February 24, 1906.]
work." A further amount of 82,000 is for compensation to the owners of certain lands at Lyemun, necessitated by the exchange of lands with the War Department. The fifth Finance Minute is for a sum of $3,040 to cover the cost of furnishing the officers' quarters recently erected at Taipo. These quarters are occupied by Junior officers who could ill afford the expense of furnishing the house themselves, and it is proposed to charge them five per cent. on the value of the furniture which will be made available for them. The last Finance Minute is for the small sum of $60 for the rant of the house in Taipo village where the Government dispenser resides. It had been suggested that accommodation for him should be provided in the buildings which it is proposed to erect for the magistrate of Taipo, but it was ultimately decided to continue the house in the village as being more accessible to the Chinese villagers who sought the services of the dispenser.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Pension Fund for the year 1905, and the report on the teaching of Hygiene in the schools of Hongkong.
SUMMONING of CHINESE ORDINANCE. The ATTORNEY following resolation
GENERAL moved the
Whereas by section 5 of "The Summoning of Chinese Ordinance, 1899" (No. 12 of 1899), it was enacted that the said Ordinance should only continne in operation for the period of two years from the coming into operation of the said Ordinance and for such further period or periods as might, from time to time, be deter- mined by Resolution of the Legislative Council, and whereas such operation has been continued by Resolution of this Council until the 30th day of March, 1906, inclusive: it is hereby resolved by this Council that "The Summoning of Chinese Ordinancə, 1899," shall be further continued in operation for the | further period of two years from the 31st day of March, 1906 inclusive.
He said:After the explanation which your Excellency has tendered to the Council of the necessity for this resolution continning this Ordinance I need not occupy the time of the Council with any remarks. will satisfy myself by moving the resolution to the Council.
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137.31
able the member for the Justices of the Pence, Lizar Wodehouse, Assistant Superintendent of Police, whilst on leave in 1905 has made inquiries in London as to the system of fire alarms in use by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, and reported that the system was not considered to be entirely satisfactory. Reference was then made to Singapore to learn how the " Gamewell System" reported to be in operation there was working. The reply after some delay was that there was no fire alarm system of any kind in Singapore. It is proposed to instruct Mr. E. R. Hallifax, Assistant Supərin. tendent of Police, who is going on leave this spring to make full inquiries into the system in vogue in Great Britain and Ireland but until his report is received no estimate of the cost can be framed. The answers to the other questions will be given by the Hou. Director of Public Works.
The HON. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, question is understood to refer to a trench replying to question No. 2, said The recently opened from Middle Road northwards for a distance of about 170 yards. It is for the purpose of raising a water main consequent upon the level of the road having been raised. It was not possible to carry out this work The HON COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, water drains and sewers recently undertaken. simultaneously with the construation of storma and the motion was carried.
44
QUESTIONS.
have read
the
The Hon. Mr. H. E. POLLOCK asked the following question-Will the Government state what steps are being taken to educate the Chinese tenants of houses in principles of sanitation and ventilation which are applicable to the houses in which they live?
For what purpose was Robinson Road, Kow loon, opened up and on what date? When it anticipated that the work will be completad and the road restored to its proper stats P
Will the Government state what steps they have taken, aud what further steps they intend to take and when, in connection with the installation of system of fire-alarms? Will the Government also state what is the estimated cost of such installation ?
In addition to this financial business and the other business to which I have referred four bills are down to be read a first time. They will not be proceeded with until the legislative programme for the year is ready. As, however, they have been drafted, I thought it advisable to introduce them so as to give honourable members as much time as possible in which to study them. The first of these bills is the Summary Offences (Further Amendment)
The Hon. Mr. GERSHOM STEWART asked the Ordinanos of 1906, the object of which is to cou. following question-Will the Government take fine the Summary Offences (Amendment) Ordin- into consideration the advisability of appros.' ance, which was passed last year, to the main pur-ching the Proprietors of the " City Hall" poses of that ordinance-to stop the solicitation with a view to acquiring the " Building" in by prostitutes in the streets. Hon. members order that it may be altered to meet the may recollect that on the second reading of the necessity of the growing commuuity? Ordinance of last year an amendment was
The COLONIAL SECRETARY said The answer introduced which extended its soope by to the question put by the hon. member is making police regulations which applied to Yes." (Applause.) public streets applicable also to private streets. This was explained by the Attorney General on the second reading of the bill, and the bill was ultimately passed nemine contradicente. I was afterwards informed by the senior unofficial member of the Council that the non-official members" had not understood the amendment and were opposed to it. I need not say that the Government did not wish them to vote in favour of a bill which they did not understand, and in consequence I propose that the Ordinance should now be amended so as to restrict its scope to the main purpose of the bill as understood by Hon. mem. bers. The second bill before you is for amend ments of the Magistrates' Ordinance. Mr. Gomperts, who was acting as police magistrate for some time, made out a list before he went home of suggestions with regard to the jurisdio- tion and power of magistrates. Advantage was taken last session of the amendment to the Women and Girls' Protection Ordinance to adopt one of these suggestions. The others are embodied in the present bill, the details of which will be explained by the Attorney General when it is read a second time. With regard to the Lunatic Asylums Bill, the Government has been advised that while there is authority at common law for the detention of lunatics, it will be safer to make statutory provision for such detention, This bill is intended to make that provision. The necessity for the Lunaoy Bill arises from the fact that the powers of the Supreme Court in relation to the persons and estates of lunatics have hitherto been conferred by the Imperial Enactments Extension Ordinance of 1856, which extended the Lanacy Regulations Act of 1858 to this Colony that that Aot has since been superseded in the United King- dom by the Lunaoy Act of 1890. That supersession. does not involve ipso facto the supersession of the earlier by the later Act in the legislstars of the Colony and the Chief Justios has advised that the Colonial should be brought into line with the Imperial legislation by
Ordinance.
