mber 17, 1896.1- કાળ
joiners tools, &c., 30 to 50 per merican, with a strong tendency in your on account of quality, finish, and cheapness also under the heading
thei
and shoes
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Carried.
FINANCE.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE. The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS laid
проп
the table the report of the proceedings of the Public Works Committee at a meeting held on the 7th December last and moved its adoption.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER seconded. Carried.
469
our
and is agreeable that the charge should be The COLONIAL SECRETARY—I have the hon- a fixed percentage on the general revenue.
The our to bring up the report of the Finance Com Imperial Government's views, however, as to mittee held on the 7th December. In reference what constitutes general revenue differ from to that it will be seen that the Committee recom our views, and they have decided to appropriate 45 per cent.mended the vote of $1,450 in aid of Volunteer for Imperial purposes 17% per cent. Continental and American, the latter in-
expenses, and that the Supply Bill was also general revenue, which includes municipal rates. ing rapidly in favour on account of considered item by item in the Finance Com- It is unnecessary now to enter into particula
style, finish, and general suitability."mittee, and I have much pleasure in informing as our case is carefully stated in the memoran When we find the Americans forging ahead your Excellency that the Committee recom-dum of the unofficial members of the 31st March in these lines it is not very surprising to mended that the various items be adopted by last. Sir, you realized the justice of certain of be told that in the bicycle business this Council.' I beg to move the adoption of our contentions and supported them in a dos-
they can compete with English manu-
the report.
patch to the Secretary of State, dated 21st The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER | April last. The people of Hongkong heartily arers on equal terms, both as regards
seconded.
appreciated your Exellency's endeavours" on price and quality. Whether the claim they
behalf of the colony on that occasion, which put forward to that effect is justified or not
I may be permitted to remark are happily we can express no independent opinion, but
of a very different character from those in the matter of “ 'push the Americans
expressions of opinion on this question which win easily. If any one in the Far East
have fallen from the lips of the honorable, the official members of this Council. The *wants an English bicycle it will be a rare chance if he finds one for sale on the spot
official members in Singapore fought man- fully with the Government until a satis and the probability is that he will have to
faotary settlement of the military contribution send home for one and wait at least six
question was arrived at. No reason and no months for it, whereas if he is content with
justification whatever have been assigned why an American machine he can get one with
Hongkong should be called upon to pay a as little trouble or delay as if he were
heavier military contribution than any other buying an umbrella on a walking stick.
Crown colony in her Majesty's dominions a Italian and other machines are also on the
heavier tax than the colony can afford. It is market. The explanation of the scarcity of
oppressive, for it prevents the carrying out of necessary public works and delays the English machines is that the English
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, in reply, laid
construction of urgently required public factories have for some time past been so full of upon the table a statement with reference to offices. The Secretary of State has not. I orders that they have been unable to over- Taipingshan Improvement Works. The state- submit, given due consideration to your Ex- take them; but the explanation of this again, ment showed that the total expenditure to 80th celleney's representations and to the un- or a partial explanation that we have seen November, 1896, was $19,624.47, and the esti- official members' memorandum which they de- put forward, is that the Americans, fore-mated further expenditure was $80,375.50, mak- seeing the "boom" some time ago, made ing a total of $100,000. large contracts for tyres with the less far- sighted English makers, who have been employed under these contracts all the summer helping the Americans to supply the market instead of supplying it directly themselves. How
- TAIPINGSHAN.
Hon. TH WHITEHEAD, in pursuance of notice, asked the following question-Will the Government lay upon the table an estimate as to the probable total cost of doing what is necessary to be done to the resumed area of Taipingshan before the lots can be put up to auction, and state the further probable time required to overtake the work ?
·THE OPIUM FARM,
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD, in pursuance of notice, asked the following question-In view of the present Opium Farm expiring in the spring of 1898, will the Government appoint s commission with full powers to investigate and report on the opium revenue generally, and ever this may be, it is certainly an upon the advisability or otherwise of substitut- unpleasant fact, looking at the mattering for the present Opium Farm bonded ware- from our English point of view, that such a
houses and a fixed duty or all opium not bona large majority of the machines in use in the fide exported in a raw state? Far East should be of foreign make. Instead of depreciating the foreign. article it would be more to the purpose if English manufacturers would take steps to place their own goods on the market in quantities -commensurate with the demand.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Connoil was held on the 14th. December in the
Connoil Chamber. Present
His EXCELLENCY the Governor, Sir WIL- LIAM, ROBINSON, K.C.M.G.
the honour to state that the suggestion con- The COLONIAL SECRETARY-In reply I have tained in the question of the hon. member will receive the consideration of the Government.
