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THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES AND THE KOWLOON CONCESSION.
FOR 1899.
(Daily Press, 3rd October.)
further proceed
[October 8, 1898,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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with the work in 1899; time to come render the task of the civil City of Victoria and Hill District water- officials appointed to administer the ter- works, estimated cost $267,000, estimated (Daily Press, 4th October.)
ritory difficult. The Government, which expenditure to 31st December, 1898, The Kamtinhu deputation, in the apology has probably received information from $184,300, and 870,000 is provided as the tendered to the Colonial Government other sources of the facts mentioned by our estimated expenditure in 1899. Under the. the other day for the insult and correspondent, will no doubt cause the neces- heading of public works chargeable to the obstruction offered to the Kowloon Com-sary warnings to be conveyed to the Chinese loan we find that the estimated cost to the mission, said the people of the village authorities, so that the transfer may be Government of the Praya Reclamation has had " 'fo manners or education." The effected quietly and under such coulitions beeu increased from $429,678 to $478,222 Acting Colonial Secretary-who is to as will best contribute to the future order on account of Government undertaking to be complimented on the sensible and effec- liness of the new territory.
carry out the work in front of dissent- tive manner in which he dealt with the
ing lotholders' lots. $362,600 is put down deputation-considerately assured them that whoever was appointed to govern the THE PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES as the estimated expenditure to 31st Decem- ber, 1898, and $10,000 is entered as the territory would pay special attention to
estimated expenditure för 1899. The es- their education. But according to the state-
timated cost of the reconstruction of Govern- ment of a correspondent published in our
The Estimates for 1899 embody an interest-ment piers has been increased from $100,700 issue of yesterday, there are persons occupying programme of public works, but not all to $215,000 on account of an iron pier ing much higher positions than the Kamtia of the items are to be commenced during 300 feet long being substituted for a masonry hu villagers who stand in need of the
the year. The sum of $400,000 is the cs- pier 90 feet long opposite. Pedder's Street, particular kind of education to which timated cost of the new Law Courts, but and boat slip for the Harbour Master's use Mr. SERCOMBE SMITH referred. The this is one of the works that is to be deferred. being provided. The estimated expendi Provincial Authorities, it is said, while No doubt explanations will be given when ture to the end of the present year is openly issuing the necessary instructions the Estimates are considered by the Fin- $90,500, and the estimated expenditure for to the Sunon Magistrate with reference
ance Committee, but we think this is a 1899 $60,000. The improved design for to the arrangements for handing over the work which the public would be glad Pelder's Wharf will command general ap- territory, have given secret orders, probably to see commenced at as early a date as proval an it is to be hoped the work may instigated from Peking, to put all obstacles
may be found feasible, both because the be proceeded with as rapidly as possible. possible in the way of the transfer of govern- new Law Courts are in themselves desirable The cost of gaol extension has been in- ment. The word accordingly went forth and because the building in which the legal creased from 896,000 to $127,000 on account that the foreigners were going to dis- work is now conducted is urgently required of the construction of worksheds and a new possess the natives of their land and that it in order to afford increased accommodation block of cells which were not contemplated would be necessary to raise money for the for the Post Office. Another work which under the original scheme. The estimated purchase in Canton of arms to resist the is placed on the list for the first time, but expenditure to 31st December, 1898, is incroachment of the foreigner when it took which is not to be undertaken at once, is the $105,000, and a further sum of $19,700 is place. In accordance with this programme
new Clock Tower, the estimated cost of which provided for 1899. The estimated cost of a subscription has been raised amongst the is $30,000. $27,000 is entered as the quarters for the gaol staff has been raised population of the district, who fear the loss estimated cost of purchase of houses for the from $33, to $60,000, and a footnote of their title to the land, and over $100,000 accommodation of the police at the Central informs us that this does not include a had been raised some weeks ago, all the Station, but this also is included in the sum of $50,0 paid for the resumption of rowdy characters in the surrounding dis- works not intended to be proceeded with in inland lot 144 to provide a site for the trict being encouraged to take hand in the 1899. The Governor's Peak Residence is quarters. The sewerage of Victoria, the disturbance when it comes off, on the tak-
