Sessional_Paper_1902 — Page 38

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. No. 10.

THURSDAY, 7TH AUGUST, 1902.

PRESENT:

HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT (Major-General Sir WILLIAM JULIUS GASCOIGNE, K.C.M.G.).

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (FRANCIS HENRY MAY, C.M.G.).

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the Attorney General, (Sir HENRY SPENCER BERKELEY, Kt.). the Colonial Treasurer, (ALEXANDER MACDONALD THOMSON). the Harbour Master, (ROBERT MURRAY RUMSEY; R.N.).

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the Director of Public Works, (WILLIAM CHATHAM).

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the Medical Officer of Health, (Dr. FRANCIS WILLIAM CLARK). HO KAI, M.B., C.M., C.M.G.

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WEL YUK.

CHARLES STEWART SHARP.

CHARLES WEDDERBURN DICKSON.

GEORGE WILLIAM FORRES PLAYFAIR.

ROBERT GORDON Shewan.

The Council met pursuant to summons.

The Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 21st July, 1902, were read and confirmed.

FINANCIAL MINUTES.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Officer Admin- istering the Government, laid on the table the following Financial Minutes, (Nos. 36 and 37), and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee:-

0.8.0. 1281 of 1002.

C.S.0.

135 of 1902.

W. J. GASCOIGNE.

The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote a sum of One hundred and seventy-five Dollars ($175) to meet the pay of a native Non-Commissioned Officer to supervise the work in connection with the suppression of Mosquitoes from 10th July to 31st December, 1902, inclusive.

Government House, Hongkong, 19th July, 1902.

W. J. GASCOIGNE.

The Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote a sum of (Extension.) Eight hundred and eighty Dollars and seventy-nine Cents ($880.79) to cover the cost of repairing the Matsheds, &c., at Taipo, damaged by the Typhoon of the 18th July, 1902.

Government House, Hongkong, 31st July, 1902.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.-The Colonial Secretary, by command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee dated the 21st July, 1902, (No. 9), and moved its adoption.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded, and pointed out that the adoption of the Report involved the passing of the following Resolution :-

It is hereby resolved that all Pensions paid in England from the Widows and Orphans' Pen- sion Fund be paid at the rate of three Shillings the Dollar, the difference between that rate and the rate of the day being made good out of the revenue of the Colony.

Question-put and agreed to.

QUESTION. Mr. PLAYFAIR, pursuant to notice, asked the following question:—

Will the Honourable the Colonial Secretary state whether the Report of the Commission on the Public Works Department recommending an increase in the Staff has been carried out in its entirety, and if not, why not? In view of Mr. Chadwick's Report that "the Public Works Staff is much undermanned in every branch, both technical and clerical,' and in view of the fact that the new Ordinance now before the Council will vastly increase the work and responsibilities of the Public Works Department far beyond the requirements advised by the Commission, are the Government making arrangements for a still further increase of the Staff?

The Colonial Secretary replied.

25-15.8.02.