Sessional_Paper_1902 — Page 23

4-STREAMS, NULLARS AND WATER-COURSES.

Will the Honourable the Director of Public Works inform the Council whether the Gov- ernment will lay down a rule or regulation to come into force on an early date to be notified, to the effect that all streams, nullahs and water-courses in Hongkong and in British Kowloon, the property of the Crown, shall be retained as Crown property together with a margin of 50 feet on either side from the centre line of the stream or nullah now Crown property and that the said margin of 50 feet shall not be granted or devised without the sanction of this Council and that the same regulation where practicable shall apply in respect of streams, nullahs and water-courses in the New Territory leased by the Government of China to the British Government? The Director of Public Works replied.

5.-WATER SUPPLY.

In consequence of the daily diminishing supply and of the fact that the water is now only turned on in the City one hour per day, will the Honourable the Director of Public Works inform the Council whether the Government will take into consideration the advisability of immediately increasing the number of water stations along the Praya so as to give an increased supply of water and in some measure alleviate the inconveniences and sufferings of those

concerned?

The Director of Public Works replied.

6.-INCREASED WATER STORAGE.

Will the Honourable the Director of Public Works inform the Council whether the Gov- ernment has taken the necessary measures to temporarily provide, if it be possible to do so in the time now available, for an adequate or additional water storage capacity should there be a short rainfall this season, so as to safeguard the ratepayers and the people from again next year suffering the inconveniences and evils arising out of a water famine, and state how much additional water storage has been provided, if any, since the 1st of January this year, and how much additional storage it is estimated will be provided between now and 31st January, 1903 ? The Director of Public Works replied.

PAPERS. The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, laid on the table the following papers:-

1. Report by Mr. OSBERT CHADWICK on the Water Supply of Hongkong mainly with regard

to the full Development of the Supply from the Taitam-tuk Valley.

2. Report of the Registrar General, for 1901.

3. Returns of the Subordinate Court, for 1901.

4. Report on the General Post Office, for 1901.

5. Report of the Pó Léung Kuk Society, for 1901.

6. Correspondence regarding the Kowloon Water-works Gravitation Scheme.

MARRIAGE AMENDMENT BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend The Marriage Ordinance (14 of 1875).

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

RELEASE OF PREMISES (JEWISH SYNAGOGUE) BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to release certain premises situate at Victoria in the Colony of Hongkong from a Settlement dated the 31st day of March 1884 and made between MEYER ELIAS SASSOON of the one part and FREDERICK DAVID SASSOON, EDWARD ELIAS SASSOON and the said MEYER ELIAS SASSOON of the other part.

The Colonial Secretary seconded. Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

NATURALIZATION OF KU FAI SHÁN BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance for the Naturalization of KU FAI SHÁN, alias Ku TING KWONG, alias KU PAK TAI, alias KU CHONG TSUNG, alias Ku YUK TSING.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.

CHINESE ANGLICAN CHURCH BODY INCORPORATION BILL.-The Acting Attorney General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to provide for the Incorporation of the Church Body of the Chinese Anglican Church in Hongkong.

The Colonial Secretary seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

Bill read a first time.