Sessional_Paper_1903 — Page 38

C.S.O. No,

415 of 100%,

.8.0. No. 6348 of 1903.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of Two thousand one hundred and fifty Dollars ($2,150) in aid of the vote Public Works, Extraordinary, to meet cost of the follow- ing:

Mast for weather flag signals for the information of Shipmasters, For fixing the mast and supplying locker and ball,

Total,....

Government House, Hongkong, 18th September, 1903.

HENRY A. BLAKE.

....$ 1,900

S

250

.$ 2,150

The Governor recommends the Council to vote a sum of One thousand seven hundred and ninety-four Dollars and seventeen Cents ($1,794.17) in aid of the vote Registrar General's Department, Other Charges, to meet expenses in connection with the copying of Land Registers in Nam Tau, as follows:-

1. Writers' wages,

2. Steam Launch bill,.

3. Shroff's voucher for Incidentals,

4. Chan Tsan's

5:

"1

3. Mr. Lau Tsz Peng's salary,

6. Mr. Clementi's expenses,

Total,.....

$1.315.50

64.00

10.37

31.95

309.35

63.00

$1,794.17

Government House, Hongkong, 30th September, 1903.

The 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 17th September, 1903, (No. 9), and moved its adoption.

The Colonial Treasurer seconded.

Question-put and agreed to.

REPORTS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE.-The Director of Public Works, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the table the Reports of the Public Works Committee dated respectively the 10th August and 17th September, 1903, (Nos. 6 and 7).

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

Correspondence regarding the Sterling Salary Scheme (In continuation of Sessional Paper

No. 45 of 1902.

Despatch from the Secretary of State respecting the Crown Agent system of inviting tenders. QUESTIONS.Mr. POLLOCK, pursuant to notice, asked the following questions :--

1. What was the nature of the enquiries which were made by the Government for the purpose of ascertaining how many vacant storeys there were in the City of Victoria and in Kowloon in July last?

2. With reference to your answer to the 5th question which I put to you at the last Meeting of the Legislative Council, is the contract which you referred to in that answer, a contract for training the nullah in question right down the northern face of the hill jrom top to bottom? What is the contract price for that work and what is the date

which is fixed for completion of it?

3. Are any steps being taken for the improvement of the Detective Branch of the Police Force

with a view to the surer detection of serious crimes?

4. What inducements are held out to Police Officers for the study of the Chinese language? The Colonial Secretary replied,