August 31, 1901.]
550 acres being on the 16 inch scale and the remainder 8,474 acres on the 32 inch scale.
This area includes the following sub-districts of the Sheung U District, namely:-Hap Wo, Lam Tsun, Tsoi Hang and Shun Wan; and the following sub-districts of Shataakok Dis- trict, namely: Liu Mahang, Ha Po, Wohang, Lukkeng, Kukpo and portions of ing Chun and Nam Yenk. Also the Islands Cheong Chau, Peng Chau and Mah Wan and portions of Lantau at Tungchung and Mui Wo.
Demarcation. The a ea surveyed during season 1900-1901, namely, 9,204 acres. has also been demarcated and 2,133.32 acres south of the Kowloon Hills.
During the recess season of 1900, a survey on the 64-inch scale was made of Kowloon City for the Land Court.
I should say that, at the very outside, about 25,000 acres remain to be done.
Total area surveyed and demarcated up to date (from November, 1899, to July, 1901):-
Ares
surveyed
on the 16 in.
►Aroa
acale.
surveyed?
on the 32 in.
Acres.
Acres,
Acres.
35,807.77 8,474.00 44,231.77
Acres,
363,445 11,157.32 2. EXPENDITURE ON THE NEW TERRITORY.
Mr. WHITEHEAD-Will the Honourable the Colonial Treasurer lay upon the Council table a statement showing the total expenditure incurred in connection with the New Territory from the date of the lease thereof, viz., 9th June, 1898, to 30th June, 1951, and the total revenue collected from the said New Territory during the same period, the principal items under both heads to be shewn separately
In reply to the question, the ACTING COLON- IAL TREASURER laid on the table a state- ment showing the revenue and expenditure in the New Territory from June, 1898, to 30th June, 1901. The total revenue was $41,014.33, and the total expenditure $736,571.31.
3. THE ALLEGED DISCONTENT IN THE POLICE FORCE. Mr. WHITEHEAD-Has the attention of the Honourable the Captain Superintendent of Police been directed to paragraphs and leaderettes which appeared in the China Mail of 23rd. 25th and 26th instant, in the Telegraph 27th, and in the Daily Press of 24th and 27th idem, in respect of discontent among the European members of the Police Force and the Gaol Staff, and will the Honourable Member inform the Councils to the correctness or otherwise of the allegations and statements therein made?
Mr. MAY-The reply to the first part of the question is "No." In reply to the second part of the question, I have to say that with the exception of five complaints by junior police officials for having been passed over for promo- tion, one by a constable against a sergeant for incivility, and three complaints by constables against bar-boys in the canteen for incivility, no complaints have reached me from any member of the Police Force or any members of the Gaol staff, and I decline to recognise or discuss any complaints which are not made to me through the appointed official channels.
4, BUILDING COLLAPSES IN THE COLONY. Mr. WHITEHEAD-Will the Honourable the Director of Public Works lay upon the Council table, a statement showing:-
(1.) The number of buildings in the Colony which have fallen down from 1st January, 1895, to 16th instant.
(2) The names of owners of the said buildings.
(3.) The number of deaths caused thereby.
(4.) The number of Coroner's enquiries held in connection with such deaths.
(5.) The number of prosecutions, if any, instituted as the result of the said enquiries, and
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
185
(2.) What precautions, if any, to amend the Probates Ordinance, 1897 (No. 3 have been taken to prevent a recurrence of 1897).
of a like calamity attended with such The COLONIAL S-CRETARY seconded, and heavy loss of life as that which occurred the motion was carried. in Cochrane Street on 14th instant in connection with buildings already in i existence ?
Mr. CHATHAM--Time has not permitted the preparation of the statement asked for by the Hon. Member, but as soon as it is ready it will be laid on the table, and all information given available on the subject.
5. VENICE CONVENTION AND HONGKONG. Mr. WHITEHEAD-Will the ionourable the Attorney-General inform the Council whether the Venice Plague Convention of 1897' applies to the Colony of Hongkong?
The
ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL-The Convention does not apply to the Colony of Hongkong.
F
1
MERCHANT SHIPPING CONSOLIDATION
ORDINANCE.
+ The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENEBAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the Merchant Shipping Consolidation Ordinance, 1899 (Ordinanc3 36 of 1899),
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was carried.
THE MANUFACTURE OF GUNPOWDER. The ACTING ATTORNKY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to amend the law relating to the manufacture of gunpowder and of fireworks, and to regulate the sale and conveyance of gunpowder.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, aud the motion was carried.
NATURALISATION,
6. SHOULD SICK CHINESE LEAVE THE COLONY.
Mr. WHITEHEAD-If the Venice Plague | The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved Convention of 1897" does not apply to the Colony the second reading of the Bill entitled an of Hongkong, will the Honourable the Colonial | Ordinance for the naturalisation of Siu Yun-fai, Secretary i form the Council whether the alias Siu Yun-hang, alias Siu Kwok-yeung, alias Government will direct the Sauitary Board Sin Kn-ming, alias Siu Yin-ping. to take into consideration at an early date the question whether in the event of an epidemic
1 of plague occurring during 1902, sick Chinese will, as during the 1894 epidemic, be permitted to leave the Colony for their homes on the mainland-provided the Chinese Government offers no objection-and if so, to determine under what conditions they will be allowed to
do so?
