Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 70

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C. O. Tele- Krams of 26th

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Thirty thousand seven hundred Nor & Jo and twenty-eight Dollars and Twenty-seven Cents ($30,728.27) to meet the cost of increases

of salaries of the Subordinates in the Civil Service during the current year.

Dec., 1901.

Government House, Hongkong, 24th December, 1901.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to,

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee dated the 5th December, 1901, (No. 15), and moved its adoption.

The Acting Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

PAPER. The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the following paper :-

Correspondence regarding Kowloon Waterworks Gravitation Scheme,

and informed the Council that a telegrain had been received from the Secretary of State to the effect that the Scheme had been referred to Mr. CHADWICK for report.

MOTION. and moved:-

SUMMONING OF CHINESE ORDINANCE.-The Attorney General addressed the Council,

Whereas by section 5 of The Summoning of Chinese Ordinance, 1839 (No. 40 of 1899), it was enacted that the said Ordinance should only continue in operation for the period of two years from the coming into operation of the said Ordinance and for such further period or periods as might from time to time be determined by Revolution of the Legislative Council:

It is hereby resolved by this Council that The Summoning of Chinese Ordinance, 1899, shall be continued in operation for the further period of three months from the 30th day of December, 1901 (inclusive).

Mr. BREWIN seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

SALARIES OF CIVIL SERVANTS.-His Excellency the GOVERNOR addressed the Council as follows:-

"Before we proceed to the orders of the day, gentlemen, there is a matter I wish to say a word or two about-namely, a telegram I have received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies. In October last the estimates of expenditure went home and at that time we were aware that in the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States an increase had been granted in the salaries and emoluments of the Officials. However there was no provision made for any increase here further than that recommended at the time by the Committee. A short time afterwards I received from the Secretary of State a copy of the despatch that had been sent to the Straits Settlements in answer to the representations made by the Straits Settlements and Malay States. The Secretary of State had determined that in future all appointments the emoluments of which were over $1,200 a year shall be paid in sterling, as also the salaries of the European Police, Prison Warders and other subordinate positions occupied by Europeans appointed from home, but as regards the present holders of these there were certain exceptional advantages at present, such as the advantage of officials receiving when they are on leave their half-pay at 3/8 a dollar, and pension at the same rate. [The COLONIAL SECRETARY-4/- on leave and 3/8 on pension.] Yes. Well, the Secretary of State felt that he could hardly interfere with these advantages enjoyed by the present holders. So, as far as the present holders of these were con- cerned, they received the option whether they would have their salaries in future paid in sterling at what the practical valuation of the sterling was, taking into consideration the possible advantage to pension pay, but that they would have the alternative of an increase not on the pay but that while actually serving in the Colony the compensation allowance for exchange should be given on the whole instead of the half salary. That increase was not to be calculated in either their leave or their pension, but was to be a purely local increase while they continued to serve in the Colony, during the lifetime of the present holders. Well, when that came before me, in that despatch the Secretary of State informed me that he did not at present propose to increase the salaries of the officials in Hongkong until he