March 5, 1898.J
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on 28th Feb. afternoon in the Council Chamber. Present:—
His EXCELLENCY the ACTING GOVERNOR, Major-General BLACK, C.B.
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. W. M. GOODMAN (Attorney-General). Hon. R. MURRAY RUMSEY (Harbour Master). Hon. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Captain Super- intendent of Police).
Hon. T. SERCOMBE Treasurer),
SMITH (Colonial
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.
Hou. J. J. BELL IRVING.
Hon. WEI A YUK.
Mr. J. G. T. BUCKLE (Clerk of Councils). i
-MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
THE NEW GOVERNOR,
H18 EXCELLENCY-Before beginning the business of the day, I may mention to you the nature of a telegram that I have received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in which he intimates that Sir Henry Blake will leare England on or about the 1st of May.
FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT, The COLONIAL SECRETARY submitted the Report of the Finance Committee (No. 1) and moved its adoption.
The COLONIAL TREASUT seconded. Carried.
THE PROPOSED NEW GOVERNMENT OFFICES, HIS EXCELLENCY-In regard to the resolt- tion of the Director of Public Works on the subject of the new Government Offices, I think it is hardly necessary to more the resolution again. It was moved at the last meeting of Council and therefore it is better just to en- tinue the discussion upon it.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-Before the reso- Intion is discussed, may I move the resolution which stands in my name, in connection with the new Government Offices?
HIS EXCELLENCY-In reality you may more the motion now, but the Government do not propose to put the paper asked for on the table. The whole of the information contained in that paper relative to the question of the Government buildings has been before you in the other papers-absolutely the whole of it. I think I am right, Mr. Colonial Secretary, in saying that. I have read it myself and I think I am right in saying that the whole of the in- formation regarding the Government Offices is before you. That is my impression.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY - There is nothing, sir, in that despatch which would in any way facilitate the consideration of the Equestion, which has been before the public for some time, and nothing which would enable us to come to a speedy decision on the question under discussion.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I would point out that that despatch, dated 5th June, 1896, re- quests the Government to forward the report by the Committee appointed to report on the Gor- ernment Offices, and any further explanations the Government may wish to give. I submit,
Bir
HIS EXCELLENCY-Are you moving the motion now? I have told you already that the Government do not propose to put a copy of the covering despatch on the table for the reasons I have just stated.
Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I think, sir, with your permission, I will move the motion that stands in my name:"That the Government lay npon the table a copy of its covering despateli forwarding to the Colonial Office the Report dated 23rd November, 1896, of the Committee appointed 8th September, 1894, by His Excel- lency Sir William Robinson to report on the condition of the Government Offices and the desirability of locating the various Government departments ander one roof, together with a copy of further explanations the Government may have given in connection therewith and as
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
165
called for by the Secretary of State's despatch | $80,000 for the whole property would make a No. 126 of 5th June, 1896.*
square foot worth $5.424, a very low price indeed compared to $12 a square foot, a valuation put upon the present Post Office site by the hon. senior unofficial member. The hon. members opposite may entertain doubts in regard to the accuracy of this valuation. In that case they have my full con- sent to lay before the Government for sale any of their own houses provided it is cheaper than, and is as suitable as, Beaconsfield..
re-
cou.
His EXCELLENCY-Excuse me one moment, Mr. Belilios. Will you kindly read the motion before the Council, Mr. Clerk.
Sir, the contents of that despatch, I feel sure, would be of very great interest to unofficial members. Certain plaus were prepared by the former Director of Public Works, which, I understand, the Com- mittee appointed by Sir W. Robinson to inquire into the question, condemned. From a leading article in the Daily Press of the 3rd of this month, I observe that- The plans sent home, and which have been condemned by Messrs. Webb and Bell, the Colonial Office Consulting Architects. are those for which Mr. Cooper, the late Director of Public Works, was
As they had already been sponsible. demned by the Committee appointed to consider the matter, it seems a little unfortunate that Hon. E. R. BELILIOS.-The removal of the they should not have been at once discarded Post Office and Treasury to the Praya would of and competitive designs invited, for their course materially enhance the value of the submission to Messrs. Webb and Bell has adjoining lots, by ensuring the immediate only resulted in delay and needless expense."occupancy at high rents of the great blocks in It would, sir, be of interest to know whether the course of erection or to be erected there, and plans which were coudemned by the Committee hence my hon. friend's anxiety to see these were really those which the Government sent offices removed thither. home. We cannot, I think, decide on this question thoroughly until we have the despatch from the Government with any further explan- ations the Government may hare deemed it expedient to give the Secretary of State.