estimated to cost $75,000, of which $40,000 estimate for which was $282,500, is now ing over of the territory. We have every is put down as the estimated expenditure in practically completed, a sum of $7,000 ouly reason to believe that our correspondent is 1899, but as we believe the site is not yet remaining to be expended in 1899. There well informed on the subject and there is decided upon, and it will probably take Sir are a few minor items chargeable to the nothing intrinsically improbable in the de- HENRY BLAKE some time to make up his loan, namely, miscellaneous waterworks signs he attributes to the officials. As we mind on that much discussed point, we $6,000, miscellaneous drainage works. know, armed opposition was offered to the should think it doubtful whether the $26,000, and swine depot $10,000, the total. French at Kwangchauwan, and the occupa work will actually be commenced during estimated expenditure for 1899 chargeable tion was not effected without some loss of the first year of the new Governor's ad to the loan being $183,700. It appears, life and a rather liberal use of corporal ministration. The Powder Magazine on however, the estimated balance of the loan chastisement on the obstructionists. This Stonecutters Island is to be proceeded at the end of the present year is only was possibly owing in some measure to the with, the estimated cost of the work being $167,775, French appearing on the scene before pro 850,000, and $25,000 the estimated expen- per arrangements for the handing over of the diture in 1899. Work on No. 7 Police territory had been made, including the Station is also to be proceeded with, the es notification of the change of government to timated expenditure for 1899 being $50,000, the inhabitants, but it may also be sup out of a total cstiinated cost of $65,000. posed that the opposition was not displeasing Road, Whanchai to Wongneichong, on to the officials. Indeed, it is said that account"--by which is presumably meant Viceroy TAN was so averse to the banding the road from Wanchai Gap to Wongnei- over of the territory that he wished to chong Gap-figures for $30,000 as the es- resign his office in order to avoid having timated cost, the estimated expenditure for any connection with the transaction. If 1899 being $10,000. It is satisfactory to these are the sentiments of the Viceroy-and find that this work, which will open up new they will no doubt apply to Kowloon equally residential areas on the heights besides be with Kwangchauwan-we may rest assured ing valuable from a military point of view that the subordinate officials more im-and forming a pleasant walk, is to be pro- mediately concerned will be nothing loth ceeded with. There are a number of small- to give effect to them in so far as lies in
er public works chargeable to general re- their power, caring little, as our correspoud- venue, of which some are to be completed ent remarks, how much punishment the during the year and others deferred. Resi- ignorant tools of their machinations may dents in the Hill District will no doubt suffer so long as they can breed bad blood regret to notice that amongst the latter between the foreigner and those of their is the chair shelter at the Peak. Turning subjects who are to come under his rule, to the public works extraordinary charge- and thus render the task of government able to Water Account we find the follow troublesome. If the people fall into the ing-Water supply, Kowloon, estimated trap a few of them will probably lose their cost $180,000, estimated expenditure to 31st lives and more will suffer in other ways. December, 1898, $126,000, estimated ex- From a military point of view any resist-penditure, 1899, $15,000; Tytam water- ance the people might be able to offer would be contemptible, and would be brushed aside without trouble, but the bad
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90 that there will be a small, deficit on the cost of the works chargeable against it, which will pre- sumably have to be made, good from- the general revenue, though that does not appear to be provided for in the Estimates. Now that the loan is so nearly exhausted it will soon become a ques- tion how the public works of the future are to be provided for: either there will have to be a great retrenchment in the expenditure under this hending (which, in view of the growing requirements of the colony, seems hardly possible), increased taxation, or an- other loan.
TRAMWAYS FOR HONG CONG:
(Daily Press, 7th October.) The public will have been pleased to learn, from Mr. Leion's letter published in our issue of Wednesday last, that the Syndicate that obtained an Ordinance in 1883 for the construction of tramways in this city is only waiting for the completion of the Prayn Reclamation before commencing operations. Doubts exist, we believe, as to whether the Syndicate in question has now any legal existence, owing to the operation of the section of the Ordinance providing for works extension, estimated cost $70,000, the cesser of powers in certain events, estimated expenditure to 31st December, and, moreover, 1898, $66,000, and it is not intended to the Ordinance of 1883 authorised the the principal line which
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