'
.262
City of Victoria, and there have been for soyer- al months about 200 coolies employed in cutting the bush and filling the pools that harbour mosquitoes in the western nullahs.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND England, and he will. I am certain, be ably | seconded by Mr. Lewis, who has discharged the duties of Acting Postinaster-General very satis factorily during the absence of Commander Hastings.
The expenses of the New Territory are still very heavy, and so far the revenue has not nearly come up to the estimate. The reason of this is that the land revenue cannot be satisfactorily collected until the cadastral survey has been made and the lands demarcated. The difficulty will then disappear. The expenditure has been for the construction of the Taipo Road now approaching completion to Taipo Hu, for police stations, for polico launches to patrol the two hundred miles of coast, for the survey, and for the Land Court, in whose hands | the settlement of land claims is placed. These expenses could not have been avoided, and when the country begins to develop the expenses will be amply repaid.
The present financial position of the Colony is satisfactory. On the 31st December 1, the assets of the Colony showed a balance over liabilities of $1,100,785.69, which does not include the value of silver at the Mint. amounting to 10.115.82. This balance it is anticipated will be still further increased by 8358,295.04. the estimated, balance of revenue ofer expenditure in 1901, which will thus
increase the assets to $1,499.497.45. -
The loan account of £341,799.15.1. tổ be paid off in 1948, hal £16,485.13.2 to the credit of the Sinking Fund
}
The revenue for 900 was 81,202,587.40, auð Taking the expenditure was 83,628.447.13. the revenue of five years ago at $2,609,878,94 and the expenditure exclusive of the interest and Sinking Fund of the Loan at 82.24F291,5, these figures show that in five years the re- venue has increased by 61 per cent. and the expenditure by 561 per cent.
The mem-
Turning to the Estimates now placed be- fore you, it will be seen that the estimated revenue amounts to $4,695,065, and the estimat. ed expenditure, including Public Works Extraordinary, to 84.569,505 26. orandum accompanying the Estimates for explains in detail the reasons for the anticipated increases and decreases in the various items of Revenue. 114 has been takễu as the rate of exchange for sterling payments
|
The Land Revenue of the New Territory is estimated at $30,000. It is expected that this sum will be realised, but, as I have already ex- plained, the true revenue of that portion of the Colony cannot be hoped for until the survey has been completed and the land claims flecideď. Ás to the details of expenditure, every department shows an increase on its estab lishment. This is due to the increase in the pay of subordinate officers of the Service as recommended by the Committee appointed last year, and to adlitions to the stall of certain departments. There seems to be a general inf. pression that certain departments-the Public Works, the Post Office, the Medical Depart- ment, and the Sanitary Department are being unduly curtailed as regards funds, or personnel, | or both. It may therefore be interesting to contrast the annual expenditure on departments in 18996, in 1900, and in present Estimates.
་-
1896.
19.-0..
Public Works.
Po-t Office.
these
|
|
|
|
recom-
sum,
[September 28, 1901.
with
posed, that the Colony should contribute out of its revenue the sum of $50,000 toward the erection of the proposed memorial in London to the late Queen Victoria. I do so the more satsfaction because I was unfortu- I have also considered the state of the Medicalnately prevented by indisposition from being Department, and have decided to increase the present at the meeting held here on the 14th staff at once by making provision in the ult,, and seconding the resolution in reference Estimates for two Assistant Surgeons, one of to the starting of the public subscription, which whom will be employed as Second Health Officer I am glad to see has reached such a creditable As has already been remarked. it is of the Port in accordance with the
most fitting that Hongkong, the first Colony mendation of the Chamber of Commerce. Should it be found that any further addition to acquired during the long and glorious reign of the Sanitary staff is necessary, I shall appeal to Queen Victoria of illustrious memory, should b worthily represented in any memorial of you with confidence for the necessary funds.
that reign. This city. if I mistake not, was A part from the staff, it is not improbable that
the first to be named after Her late Majesty, and very large sums will have to be expended in the
it is right that it should respond most liberally near future in the Sanitary improvement of the City sums that will absorb our balance an! to the invitation extended to it. probably involve increased taxation. Happily prospered mifth and grown into commercial the taxation of the Colony is comparatively great ess during the sixty odd years of Queen light, and in a matter of such moment I feel Victoria's beneficent rule, and I am sure we are only too happy to be permitted the oppor- that I can depend upon you to supply the necessary funds The estimate for Public tunity of giving some. if inadequate, expression Works Extraordinary amounts to the large to that feeling of gratitude and veneration to a great and good Sovereign which is now afforded sum of 8802316.68; of this Sum $146) is
I trust, sir, that the monument about to for, waterworks and $82,000 for extension of markets, while $79.00 is for the improvedbe erected will in every way be worthy of the accomodation for the Police, which will ten late Queen. I see that it has been placed in to improve the comfort and efficiency of the good hands. The subject, however, is one of unusual difficulty, but we hope that the sculp- Forcë.
tors and designers will rise to the unique occa- sion and create a memorial of beanty that shall impress coming generations and show them how this great Empire lored and honoured a wise ruler, and noble Queen.
you:
T:
+ BILLS.