COLONIAL SECRETARY-In reply to that question. I may state that instructions have been received from His Majesty's Government that the course suggested shall not be permitted.
7. THE STATEMENT PREPARED FOR MR OSBORNE.
Mr. WHITEHEAD-Will the Honourable the Colonial Secretary lay upon the Council table a copy ofthe detailed statement already prepared by the Medical Officer of Health and the Sec. retary of the Sanitary Board, by directi n of its President, asked for by Mr. Edward Osborne at the Sanitary Board mee ing held
on the 8th instant, showing what, recommendations the Board and its Officers have made during the past ten years in respect of additional Markets, additional Public Latrines, and additional Public Urinals, and how far such recommendations had been carried out?
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the return asked for.
'
The COLONIAL SECRETary seconded, and the motion was carried.
The Council thereafter went into committee on the Bill, and on resuming, there being no amendments. the Bill was read a third time.
TO VALIDATE CROWN LEASES. The ACTING ATTORN, Y-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to validate Crown leases heretoforo made of foreshore and sabmerged lands within the territorial waters of the Colony for reclams tion and other purposes and to legalise and facilitate the making of such leases hereafter.
The objects and reasons of the Bill are as follows:-
1. A very large number of Crown leases, in- cluding the demised land portions of the. foreshore and sea-bed, have, from time to time, been granted in this Colony, most frequently for purposes of reclamation and with a view to meet the requirements of commerce and to facilitate the handling of the large traffic of Hongkong.
2. Owing to the extremely limited quality of level ground with a deep water frontage provided by nature in this Colony, ext.osivo reclamations have been absolutely necessary, not only for sanitary reasons connected with overcrowding, but also to enable the trade of the port to be carried on.
8. MR. ORMSBY'S SUCCESSOR.
3. This necessity has bean universally re- Mr. WHITEHEAD-Will the Honourable the cognised, and although in theory the granting Colonial Secretary inform the Council, whether of leases of portions of the foreshore and of the the Government have telegraphed, urging on sea-bed thereto adjace it may to some extent the Colonial Office the imperative necessity, interfere with rights of fishing and navigation in the interests of the trade and the and with rights or alleged rights of accuss to shipping of the port, of selecting and appoint the sea, it has, nevertheless, been felt that the ing a thoroughly experienced officer, first-public and the Colony as a whole have been class in every respect, and of considerable gainers by the reclamations rather than losers. professional standing, to take charge of the 4. The most extensive reclamations hitherto Public Works Department (in succession to Mr. carried out, as for instance the Praya Ro- R. D. Ormsby), and of the ever increasing duties clamation now nearing completion, have been devolving on that department in respect of undertaken under statutory authority. roads, streets, buildings, drainage, water-works, reclamations, and the many important public works now in progress and in contemplation directly connected with the sanitation of the Colony?
COLONIAL SECRETARY—The answer to the question of the bon, member is in the negative. Mr. WHITEHEAD-In consequence of the answer to the last question, I beg to give notice that at the next meeting of the Council I will move That in the opinion of this Council a thoroughly experienced officer of first-class ability in every respect and of con- siderable professional standing should be secured to fill the office of Director of Public Works, and that this Council would willingly entertain any proposals which might be made by the Government for the provision of a better salary than that hitherto paid."
JURY CONSOLIDATION ORDINANCE,
(6.) The causes, so far as ascertained, which have contributed to the tumbling The ACTING ATTORNEY-ĜENERAL moved down in each case, and, if the collapse of the first reading of a Bill entitled na Ordinance any or all of the buildings in question have to further amend the Jury Consolidation Ordi. resulted from defective construction, will
nance, 1887. the Honourable Member inform the Connail :-
(1.) What precautions, if any, have been taken to prevent the erection of such buildings in the future; and
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was carried.
PROBATES ORDINANCE.
The ACTING Attorney-GenERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance
|
In the vast majority of the cases in which such authority has not been obtained, the interference with rights has been so insigni. ficant as to occasion little or no inconvenience And to call forth no complaint.
5. It is, however, desirable to obtain statutory validity for such past Crown leases as have, to any extent, interfered with public or private rights, and also to obtain statutory authority for the granting in the future of Crown leasON of portions of the foreshore or bed of the ses in cases where the Governor in Council considers such leases expedient.
6. The proviso in section 2 is inserted to prevent any interference ex post facto with a judgment of the Supreme Court regarding Lantao Marine Lot No. 2, in which case the Court held that a Crown lease could not operate so as to deprive certain fishermen of their prescriptive right to take coral and shelts from the sea.
7. The further proviso in section 3 is to make it clear that it is not intended to interfere with the rights, or alleged rights, of holders of, Marine Lots, with regard to sea-nocess in front of their respective lots.
8. When the agreement for granting a lesso requires the laying out of certain sums in buikt. ing, &c., within a certain time, the notna!
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