310
46
#8
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
crease on a certain scale being granted to the Chinese employés. This increase when worked out totalled up to $14,000, and it is hoped that there will be no opposition on the part of this Council to that vote being
|
14
|
expenditure contemplated in the education de- partment. As to the medical department, the difference there is some $4,500, and if honour- able members will turn to page 35 of the details of expenditure and about & quar- ter down the page against the figure included in this year's Bill. With regard to they will see. Provisions for patients,' "Bed- public works recurrent, nothing occurs to me to ding and clothing," Medical and surgical which it is necessary to allude. and I pass on to appliances." These show an increase of $4.500, the "Public works extraordinary." The powder which is due to the fact that there are a larger magazine at Stonecutters Island (estimated cost number of patients-the Civil Hospital is better $50,000) is being built at the earnest request patronised, hope by the Chinese and also of the General Commanding the forces in the that the rate of exchange entails a larger ex- colony after an interchange of views between penditure in dollars than has hitherto been the the Colonial Office azd War Office. As to case. Honourable members will remember that the item "Public Works department store about this time last year, when the estimates $18,000," you know that it is not safe to were before them, the question of raising the put anything in the dilapidated building fees for medical attendance in the Government used hitherto it is therefore necessary that Civil Hospital was gone into and in accordance we should have another cue, especially in view with the feeling of the Council at that time, the of the fact that it will probably be necessary to fees were raised, the increase dating from first pull down Crosby's store to make way for the new January, 1898. The result is that the fees for Post Office. With regard to the item No. 7 1898 have exceeded those for the previous year Police Station $65,000," the amount was in- by $5,000. With regard to the police depart cluded in last year's estimate, and the sum of ment, there we have a difference of $7,500 $6,000 was provided last year to begin the re- between the estimated expenditure for 1899 construction of this station, but it was found and the estimated expenditure for 1898. impossible to go on with the work, and it is hoped If honourable members will refer to page that this station, which is certainly in need of 38 of the details of expenditure they will being re-built, will be commenced and carried see that for the detective force the sum through next year. With regard to the item has been increased from $1,056 to 82,124, wLich increase is explained in the foot-note follows" Of the increase of $1,068 8900 is for European detectives, and the balance ($168) is to admit of the detective allowance of $2 a month being paid to the whole of the Chinese detective staff," I feel sure that the Council will agree that it is better, as recent events have shown, to endeavour to put your men out of the reach of a temptation to which unfortunately some bave given way. Another reason for the increase is that in all police forces, nearly, I am given to understand, there is a distinction in pay between the detective force and the uniform force, and that the uniform force in Hongkong has opportunities of obtaining al- lowances such as by joining the Fire Brigade- not open to the detective force. As it was de- sired to have the best men of the force in the detective branch the Government have thought it advisable to grant these allowances. The next items to which I would call attention are " Pas- sages and bonuses in lieu of passage $15,000 (against $13,000), the increase being due to fall in exchange, and Clothing and accoutrements $12,000" (against $10,000), also due to the fall in exchange. Then I come to the item "Tem- porary ration allowance to Indian police $1,540-30. I may explain to the Council that some| time ago the Indian police petitioned for a slight increase of pay, or at any rate for some increase in ration allowance, owing to the rise in the price of flour and other articles of food, The matter was considered by the Executive Conncil, and it was proposed to ask the Secretary of State to sanction this increase, which at pre- sent is only to be of a temporary nature. With regard to the sanitary department, there is a difference in the estimate for 1899 and that for 1898 of $8,000. I believe no member of this Council will dissent from the view that it is absolutely necessary in the interests of the sanitation of the colony to increase our sanitary staff. It is in order to meet that increase that an extra expenditure for 1899 is essential and that you are asked to vote it. In 1898 we had one senior inspector and 12 other inspectors, For 1899 it is proposed to have one chief inspector from England, five first-class inspec- tors, six second class inspectors, and six third class inspectors, a staff which I believe is about equal to the staff employed in England at New. castle-on-Tyne, a town where the popula tion is less than that of Hongkong. and the where the habits of the people and nature of the climate render it not so ueres. Hou. C. P. CHATER-On page 36. I see sary to have so big a staff as in Hong 'Police Magistrate and Coroner $7,800, the es- kong. If honourable members will turn timate for this year $7,200," and I see at the foot to page 44 they will see the item, To governote" Recuction on new appointment." I should cost of general increase of salaries of Chinese like to know whether the new appointment has employés $14,000." Some time ago the Chi. nese employés of the Government petitioned for an increase of salary. That petition was referred to small committee composed of the Honourable Colonial Treasurer, the Honourable Wei A Yuk, and Mr. Edward Osborne. Their report has gone home to the Secretary of State and was in favour of an in-'
a
་་
a
|
[October 15, 1898.
trate at Singapore, and this Government has made representations that in the event of the Police Magistrate and Coroner being one and the same person the sum of $7,200 would probably be more just. However, the matter has not yet been decided by the Secretary of State, and as he has not sent to us a definite answer we have put our recommendation in the estimates.
