September 21, 1907.)
from me.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
colony. Since the pledge has been made that a further committee should investigate I shall wait the opinions of members on the second reading of the bill as to whether unofficial members would wish to press for the com- mittee or whether they are satisfied with the investigations that I have so far been able to make. I tura now from the estimates to the financial condition of the colony generally and I think I can say that it is eminently satisfactory at the present time, althouzh, as I have afate), the future gives us cause for considerable thought because of the precarious nature of our revenue and of the liabilities which are constantly increasing in connection with the railway. The surplus on last year's working was $783.109. That was made up principally of four items. The first was a saving of $463,018 by the Public Works Department, that is to say works which were provided but were not carried out. I think myself it is an ill-arranged estimate that provides more on worka than can conveniently and economically be expended and I hope that during the coming year that error will be avoided. Secondly there is $200,000 which is the large sum from probate of which I spoke. Thirdly there was a saving by the high rate of exchange of $50,000 on loan account. Fourthly there were $35,159, due to general savings. Turning to the statement of assets and liabilities which is printed on a separate sheet, I have no very special comment to make. The surplus to the credit of the colony at the end of 1906 was $652,236. The credit bilance at the end of 1907 is anticipated to reach the total of $1,435,345 which I think you will consider extremely satisfactory when you come to remember the depression in trade, typhoon and the various reasons to which I have alluded in connection with the decrease in revenue. It is from this large surplus that I propose that the Legislative Council should vote a sum towards the typhoon shelter. The abstract which is printed on a separate sheet shows the differ. ences between this year's and last year's estimates. It shows a decrease on the expendi. ture of $253,209. That is in spite of the heavy increase for the public debt which I have already explained. Turning to loan account there is a sinking fuud on the debt of £341,890 which equals £47,036. The amount of £20,000 shown as sinking fand towards the second loan of £1,493,933 is an oversight. There is no sinking fand at present towards the redemp tion of that loan. That will not be instituted until 1911. Before I resume my seat, gentlemen. I would just Bay оде two words as to the methods adopted to finance the railway. As the subject is pretty fully known to most of the Council, my remarks will, therefore, be very brief. We made an advance to the Viceroy of Wuchang of £1,100,000 repayable in instalments of £110,000 per year. These instalments are all credited to a special fand and from that special fund we are financing the construction of the railway. If that construction should proceed more rapidly than we have funds to meet we should raise other sums through the Crown Agents in a way found most financially economical.
of others to the very great and important public service which was readered to this colony by the gentlemen who sat on that commission, and gave so much of their private time and ability to discuss the questions which were laid before them. I do not propose to go into any detail on the subject of the Sanitary Depart- ment or the Sanitary Commissiou. My pre- decessor in this chair made a pledge that a bill should be introduced making certain amendments in the existing l'ublic Health and Buildings Ordinance and the proper time for a debate on this important subject will arise when the bill is laid before the Council. There is one point upon which I would like to inform the Council and that is that in turning to the estimates you will find that there is no change, or practically no change from last year. I do not wish it to be understood, therefore, that the estimates represent the final word as regards the Sanitary Commission. There has not been time for the Government to come to fioal conclusions on some of these subjects, therefore there has not been time to have them embodied in there estimates. No difficulty will arise later in substituting any alterations in the estimates of which the Council may approve. The next department is the Observatory. This is also a question which has evoked much public comment. Looking to the fact that the typhoon season is approaching very soon, I think that there is no subject of more urgent importance than this. I have very carefully gone through the different papers and all the correspondence which has taken place on this subject and have sought other means of obtaining information that were at my dis- posal. My predecessor appointed a committee to discuss the question as to whether sufficient warning was given of the great typhoon of last year. The result of that investigation has been laid upon the table and calls for no comment There was also a debate in this chamber at the close of last year
