October 11, 1902.1
to do with the Plague epidemic, which he attributes mainly to its propagation by rats. The joint report of those eminent experts on the question of the Honsing of the Popula- tion of Hongkong shows that too many houses are crowded on too small a space; that the tenement houses are occupied by too many people, and that the design of Chinese tenement houses hitherto authorised by law is so faulty as to be in a high degre insanitary. The recommendations of these two gentlem u have been embodied in a Bill tht has already been read a first time. Its provisions will involve a very large expenditure of money and the displacement of a number of people estimated at 40,000, for whom accommodation must be provided elsewhere. The ultimate reconstruc- tion of the City on a mors sanitary system must necessarily be a slow process. I have placed the sum of $100,000 upra the Estimates for the purpose of resumption and compensation during the coming year. Apart from the defective plan of the ordinary tenement huse, the lamentable loss of life caused by the collapse of newly built bonses during the past summer has demonstrated the necessity of making contractors personally responsible for work that does not satisf the requirements of the law as to quality of materials. This has been dealt with by the new Building Ordinance. While I was in Loudon the question of the purchase of a site for a new Post Office on the Praya was sub- mitted to the Secretary of State and on my recommendation was approved, the payment of the purchase money, $508,000, being made out of the balance in hand. A sum of 820,000 for the preparation of the foundations has been placed upon the Estimates and I hope that in a short time the Colony will have the ben fit of this much needed improvement. The ordin ary Revenue for 1903 is estimated t› amount to $4,583,295, and the ordinary Expenditure to to $4,714,501 leaving & deficit of $131,206. In addition to this the Estimated Expenditure upon Extraordinary Public Works mouats to $931,100, while the Estimated Ravenus from land sales is $350,000, leaving a further deficit of $581,100. The total deficiency to be made good is therefore $712,306. It is not expedient to raise this sum solely from additional taxation, I therefore propose, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, to raise a Loan on account of certain productive Public Works, the total cost of which has been estimated by the Director of Public Works to be $2,250,000 the Expenditure being spread over five or six years. The sum to be spent on these works in 1903 would amount to $5,62,000 leaving a deficiency of $150,306 to be met by additional taxation. To this am uut must be added, assuming that the Loan is authorised, Interest and Sinking Fund on Loan $25,290, Additional Military Contribution $61,650 and a necessary surplus of $71,004 making a total of $308,250 to be provided.
This sum I provide in the following
manner:-
Increase in Spirit Licences. ...$173,030 Auctioneers' Licences,
Billiard
3,50)
Tables, Chinese Undertakers, Money-Changers
3,000
Chinese Passenger Ships' Liceuces
1,750
Dog Licences
Marine Store Dealers
6,500
Stamp Duties, all duties other
than dd valorem
81,000
Bills of Health
3,50J
Registration of Deeds
24,000
3, 0J
6,000
$308.250
Examination of Masters Registry Fee and Survey of
Steam Ships
Those matters, with the Bills to be laid before you, I commend to your caroful consideration with earnest hope that the result of your deliberations will forward the best interests of this important community, whose progressive energy has made Hongkong one of the principl ports of the World. (Applause.)
FINANCIAE.
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The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table Financial Minutes (Nos. 51 to 59) and moved that they be referred to the F'inance Committee. The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
278
the report of the Finance Committee (No. 12) | Conveyances affecting real or immovable and moved its adoption.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to,
PAPERS.
property in Hongkong"; au Ordinance to amend the Liquor Licences Amendment Ordinance, 1900;" an Ordinance to amend the Stamp Ordinance, 1901.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table On the motion of the COLONIAL SECRETARY, a Draft of Colonial Estimates for 1993 with seconded by the CULONIAL TERASURER, the explanatory Memorandum, the Public Health following Bil was read a first time :-A Bill and Buildings Bill, the Report on the Blue-Book entitled an Ordinance to apply a sum not ex- for 101, and Papers on the subject of the in- ceeding four million seven hundred and twenty- troduction of sterling slaries into the Govern-eight thousand nine hundred and forty-two ment service of Hongkong.
dollars and twenty-three cents to the public service of the year 1803.
HOUSE COLLAPSES
Hon. C. W. DICKSON asked the following question-Is it a fact that the honses which have recently collapsed were built in accordance | with the Building Ordinance in force in this Colony and were so certified by the Director of Public Works?
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS-C rtifi- cates under Section 53 of Ordinance No. 15 of 1839 were issued in respect of the following buildings where collapses occurred:-Nos. 129 and 131, Des Voeux Rod West, No. 45, Praya East, and No. 30, Kowloon City Road.
Hon. G. W. F. PLAYFAIR asked: - As, in the Colonial Secretary's reply to my question at the last meeting of Council,
regula
be admitted that there were
no
tions on the subject of holding enquiries into collapses of houses, and as section 6 of Or dinance 17 of 1888 only permits the Magistrate to enquire into cause of death and does not compel him to do so, I beg now to ask if the Government will either introduce a separate Ordin nce dealing with the whole question or add further sub-sections to clause 928 of the new Public realth and Building Ordinance making such enquiries compulsory, to be held immediately after the occurrenes on giving authority for really heary files, an aot nominal ones, to be inflicted on all concerned.
