Sessional_Paper_1894 — Page 57

No. 3

53

C.5.0.

REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

FINANCE COMMITTEE,

AT A MEETING HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, HONGKONG,

On the 12th December, 1894.

PRESENT:

The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, (JAMES HALDANE STEWART LOCKHART), Chairman.

the Attorney General, (WILLIAM MEIGH GOODMAN).

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the Colonial Treasurer, (NORMAN GILBERT MITCHELL-INNES).

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the Director of Public Works, (FRANCIS ALFRED COOPER).

the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY, R.N.). CATCHICK PAUL CHATER.

JAMES JOHNSTONE KESWICK.

Ho KAI, M.B., C.M.

EMANUEL RAPHAEL BELILIOS, C.M.G.

ALEXANDER MCCONACHIE.

The Committee met pursuant to notice.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 28th November, 1894, were read and confirmed. Read the following Minute under the hand of His Excellency the Governor :-

2843 of 1894.

WILLIAM ROBINSON.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Nine hundred and Forty Dollars and Five Cents, ($940.05), on account of a deficiency in Stamps and Postal Notes as shewn in the accounts of the late Postal Agent at Ningpo, now deceased.

Government House, Hongkong, 8th December, 1894.

Dr. Ho KAI and Mr. CHATER asked certain questions.

The Acting Colonial Secretary replied.

The Committee unanimously agreed to recommend that the vote be passed.

The Committee then proceeded to consider the Bill to apply a Sum not exceeding Two Millions Four hundred and Twenty thousand, Five hundred and One Dollars to the Public Service of the Year 1895.

The Chairman moved the adoption of the several items on the Bill.

At the suggestion of the Director of Public Works the following items were amended :-

Public Works Department from $87,496 to $88,696 (being an addition of $1,200 for the services of a Clerk rendered necessary by the amalgamation of the posts of Correspond- ence Clerk and Office Accountant).

Public Works Extraordinary from $45,000 to $53,500 being an addition of $8,500 to cover the cost of erecting the Statue of Her Majesty The QUEEN. (See report of the Finance Committee, No. 2, of the 28th November, 1894.)

Mr. CHATER moved as a further amendment that the item for "Military Expenditure" be omitted. Dr. Ho KAI seconded.

The Committee divided.

For the amendment.

Honourable C. P. CHATER,

J. J. KESWICK.

Dr. Ko KAL.

E. R. BELILIOS.

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A. MCCONACHIE.

Against the amendment.

The Acting Colonial Secretary. The Attorney General.

The Colonial Treasurer.

The Director of Public Works.

The Harbour Master.

An equal number of votes being recorded on each side, the Chairman gave his casting vote against the amendment.

Amendment lost by a majority of 1.

A discussion ensued regarding the casting vote of the Chairman, and it was agreed that a definite ruling on this point should, if possible, be laid down for future guidance.

Mr. CHATER requested that the attention of His Excellency the Governor might be specially directed to the question of Military Expenditure with a view to obtaining a definite decision from the Secretary of State on the subject.

Mr. BELILIOS moved as a further amendment that the item for Tytam Water Works Extension be reduced from $104,000 to $60,000, the sum agreed to by the Public Works Committee.

Question--put and agreed to.

The several items on the Bill, subject to the amendments agreed to above, were unanimously passed, making a total of $2,386,201.

The Committee then adjourned.

Read and confirmed on the 26th February, 1895.

J. G. T. BUCKLE, Acting Clerk of Councils.

J. II. STEWART LOCKHART,

Chairman.