FINANCIAL
The COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table Financial Minutes Nos. 1 to 6, and moved that
they be referred to the Finance Committee.
The HON. COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
PAPERS.
The HON, COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the report on the Widows and Orphans
Will the Government state what progress has been made with the works for the extension of water storage at Tytam and at Tytam Tak and at Kowloon Will the Government als state when these respective works are likely to be completed?
When is it anticipated that (a), the Now Post Office, (b) the New Law Courts, will be completed?
1
Is it the intention of the Government to make road from the top Tram Station to Plantation Road? If so, when? What is the estimated cost of such road?
Will the Government procure and lay before the Council an estimate of the cost of prolong ing Kennedy Road in a south-easterly direction from the point of its junction with the Wanchai Gap Road so that it may lead down to the Race Course at the back of the Mahommedan Cemetery?
Will the Government procure and lay upon the table an estimate of the cost of cputinuing Harlech Road round the north side of Victoris Peak-(a) back to Victoria Gap, (b) to Barker
Road
The Hon. Mr. GERSHOM STEWART-I beg to ask the question standing in my name.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY said-In reply to question No. 1. no steps are being taken to educate the Chinese tenants of houses, but instruction in Hygiene has been introduced into the curriculum of most Government and Grant-in-Aid Schools in the Colony, with the results in the first year that are set forth in the paper laid on the table this afternoon.
In reply to question No. 3.-Since the 12th of July, 1904, when a similar question was asked by the Honourable the member for the Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the Honour
The opening was begun on the February 8th and it is anticipated that the work will ba completed and the road restored to its proper stato by the 3rd March.
In reply to question No. 4:-Tytam Tak Scheme First Section. The dam, which will be about 80 feet in height above ground level, has been constructed for fully half about 3/4 mile of main has been laid and erection its height. The new road is far advanced.
of the pumping engines is about to be begun. It is anticipated that the whole of the worka will be completed by the end of this year and that the dam will be completed in time to enable the reservoir to be filled during the coming web BOLSON. Tytam Tuk Scheme-Second Section.-Surveys in connection with the preparation of working drawings are pro- oeeding. Kowloon Water Works-Gravitation Scheme. The dam, which will be about 100 feet in height above ground level, has been con- tructed for half its height, The main from the storage reservoir to the service reservior is completed and will shortly be nearly
from for conveying the water utilized several perennial streams, thus materially increasing the present supply. The filter beds and catchwater are, in progress. It is anticipated that the whole of the works will be completed by the middle of next year, but will be so far advanced as to afford a sufficient supply for present requirements by next dry
Beason.
In reply to question No. 5.-It is anticipated that both buildings will be completed by the
end of 1909.
:
In reply to question No. 6.-By arrangement with the owners of the Peak Hotel, a portion of the road referred to, where it affects their... property, is to be made new. When this arrangement has been fulfilled, the Government will complete the road. The estimated, cost doing this is $8,300,
With regard to question No. 7, the question...: referred to is at present receiving the attention of improved communications in the locality
of Government and the suggestion of the Hon. member will be considered.
In reply to question No. 8, I have to state that the cost is roughly estimated at from $25,000 to $30,000. As there is no prospect of funds being available in the near future to carry out this work, which is not of great public importance, it is not considered advisable at present to incur the expense of making the surveys preliminary to forming a detailed-t estimate.
The Hon. Mr. POLLOCK—With reference to
the answer of the Hon. Director of Pablic Works to the last question, might I ak whether this estimats includes taking the road to Victoria Gap?
The HON. DIRECTOR of PUBLIC, WORKS--- Assuming the hon. member refers to only one of these alternatives being adopted the estimates will not be affected by the change,
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