The C: LONIAL SECRETARY-Sir, on the co a-
pletion of the enquiry now being held the matter will be considered.
WATER ACCOUNTS.
Hon. G. W. F. PLAYFAIR asked: -(1) Why the Water Accounts for January, February and March were not sent out till 25th of September? (2.) With whom does the responsibility fo the delay rest? (3.) Is want of a sufficient staff the reason? (4) Will an assurance be given that such delays will not be permitted in future?
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORK8-The replies to these qu stions are as follows: -I, The delay in sending ont these accounts was altogether exceptional and was due to the following exceptional causes: -(1) The severe drought, which add d greatly to the duties of officers engaged in connection with the water- works. (2) The visit of Mr. Chadwick, who required a great amount of information to be compiled for his use, thus further adding to the duties of the officers referred to. (3) The delinquency of a meter-reader in returning fictitious readings of meters, which caused an immense amount of trouble to rectify. II. On the head of the Department. III. Partly and partly the causes already given. IV. Steps are being taken to expe lite the issue of water accounts in future.
APPOINTMENT OF
COMMITTEES.
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HIS EXCELLENCY-Before we proced far- ther, I think I had better annonace to the Council that I have apoointed the following Committees under the Standing Orders:- Finance Committee: all the members of the Legislative Council except the President, the Hon. Colonial Secretary being chairman; Law Committee: the Hon Atto ney.eneral (chairman), Hon. Colonial Secretary, Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, Hon. C. S. Sharp and Hon. G. W. F. Playfair; Public Works Committee: Hon. W. Chatham (chairman), Hon. R. Shewan, Hon. C. W. Dickson, and Hon Wei Yuk.
FIRST READINGS.
The following Bills were read a first time, on the motion of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL, seconded by the C.LONIAL SECRETARY:-
An Ordinance to amend the Tramway Ordinance, No. 10 of 1902; 80 Ordin- ance to amend the Chinese Emigration Consolidation Ordinance, 1-89; an Ordinance to amend the Dogs Ordinance, 1893; an Ordinance to repeal the Land Registry Office (Fees) Amendment Ordinance No. 3 of 1814 entitled "An Ordinance to provide for the Registration of Deeds, Wills, Judgments and
NATURALISATION BILL.
A. Bill entitled an Ordinance for the Natur- alisa'ion of Tsan Hon Cho, otherwis, known as Tsang Ming Tsai, otherwise known AS Tsan Yew Wing. was read a first time, on the motion of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL, 89conded by the COLONIAL Secretary,
Oa the motion of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL, seconded by the COLONIAL SECRETARY, the Standing rders were suspended to allow the Bill to be read a second time.
The Council afterwards went into Cmmittee on the bill. On resuming, the Bill was read a third time and passed, on the motion of the ATTORNEY - GENERAL, seconded by the COLONIAL SCRETARY.
The Council adjourned till Monday, 20th inst.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was held immediately after the Council, the Colonial Secretary (Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G.) presiding.
MARINE EXPENSES.
The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Cou oil to vole a sum of $400 in aid of the vote of $1,8 10, "Government Marine Surveyor, other Charges, Coal, Oil, and Rapairs to Steam-launch.
The CHAIRMAN said this vote was rendered necessary by the greater distances which the marine surveyor's launches had to travel.
The recommendation was approved.
MEDICAL CHANGES.
The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote a sum of $6,130 in aid of the following votes under the heading
Medical Departments, ther Charges ' Health Offlear of Port— Coal, &c., for launch Repairs to launch...
Government Civil Hospital- Provisions for patients Medical comforts
$10100 250.00
$150.00
$4,800.00 270.00
Incidental expenses, &c., 250.00
t
Government Lunatic Asylams-
Provisions, &o.
5,320.0)
$300.00
300.00
$160.00
160.00
$6,130.00
Government Narsing Institute-
Fuel and Light..
Total
The CHAIRMAN remarked that with reference to the first item there had been more infected ports and therefore more coil used. Under the head" Government Civil Hospital" the increase was occasioned by there being more patients in Hospital this year and also by there being 18 more beds in Hospital. Under "Lunatie Asylum there were more European patients and under "Government Nursing Institute there were two extra Sisters brought out for the Plague Hospital at Kennedy Town.
The vote was agreed to..
11
BACTERIOLOGICAL HORSES. The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $635 tɔ cover the initial cost, $290, and upkeep for three months of the current year, $345, of four horses for the preparation of anti-plagu: serum by the Government | Bacteriologist.
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The CHAIRMAN explained that this serum was in anticipation of the plague next year.
The vote was passed.
CORONATION ILLUMINATIONS. The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of $517.45, in aid of the vote of $3.600 taken under Financial Minute No. 17 of 1992, being cost incurred for illuminating certain public buildings in conn etion with Coronation celebrations in the Colony.
The CHAIRMAN said that the excess here
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