Hon. C. P. CHATER-And is it the intention of the Government to increase the number of Magistrates from one to two?
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-I bave heard of no intimation to that effect.
Hon. C. P. CHATER-Under the heading "Miscellaneous services" I see the item “Com- mission to Crown agents, $1,600 in 1898 and $2,500 for 1899," and I observe a foot note, "Increase on account of Crown agents' charge of 1 per cent. on freight and insurance of stores. I should like to have some explanation on this subject.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-When the Crown agents put this charge of 1 per cent. on freight and insurance I, as Treasurer, protested against it on the ground that it was not in ac cordauce with the regulations and that it was a charge contrary to all commercial practice. The Secretary of State, however, will not relieve us from this commission.
Hon. C. P. CHATER-Are there any returns for freight and insurance ?
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-I do not think there is.
Hon. C. P. CHATER-I believe there are re- turns. Do we get them or do the Crown agents ? The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER-I have never seen any.
It was decided that the Acting Colonial Secretary should enquire as to this return.
Hon. Č. P. CHATER-On the same page is an item Exchange Compensation for 1898, $85, 00, whilst the estimate for 1899 is put down at $95,000. How is this arrived at ?
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-We fix the dollar at is. 11d. this year. Last year it was fixed at 1s. 9d.
Hon. C. P. CHATER-Then the item ought to have been less,
It
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY ought to have been less but there may be more rec ring compensation, and the figures for 1898. now probably under estimated.
Hon. C. P. CHATER-Surely not to that extent.
Chair shelter at the Peak $4,300." as that mat- ter is now being discussed in the press I will content myself with saying that it is with very great regret the Government has left it out. The estimated revenue only exceeds the estimated expenditure by $11,865, which is a very narrow margin, and one which the Secretary of State will probably require to be increased. Therefore, it may be necessary to sacrifice other items. An- other item in the "Public works extraordinary" is "Disinfector station and inspector's quarters $12,000." The present disinfector is situated in a position near the quarters of the nursing sisters attached to the Government Civil Hospital, and is more or less of a nuisance to them, and it is proposed to transfer it to a site at Taipingshan and to build quar- ters for an inspector and coolies. As to the item Two public latrines $5,000," it may be passed over without any more remark, as the accommodation provided by such conveniences in the colony is very insufficient and should le creased. With regard to the Washing tanks at Tai Hang $4.400," at present I understand good deal of public washing is done at Tai Hang in various pools up the same stream, and it is now proposed to put a series of tanks side by side so that every dhobie will get equally clean water.culars. $2,000 is provided for the placing of wells in vil- lages not yet supplied with water. It is impor. tant that all places not yet reached by the water system should if possible have a good supply of fresh water, so that the sanitary state of villages may be improved. $40,000 is provided towards the Governor's peak residence in accordance with instructions from the Secretary of State and $16,000 towards laying ont Farm Lot 1 and Train- ing Nullah at Yaumati. The Crown rent on the old Farm Lot is as nothing compared with what will be received when houses are built upon it, and in addition the Government will be receiv ing rates. Provision is made for a new shed at the swine depot at Kennedytown. depot is at present insufficient for the accommo- dation of the swine brought here and the sooner we can get the new shelter built the better, as it will be a remunerative undertaking. these few remarks I beg to move the second reading of the Bill.
The
With
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER second. ed, and the motion was carried.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY pro- mised to give the unofficial members the parti-
The Council subsequently resumed, His Ex- cellency returning to the chair.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY- I bare the honour to report that the Appropiation Bill for1899 has been considered by the Finance Com- mittee and that there are no objections to the
items. I now have the honour to move that
this Council go into committee on the Bill and consider it clanse by clause.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER seconded. The Bill having been considered in committee the Council again resumed, and on the motion of the ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded by the ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER, the Bill was read a third time and passed.
ADJOURNMENT. The Council then adjourned sine die.
THE ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS COMMISSION.
lative Council on 10th October :-
The following report of the Alcoholic Liquors The estimates were then referred to the Fin-Commission was laid on the table of the Legis- ance Committee, His Excellency vacating the chair for the time being end being succeeded by the Acting Colonial Secretary.
Hongkong, 12th August. We, the undersigned members of the Com. mission appointed on the 14th day of February, 1898, to enquire into and report on the importa- tion into Hongkong, and the manufacture and sale in Hongkong of alcoholic liquors of all kinds and into the operation of the laws regu- lating the same, and to ascertain whether any and what descriptions of crude, inferior, adul- as yet unable to state whether the new appoint.terated, or deleterious liquors are manufactured, ment has been made.
or sold, and by whom and to what extent, and The Secretary of State has had it in his mind to reduce what measures may nsefully be taken to improve · the salary on the new appointment being made the laws and to check the importation, manufac- to $500 a month. That is to make the salary ture, and sale in licensed houses and elsewhere the same as that of the office of Chief Magis-' of such crude, inferior, adulterated, or injurious
been made.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY—I am
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.