RPECIAL GAP ROCK LIGHTHOUSE DUES,
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I beg to give notice that at the next meeting of Council I will move the following resolution :-That, whereas the special Gap Rock light dues were imposed for the sole purpose of raising the monies required for the construction of the
serve. He has not answered them and he refuses to entertain our reasonable proposal that we should, with regard to the military contribution,
be placed on the same basis as our sister colony of Singapore.
3
I think you are wrong in saying that this His EXCELLENCY-I may mention here that colony pays more than any other colony. Ceylon pays £100,000 a year, and there are only 1,500 troops there.
Hon. T. H, WHITEHEAD—I noticed in our morning paper the other day that Colombo only pays 7 per cent. of its revenue, Mauritius only paya 5 per cent. and Singapore 17 per cent. on its general revenue exclusive of municipal rates. His EXCELLENCY-In 1894 Ceylon's con- tribution was 1,894,000 rupees. ́
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-That, sir, is 74 exclusive of municipal revenue. It may be a per cent. of the general revenue of the colony larger sum, but I submit it only. 7 per cent. on their general revenue exclusive of municipal rates, whereas we are called upon to pay 173 per cent., not only on the general revenue, but on the municipal revenue. I must respectfully said. lighthouse, and the Government are protest against the Imperial Government ap- pledged to their abolition as soon as the re-propriating 17 per cent. of our municipal quisite amount had been raised, and whereas it
appears that a sum of about $42,000 in excess of the amount required has already been re- His EXCELLENCY Major-General BLACK,ceived-Resolved that in the opinion of this C.B., Officer Commanding the Troops.
Council the special Gap Rock light dues Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial should no longer be levied. Secretary
Hon. W. M. GOODMAN, Attorney-General. Hon. A. M. THOMPSON, Acting Colonial
"treasurer.
Hon. F. A. COOPER, Director of Publio Works
Hon. R. MUEBAY RUMSEY, Harbour Master. Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G., Captain Super- intendent of Police.
Hon. C. P. CHATER.
Hon. Ho KAT
Hon TH WHITEHEAD.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS, C.M.G.
Hon. WEI A YUK
ME F. J. BADELEY, Acting Clerk of Councils.
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were
and confirmed
મુક્ત સ
THO
GAP BOOKLIGHT DUES.
LONIAL SECRETARY laid upon the tinuation of Sessional Paper No. pers respecting the abolition of pecial Gap Book lighthonse rate. The embraced Hon, 4. H. Whitehead's letter l the discussion thereon at the opening ncil as reported the Daily
Prof Ith December, 1896
|
MEDICAL REGISTRATION QRDINANCE. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I rise to move the first reading of the Bill entitled An Ordi- nance to further amend "The Medical Re- gistration Ordinance, 1884."
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. Bill read the first time.
THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS ORDINANCE.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL-I beg to move the first reading of the Bill entitled An Ordi- nance to amend and consolidate the law relating to the protection of Women and Girls.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY Éeconded. Bill read the first time.
MILITARY CONTRIBUTION BILI The ATTORNEY-GENERALI beg to move the third reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to appropriate a sum equivalent to seventeen and a half per centum of the Colonial revenues as a contribution for tlo defence of the colony.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to second. Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I rise to move that this Bill be read this day six months. The community admits the fairness of paying a military contribution to the home Government
|
revenue for Imperial purposes. It is un- reasonable and inequitable to take 17 per cent. of such items as charges for water against Departments, which are in reality no revenue at all. There is another clause in this Bill-clause 5-to which I object as it leaves the door open to the War Office to impose unlimited responsibility on Hongkong in respect of new armaments, new forts, new barracks, and improvements and alterations to old military buildings. I submit respectfully that for the Imperial Government to appropriate 17 per cent of our purely municipal rates for Imperial purposes is a monstrous injustice, and I may be permitted to remind your Excellency that loyalty is a very tender plant, but under injustice loyalty withers. (Applause.)
Hen. C. P. CHATER-I beg to second.
A vote was then taken on the amendment.
FOR
AGAINST Hon. Wei A Yuk
Hon. E. R. Belilion Hon. T H. White-
head
Hon. Ho Kai
Hon. C. P. Chater
The Captain Superin
tendent of Police The Harbour The Direct
Works
aster
blic
The Aoting Colonial
Treasurer
The Attorney-Gen
ra
Colonial Secre
Hi Excellenoy Major
General Black
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