چھو
The following Bills will be sabmiffudd to A Bill entitled An Ordinance to apply a sum not exceeding three million seven hundred and thirty-nine thousand three hundred and twelve glollars and twenty-six cents, to the Public Ser-
1902.
vice of the
year
A Bill entitled An. Ordinance to attend An Ordinance entitled the Weights and Measures Ordinane», 1885 (No. 8 of 1887).
"A Bill entitled An Ordinance to umenil the New Territories Land Court Ordinance, Bon (No. 18 of 19:09. .
F
to us.
We have
The vote was unanimously agreed to.
REPORT OF PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE. COLONIAL SECRETARY-With reference to the math as dealt with in' the Report of the Public Works Committee (No. 5) and in the communication from the civil engineers and
they
under the consideration of the frchitects, Chave to inform the Council that Government, and it is the intention of the Government to introduce shortly legislation dealing with those matters.
are
A Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend the Public Health Ordinance, 1901 (No. Baf 190]), A Bill entitled An Ordinance relating to
NEW SANITARY BYE-LAWS, Copyright in Works of the Fine Art-, and
Mr. CHATHAM-Sir. I beg to move the. for repressing the commission of fraud in the
adoption of additional bye-laws for the preven- production and sale of such works.
A Bill entitled· An Ordinaĥre to amendtion of epidemic, endemic, or contagions disease, remove any "mado by the Sanitary Board under Section 13 Ordinance 15 of 1857. and to
of the Public Health Ordinance) No. 13 of doubts as to the validity of any matters done
PPOL. These bye-laws, as will be remembered under it.
by hon. members, were before the Council at best meeting. and, as I then explained, the ressity for them arises in great measure frem the practice that exists of dumping dead boilies in the streets, which renders it impos sible for the Board at present to carry out the press of disinfection in the case of a house
From my experience I know, that these and all other measures laid before Fou will recite conscientious and careful consideration, ▸
PAPERS.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table a report by the Medical Officer of Health on the epidemic of bubonic fever (plazne daring the half-gar ending 39th June, 1991, and a report as "to the professional supervision of # was discussed at building works, which meeting held on the 7th inst, of eivd engineers, architects, and surveyors representing the firms in the Colony which have been in practice for the longest period. The following papers were also laid on the table: -Financial statement for 1900, report by the Registrar- General on the census of the Colony for 1991. and telegrams regarding the appointment of sanitary exports,
PINANCIAL.
\
These mea
who such eases hate occurred sures will enable the Board to carry out a There is at present general disinfection. no means of knowing the houses where the from. and the result is that bodies come these houses escape disinfection. With general disinfection that difficulty will be overcome, and it would tend to enable us to he in a more fit state to meet another epidemic of plagne. I beg to move that the bye-laws be adapted.
The Acrine ATTORNEY-GENERAL seconded. COLONIAL SECRETARY-It may tend to Medical. Sanitary,
shorten any disenssion that may arise with $85,694 TO SI88,201.17 S10,761.19 201818.15
On the motion of the CqLostvi. ŠKI RETARY, ¦ regard to these by-laws if "I" "inform hou. the Government, 123,306.00 269, 180.00 10,B100 B52,990.00
on behalf of BOL. B8,701,00 285,291,00 196,666,48) 196,683,00 | seconded by the ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER, | members,
As regards the Public Works Department. | Financial Minutes Nos, 57 to 60 were referred | that the question of compensation which arose the Acting Director of Public Works reports to the Finance Conìmitfie, that the staff is not sufficiently strong to carry out the various works and duties entrusted to
it. Provision has therefore been made in the Estimates for two additional engineers. It is my intention to appoint a Commission to report upon the staff and working of the Public Works Department, which is the chief spending department of the Colony.
On the motion of the COLONI, SECRETARY, seconded by the ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER, the report of the Finance Committee (No. 9) was adopted.
تيما
|
at last meeting of: Conneil has been very care- fully considered, but it has been found impos-
· With to fix any hard and fast rule. regard to the amount of compensation to be granted, it has been decided by the Government that each claim for compensation as it arises shall be decided on its merits.
QUEEN. VICTORIA MEMORIAI FUND. COLONIAL SECRETARY-Sir, I beg to move that this Council vote a sum of $50,000 in kid & Dr. Ho K1-Do I understand that the of the memorial to Her late Majesty Queen | Government, in the case of damage being do e Victoria With respect to the Post Office, every effort
No words of mine are necessary to; to furniture, will entertain any application flour for compensation, as long as it considers that is being maile to render that institution worthy commend this vote to hon. members,
it is a fair application, and that compensation of the Colony, It must be evident that here kong was founded and flourished daring the there are exceptional difficulties to contend glorious reign of the late Queen, and it is will be paid ? against, but it is hoped that the compara-therefore only natural, sir, that this Colony tively few complaints received of late may be should desire to contribute towards a memorial an indication that matters are working more intended to perpetuate the memory of one of smoothly. The Postmaster-General, Comman- the greatest Queens in British history, Victoria der Hastings, has just returned from leave, the Great and Good. (Applause.) during which time he has devoted himself to inquiry into the working of the department in
Mr. CHATER-Your Excellency, I have much pleasure in seconding the resolution just pro-
COLONIAL SECRETARY—In reply to the hon. meraber. 1 may state that the Government is prepared to consider each case on its merits, and if the case shows that compensation should be paid, such amonat as is due will be paid. I trust this explanation will be considered satisfactory.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.