, what are the reasons for its failure, and the remedial measures, if any, it is proposed to adopt.

HONGKONG POST OFFICE.

Will the Government lay upon the table a statement shewing the gross income, and the gross expenditure of the Post Office for the years 1890, 1891, 1892 and 1893, separately, and any liability still outstanding connected with those years, also separately.

POST OFFICE, TREASURY, COURT HOUSE, LAND OFFICE, &C.

Will Government procure and lay upon the table an estimate of what money these premises would probably realise if exposed to auction, and what would be the probable cost of erecting a suitable Post Office, and Court House, including a Land Office, &c., on Government ground on the new Praya Reclamation.

OPIUM ORDINANCES.

Will the Government lay upon the table a copy of the Petition, dated 12th December, 1893, to The Right Honourable The Marquis of Ripon, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, from the Hongkong, Canton and Macao Steam-boat Company, Limited, and the China Steam Navigation Company, Limited, praying for Government assistance in their efforts to suppress smuggling on board their steam-ships by causing such amendments to be made in the Hongkong law as may be thought necessary and effectual, &c., &c., and a copy of any reply which may have been received thereto.

CROWN AGENTS.

In view of the West Indian Colonies, including British Honduras and British Guiana, having recently passed Resolutions through their Legislatures condemning the Crown Agency system as an expensive and wasteful medium for the transaction of their business, and as a like feeling obtains amongst a large number of ratepayers in this Colony, will the Government lay upon the table, at the earliest possible date, a copy of the Parliamentary Paper C. 3075 of 1881, which is said to contain full information as to the arrangements existing between the Colonial Office and the Crown Agents.

PÓ LEUNG KUK.

Will the Government lay upon the table a copy of the Despatch No. 204 of 22nd December last, from the Right Honourable the Marquis of Ripon, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary_of State for the Colonies, in connection with my Memorial, dated 27th June, 1893, praying Ilis Lordship to return Ordinance No. 10 of 1893 to Hongkong for amendment in the directions indicated therein, and to recommend to the Colonial Government, either to remove the Registrar General from the governing body of the Pó Leung Kuk, or to invest him with powers adequate to his duties and responsibilities to the Women and Girls under his care, under Ordinance No. 11 of 1890.

FINANCES.

Will the Government inform the Council,—

(1) What moneys were expended by the Crown Agents in England, on account of the

Colony, during 1893,

(2) How much of these were defrayed out of the proceeds of the Colony's recent Gold

Loan,

(3) What amount, if any, of our revenue during 1893 has been remitted to, or drawn for by the Crown Agents, from the Colony, to defray their expenses, and the rates of exchange, if any,