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J
February 26, 1898.]
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on 23rd February in the Council Chamber. Present:-
His EXCELLENCY the ACTING GOVERNOR, Major-General BL (CK, C.B.
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. W. M. GOODMAN (Attorney.General). Hou. R. MURRAY RUMSEY (Harbour Master), Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Captain Super- intendent of Police).
Hon. T. SERCOMBE SMITH (Colonial Treasurer),
Hon. R. D. ORMSBY (Director of Public Works).
Hon. C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.
Hon. Ho KAI.
HON. T. H. WHITEHEAD.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS.
Hon. WEI A YUK.
Mr. J. G. T. BUCKLE (Clerk of Councils).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, the words "with leave" being added to the record of the Hon. T. H. Whitehead's absence, at the hon. member's
request.
NOTICE OF MOTION.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I rise to give notice that at the next maceting of Council I will move that Government lay upon the table a copy of its covering despatch forwarding to the Colonial Office the report dated 23rd No- vember, 1896, of the Committee appointed 8th September, 1894. by His Excellency Sir William Robinson to report on the condition of the Government Offices and the desirability of locating the various Government depart- ments under one roof, together with a copy of any further explanatious the Government may have given in connection therewith and called for by the Secretary of State's despatch No. 126 of 5th June, 1896.
as
KAPERS. The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid upon the table the Report of the Superintendent of Victoria Gaol for 1897, Report of the Director of the Observatory for 1897, Report on the Widows and Orphans' Pension Fund for 1897, Report on Public Works Department Stores, Report of the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade for 1897, and Criminal Statistics and Coroner's Returns for 1897.
THE PUBLIC OFFICES.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
141
of the buildings on plots 1 and 2 and providing | I would call this estimate fully $150,000 below more accommodation by the addition of a second the mark. A sixth proposal has been made, name- storey on the Post Office. That scheme wouldly, to erect a second storey on the new building have cost probably $100,600 more than Mr. in Queen's Road and so provide for grouping Cooper's. The third proposal was the one all the Government Offices there, thus obviating I call B of the Consulting Architects. In that the necessity of purchasing Beaconsfield. It is they proposed to acquire two lots on the Reclam- impossible to say at once whether that is prac ation from the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank ticable. The resolution I have proposed com- and cover all four lots with Government Offices, mits the Council to nothing. It will be of bringing the Colonial Secretary's Office down interest to compare the estimated cost of all the to the same locality. The cost of that scheme six schemes, omitting the new Harbour Office would be considerably over a million dollars, and Public Works Department stores, which probably a million and a half; it is difficult to stand on a different footing. The actual cost, say what it would cost, because I consider it regardless of where the funds are to come from, doubtful if the Bank would part with the land. is as follows: The estimate for the Hon. Mr. That scheme I think may at once be set aside. Cooper's scheme is $700,000; for scheme A. of The fourth proposal was one which I had the the Consulting Architects, $800,000; for scheme honour to lay before the Government. That B I will not mention the proposal was submitted by Sir William Robin- because I consider it impracticable; for scheme son to the Public Works Committee for their No. 4 I estimate 8570,000; the scheme proposed opinion, and the majority of the Committee by the senior unofficial member is'estimated at approved of the scheme. In that scheme I got $790,000, which is practically the same as the over one of the difficulties which had been raised Consulting Architects'; for scheme 6 no esti. by the Consulting Architects, namely, the in- mate can be given as it has not yet reached sufficiency of space on the new 'raya for all the that stage. buildings required. By retaining the site of the old Post Office and the Supreme Court and purchasing Beaconsfield the area available, in- cluding plot No. 2 on the Praya, is over 90,000 square foot, or 6,300 square feet more than the combined area of plots No. 1 and 2 on the Praya. I would wish here, sir, to remark that the idea of the Government acquiring Beacons-
field emanated entirely from myself and until
it came before him as a member of the Public Works Committee I am convinced that my hou.
friend อย my left (Mr. Belilios) had no knowledge of it. Now, sir, as regards the best location for the Post Office in tively, new-comer to the colony is capable of Hongkong it seems to me that eren a compara- forming a sound opinion. The proper place for the Post Office in my opinion is the central site it now occnpios. There was some opposi- mitted i was right. Since writing my original tien to this, but it seems to be generally ad- report I have had time to go into the matter carefully. I find that the site occupied by the in the colony, that buildings stood on it in 1843, present Post Office was one of the first built on that is fifty-five years ago, while the present buildings have stood for over thirty years. There are no signs of crack or settlement what-
ever.