HIS EXCELLENCY-The resolution is not seconded. The next motion is in the name of has already been moved and the disenssion may the Director of Public Works. That motion
now proceed,
Hou, T. H. WHITEHEAD-Sir, if I may be allowed to ask a question before the discussion the Director of Public Works. At the last is commenced I would like an explanation from meeting of Council he said, "The resolution I have proposed commits the Council to nothing." I should like to know what that really means. I do not understand it.
His EXCELLENCY-A question of that sort can hardly be asked. The discussion must proceed. The Director of Public Works has the right of reply after the motion has been argued by the hon. gentlemen present, and perhaps then the Director of Public Works will refer to the statement he has made, but the discussion must now proceed in the ordinary
way.
|
The members then proceeded to discuss the resolution, which was in the following terms: That in the opinion of this Council it is expedient-10 To construct the New Law Courts and accessory offices on Plot No. 2 on the New Reclamation, namely, the larger of the two lots reserved for Government Offices, immediately in front of the City Hall; and (b) 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."
Hon. E. I. BELILIOS-Your Excellency, in support of the resolution which is now before the Council and in connection with the recent report of the Public Works Committee on the proposed new Government Offices, I wish to offer a few remarks. I think they are called for, inasmuch as I am put on my defence by the action of the hon. member representing the Chamber of Commerce, who eutered a protest against my voting on the division which took place. He has asserted that he took this course because I as an interested party ought not to vote. In that case I respectfi"y suggest that he should have included the ho. ember represent ing the Bench of Justices in his protest. My interest in this matter is small compared to that of the last named gentleman, whose extensive holdings on the Praya frontage are so well known. The property known as Beaconsfield, which the hou. Director of Public Works proposes the Government should purchase, was not offered by me; it was leased for a period of ten years at a rental of $400 per month to Butter- field and Swire and considering the rise in rents since then it is now cheaply let at a rental of $425 per mouth for six years to the Government, which will give me a return of 6 per cent. per annum on the proposed purchase money. I am spending large sum on its repair and improvement, and I consider it to be worth more than the amount named. At any rate it is worth that to me, and it is immaterial to me whether it is purchased from me or not. Beaconsfield covers an area of 14,754 square feet,
The Clerk of Councils thereupon read the motion.
HIS EXCELLENCY-No, uo, I do not think that is legitimate, Mr. Belilios. I do not think you should impute motives.
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS-They attacked me. HIS EXCELLENCY-No attack has been made in this Council on you, Mr. Belilios. I must ask you to keep to the point. I should have defended you if there had been an attack, because I am certainly satisfied that you acted as an honest man in the interests of the com- munity, but you must not cast aspersions on hon. gentlemen who have not said anything to which you can take objection. (Hear, hear).
Hon. E. R. BELILIOS-The convenience of a large majority of the public has obviously been lost sight of by the hon. gentlemen op- posite, who have been unable to set aside their own interests. The hon. member for the Justices, in his scheme, proposes to build a lofty Post Office on a portion of the marine lot on the Praya. He proposes out of 34,230 square feet of valuable laud to utilize only 25,867 square feet, leaving 8,363 square feet for yards, thus sacrificing some $80,000 of the public funds. Surely the hon. member will not for one moment think of dealing with land belonging to himself in this manner. On the contrary he will build to the very utmost limit of his boundary. He bases his estimates and figures on mere sup- position, bare opinion. The figures I propose to place before the Council are based on authority--on the report of the Commission. It never occurred to the members of the Com nassion to retain the Post Office and Treasury on their present site; their attention was too much riveted to the Government reserves on the Reclamation. The question was therefore never discussed by them. Thanks, however, to the arrival of the present Director of Publis Works we have new ideas and a proposal which will not only save the colony a large sum of money but secure its greatest convenience. My hon. friend opposite contends that the site of the present Post Office is more valuable than the Praya sites; if that is really the case it is so because the position is more central, and there- fore better adapted for the purpose. By utiliz. ing the present site we should also save a large sum in piling foundations and by using some of the present materials. I am confident the public are in favour of the scheme put forward by the Director of Public Works, and I believe my hon, friends opposite, if not unconsciously biased by their own interests or inclinations, would be compelled to admit its superior advant- ages. Turning now to the memorandum of my hon. friend the member representing the Bench of Justices, he has therein set down three items, viz., $150,000, $40,000 and $50,000 or an aggregate of $240,000 as the sum required to erect his ideal block of Government Offices on Plot No. 1. he marine lot in front of the City Hall and close to the Hongkong Club. On reference to page 8 of the report of the Com- mission appointed to consider this question, it will be found that $700,000 is laid down as the amount necessary to cover Plots 1 and 2 with buildings. The hon. member on my right (Mr. Ormsby) proposes to devote $400.000 of this sum to the erection of new Law Courts on Plot No. 2 next to the City Hall. This will leave $300,000 for the provision of Post Office and other departmental buildings. My hon. friend the member for the Justices
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