in which it was suggested that an additional committee should be appointed to investigate the working of the department, and I think a pledge was given on this line. I will give the Council my impressions and the result of my investigations. I think I can assure them on the following points. First of all I think that full advantage has been and is now being taken of the results derived from other observatories, especially Sicawei and Manila. Whatever difference of opinion may have occurred on certain trivial points, the fact remains that the observatories are in daily communication with our own and that telegraphic communication has never been interrupted and that the news which has thus been made available has been fully utilised and has been embodied in the warnings given by our Observatory. A second point is toat I find that there has been a great deal of delay in the receipt of messages and cablegrams from Saigon and Hainan and I have caused a letter to be written to the authorities in Indo-China asking them to expedite the services, and I hope that this will be effected. Thirdly, as communication with Gap Rook lighthouse, which is of great import- ance, has been continuously interrupted, I found that the shore end of the cable was out of order and after a great deal of discussion as to whether it would be possible to instal Marconi apparatus it was decided to replace the shore and of the cable and that will be done immedi. ately. Fourthly the next aspect of the ques tion was the mode of storm signals. That was investigated by a small committee who were assisted by the Chamber of Commerce and the new system has given, so far as I am aware, entire satisfaction, The staff of the Obser- vatory has been supplemented by one com pater which enables a night watch to be kept up throughout the whole year. Finally there is the question of equipment. The Director assures me that it is all that he desires and that it is thoroughly up to date. On this point I am not altogether satisfied that it is in every way satisfactory and I am making further inquiries. On the whole, I think, I can assure you that every reasonable lesson has been learned from the visitation of this time last year and that every effort is being made by the Observatory to serve the public interest and give due uotice to all inhabitants of the storms which involve so intimately the life and prosperity of the
the
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179
lieving the chief resident engineer of trivial work and allowing him more time to get ou with expert field work and secondly to increase rapidity and economy and promote, as far
as possible, co-operation between our Public Works Department and the railway works. I think there are many points in which the Public Works Department might possibly render great assistance and set the railway people free to devote themselves to what is legitimate railway work. So far I have only found time to inspect the first section of the railway up to the tunnel but I hope to sau the remainder of the railway later on and to inform the Legislative Council of the progress made and what progress may be anticipated in the future. (Applause)
The motion was then agreed to.
PUBLIC NOTARIES ORDINANCE, The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to provide for the appointment of Public Notaries within the Colony.
Meanwhile We are paying interest at a rate of £3 13/- on the capital loan and that means £8,030 per annum. This is provided in the estimates and there is an extra £4,500 to meet the interest on these subsidiary advances about which I spoke in case the railway requires more funds than Bre available from the £110,000 that we receive from the Viceroy of Wuchang, as those two sums account for the amount on the estimates of $127,000. That I think is rather an excess estimate as the amount of these borrowings will not take place until towards the closing of next year if they take place at all. There has been rather an overestimate but it is an error on the safe side in case railway progress should require more funds than we anticipated. The Council will be asked later to pass a resolu- tion for the money required for 1908 and the whole expenditure will receive legislative sanction by ordinance when completed. I will not detain you longer now on the question of the Kowloon railway. I have been making a good many inquiries since I came here and especially into the subject of contracts and audits with a view on the one hand to re-
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a first time.
SEDITIOUS PUBLICATIONS ORDINANCE. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to prevent the Publication of Seditious Matter.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a first time.
LOCAL COMMUNITIES AMENDMENT ORDIN NCE. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of Local Communities Ordinance, 1899. The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a first time.
THE STOCKS PUNISHMENT LIMITATION OR ›INANCE.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled an Ordinance to limit the imposition by public exposure in the stocks. The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a first time.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A meeting of the Finance Committee was then held, the COLONIAL SECRETARY presiding. The following votes were passed :-
POST OFFICE VOTE.
The Officer Administering the Government recommended the Council to vote a sum of three thousand five hundred and thirty dollars (83,530) in aid of the vote, Post Office, for the following:-
Other Charges. A.-Hongkong Post Office,
Clothing, Shoes, &o., for Postmen &c., £ 700 Incidental Expenses,
1,200 Mail
Bags and Parcel Receptacles, B.-Postal Agencies in China,
Shanghai,
Fee of Medical Attendant, Light,
+
Amoy,
Rent of Sub-Agency,
Canton,
Incidental Expenses,
Post
1,000
$ 250
100
30
250
$3,530
JUDICIAL AND LEGAL. The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of three hundred dollars ($300) in aid of the vote, Judicial and Legal Departments, 4-Supreme Court, Other Charges, Fees to Counsel for Prisoners in Capital Cases.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Governor recommended the Council to rote a sum of seven thousand dollars ($7,000) in aid of the vote, Miscellaneous Services, for the following items:-
Printing and Binding : Blue Book, Miscellaneous Papers,
•
Total,
TREASURY EXPENSES.
$ 320
6,480
My q
$7,000
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) in aid of the vote, Treasury, B.-Office of Assessor of Rates, Other Charges, House Numbering, New Territories.
PUBLIC WORKS,
The Governor recommended the Council to vote a sum of one thousand six hundred dollars
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