ings could be put up there without any exces- Therefore I am of opinion that build. sive cost for foundations. That is important, because foundations on the new Praya are ex- The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.-Sir, new Post Office and Treasury worthy of the pensive. I have no hesitation in saying that a I rise to propose the following resolution: That in the opinion of this Council it is site for a sum of $90,000. I now come to the colony in every respect could be erected on this expedient (a) To construct the New Law
fifth scheme, which is that brought forward by Courts and accessory offices on Plot No. 2 on my bon. friend the senior uaofficial member, the New Reclamation, namely, the larger of the which is almost identical with scheme A of two lots reserved for Government Offices, im- the Consulting Architects. I cannot consider mediately in front of the City Hall; and (bit either a satisfactory proposal as regards to retain the sites of the present Post Office and [Supreme Court for the erection of a new Post Office, which should also afford accommodation for the Treasury and such other offices as may be decided on. In moving this resolution I desire, with your Excellency's per- mission, to briefly refer to the varions proposals that have been put before the Government during the past two years for meeting the universally acknowledged need of the colony for new and better. Courts and Post Office and better and more suitable accommoda- tion for certain other departments of Govern- ment. I believe with regard to this the colony is practically unanimous; everybody agreed we want new Law Courts and more especially a more roomy Post Office. There have been in all six differeut schemes put forward. The first proposal was my prodecessor's, which was the outcome of the report of the special com- mittee appointed by Sir William Robinson in 1896. That proposal contemplated placing all the Government Offices, except the Colonial Secretary's, the Audit, the Sanitary Board, and the Educational Department, on the site re- served on the new Praya. The plans were forwarded to England and by direction of the Secretary of State were referred to the Consult- ing Architects. They did not meet with approval and consequently were set aside. The second scheme is the proposal I call scheme. A of the Consulting Architects, reversing the position
|
estimate,
HIS EXCELLENCY-That is, building all the offices on the present site?
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-Yes. I
consider that scheme would probably cost less than the scheme of purchasing Beaconsfield. I now beg to repeat my resolution.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to second. Hon. C. P. CHATER-I beg to propose that
consideration of this resolution be postponed to a future meeting. The reason I ask for this postponement is, I have no doubt, very obvious to your Excellency. It is that before we came to this room we were not aware of the resolution.
The resolution is proposed, and we are asked to prepared to pass, or to refuse to pass, a resolu- pass it or refuse to pass it. But we cannot be
tion of which we have had no notice whatever, I would also ask that all resolutions to be brought before the Council be forwarded to the ing at which they are to be proposed takes unofficial members a few days before the meet- place. The unofficial members, if they propose à resolution, have to give proper notice and days beforehand, and I think any resolution forward a copy of the resolution two or three coming from the Government side of the house should be treated in the same way.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I beg to second that. I think it is only reasonable that the un- meeting should know the nature of the resolu- official members some days before the date of the
tions they are to be called upon to discuss and vote upon. It is impossible on the spur of the moment to give the matter the consideration it involving the expenditure of half-a-million or deserves, especially a resolution of this kind
three-quarters of a million of dollars. I also support what has fallen from the hon. senior un- official member with reference to all resolutions being embodied in the agenda. I think the present practice is quite irregular.
the arrangement of the offices, or possible of HIS EXCELLENCY-I think the hon. mem- execution for the sum named. It proposes the erection on plot No. 1 on the new Praya of a
bers of Council and the community have had building with three floors, the Post Office on
ample time and opportunity to consider this the ground, and above it the Treasury, Asses-intelligence of the hon. members if I supposed question, and should not be flattering the sor's Office, and Sanitary Board, and on the they were not ready to argue it out. I will second floor the Public Works Department. I undertake to say they will never know much think, sir, it can be shown the Treasury is more about it than they do now, but as the hon. much better and more centrally situated where senior unofficial member and the hon. member it is, as well as the Post Office. I dare who represents the Chamber of Commerce put say my hon. friend the Treasurer will agree this as a matter of principle I am quite with me in that. With rd to the Pub- prepared to allow it to be discussed on another lic Works Department, I cannot but think day, so for these reasons I withdraw the matter the proposed position would be excessively for the present. I can only say this, that the inconvenient. My office is resorted to at all Government has been most anxious to know the hours of the day by overseers, contractors, land-real wish of the colony on this subject, because holders, and others, and to have a stream of it does not affect us one way or the other, but such constantly passing up a two-storey build- it affects the colony for all time, or at least for ing would be most objectionable to all the other the next sixty or seventy years. Therefore offices in the block, while the distance from Sir William Robinson and myself have been the Colonial Secretary's Office, with which most anxious that the colony should discuss the ΠΕ are in constant communication, would matter in every possible way and that we should be inconvenient. I further consider the have the best and most economical scheme car- cost of the scheme. under-estimated. A ried out. I therefore propose to adjourn the Post Office, and Treasury on the Queen's Road discussion to Monday next, if Monday will site is a very different matter from the same on
suit hon, members. the new Praya. Iu the one case the cost of foundations is nil, in the other it has been esti- mated at $75,000. The Queen's Road and Pedder Street site only requires two ornate elevations, the Praya site four and all extremely conspi- cuous. Taking everything into consideration
A PERSONAL MATTER,
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Sir, although it is not on the agenda I have given notice of a resolution which reads as follows :—“ move that the report of the proceedings of the I beg to Public Works Committee at a meeting held on
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.