206
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on the 3th instant in the Council Chamber.
PREBENT :--
HIB EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIR FREDERICK JOHN DEALTRY LUGARD, K.C.M.G., C.B., D.8.0.
Hon. Mr. F. H. MAY (Colonial Secretary). Hon. Mr. W. REES DAVIES (Attorney. General).
(Director
(Registrar
Hon. Mr. W. CHATHAM, C.M.G. of Public Works).
Hon. Mr. A. W. BREWIN
General),
Hon. Mr. E. A, HEWETI.
Hon. Mr. H. KESWICK.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, M.B., C.M., C.M.G. Hon. Mr. WEI YUK,
Hon. Mr. E. OSBORNE.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Mr. A. G. M. FL PCHER (Clerk of Councils).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read, and confirmed.
PAPERS.
FINANCIAL.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I have to lay on the table Financial Minutes Nos. 46 and 47 and to move that they be referred to the Finance Committee,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
[October 5, 1907.
to direct attention. I refer to the question of | last year that, in my opinion, a floating dire the military contribution. This was a very old engine was a luxury. It would be a good and burning question as long ago as the sixties, thing as a second åre engine is required so when one of my predecessors in this Colony rarely, that the money should be expended in first resisted the imposition of the military oon- other directions. It has been suggested that tribution by the Home Government upon this further improvements are required in the fire Colony. And later the same gentleman department-that more powerful engines are - has spoken against it in the House of Com- required. I do not know whether it is the case mons. Since then it has been repeatedly or not but I believe that Your Excellency has discussed and unofficial members have re- given this matter your personal attention I peatedly complained of the excessive amount it is imperative that more powerful land en «ines which we are called upon to pay by means of be provided then they should be purchased. If this military contribution. We are aware that not I would suggest that the money can be bat- the presence of a garrison adds to our prosperity, ter spent in other directions. With regard to but the garrison is not maintained for our pur. what your Excellency stated with regard to loans poses but for imperial needs and not entirely for and taxation generally the unofficial members the benefit of the Colony. We do not consider are entirely of one mind that it is inadvisable to that ecause we happen to be a crown colony we to pay for public works out of loans unless should be called upon to contribute one-fifth of absolutely necessary. That necessity has not our total revenue for military contribution, risen at the moment. We also agreed that it especially when we see self-governing colonies is most inopportune to increase taxation. If infinitely wealthier than ourselves only paying it be necessary to raise fresh funds during the a very trifling amount or nothing at all to course of the next year the unoffisial members warda a military charge. With all due respect to are unanimously agreed that it would be advis- the powers who have levied this exaction upon the able to do so by means of a small losa instead of Colony I cannot but compare it to the nature by increased taxation. With regard to the of the stand and deliver demand from the high-question of revenue, as Your Excellency showed wayman who suddenly appears before us puts a in your speech of a fortnight ago, our sourcés pistol at our heads and says "pay twenty cents are very precarious, a id we have reason to The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I have the in the dollar" while we have to seek what believe they will be still more precarious in the honour to lay on the table by command of His consolation we may find in the thought that immediate future. I think it would be opportune Excellency the amended financial statement in we have still 80 cents left for our own needs, representing the interests I do in this chambər, connection with the estimates for 1908. In this The question of the military contribution is one
to remind Your Excellency of the views of the statement, sir, it will be seen that the railway which deserves consideration at an early date, Chamber of Commerce. A letter was addressed loan account is set forth separately from the I for one think and have always maintained that to the Goveroment quite recently concerning stook account, and this separation will, I trust, it is correct that the Colony should contribute the state of the opium trade. The render the statement more clear. I have also something towards the imperial troops but for a attempt made by the Chinese Government to to lay on the table by command of His small colony the sum of $1,200,000, as is the put down the cultivation and consumption of Excellency the Report of the Committee amount of our contribution this year, is opium in their own country would, I feel sure, appointed to consider and make suggestions excessive. There is one charge which falls be warmly supported by the Treaty Powers of for dealing with the cubicle question.
under the head of military contribution, with China-certai ly by the British Government which I am entirely in accord, That is the if the movement were a genuine one, but vote of $46,000 towards the Volunteers. I will
We must not allow the Chiness Imperial not repeat what I have already said on this Government to take advantage of this subject. It is very pleasing to learn that movement which has arisen partly in recruiting is going on satisfactorily but China and partly at home to benefit their it is discouraging to find that when the own trade at the expense of foreign trade. Government proposes to found an infantry We know that the trade for many years has company so few of the younger members of this been very important not only for this colony but community come forward. I feel very strongly for the great empire of indis, and we also know on the subject of the Volunteers from my past that the Chinese provincial officials have done experience. I can only trust that the younger everything in their power for many years past members of the Colony will come forward, to discourage the opium trade, not because they knowing that the Government is strain- were opposed to opium but because they saw in ing every nerve to improve the status the foreign opium trade a very active agent of Volunteers, and enlist as they should working against their own personal interests, do. With regard to the Kowloon rail. It is to the interest of the Chinese opfam way, to which there has been very consider. cultivator that the foreign opium should not able reference, we are all agreed that it is compete against them. Foreign opiam is sound business policy to press forward the carried throughout the whole empire free of construction of that railway as promptly as
likin and other duties on the passes issued by possible and if Your Excellency during the the Imperial Maritime Customs. That repre follo ing year should find it necessary to call for seats so much loss to the provincial officials au extra vote to meet the needs of the railway and they do not like it. We know that many of I am quite sure the unofficial members will them are taking advantage of what ought to be The ATTORNEY-GENERAL seconded.
be only too glad to give it their support. It was
an honest attempt, to benefit their own interests. The Hon. Mr.HEWETT-Your Excellency, the hoped that when the railway was commenced
We have reason to believe that many are not estimates have now been before the unofficial that the work would be completed within three sincere in their wish to put down production members of the Legislative Council, and having years but at the present rate of progress I do and consumption of opium but are working for had the advantage of hearing the remarks not see how it would be completed before five their own pockets. With regard to subsidiary that Your Excellency made a fortnight ago, years. I understand that it is not a want of coinage, we hope that the experiment made by the unofficial members have since discussed funds which is responsible for the delay the Government in spending $30,000 to $40.000 these estimates and I have been requested to but the want of trained foremen to supervise a year in purchasing Hongkong subsidary coin- reply for them, though some of the others will the detailed work. I understand that Your age will have the desired effect of_rehabilitating have remarks of their own to make. In the Excellency since the last meeting has visited our coinage at an early date. We are not yet first place I think we may sincerely congratulate the whole route of the railway and as it is a in a position to say whether it will be a success or Your Excelleney on the very satisfactory | matter very near to your heart we feel confident not. If it fails the Government will have to financial condition of the Colony as set forth that every effort will be made to press on reconsider the question. In the meantime we in the estimates now before us. Of course, with the work under your guidan e. As are anxiously awaiting the report of the com- as we are aware and as Your Excellency has we are aware it is of vital importance that mittee appointed by Your Excellency to consider pointed out, a very considerable proportion of the railway should be constructed and open- this most important matier. The Chamber our revenue is of a precarious nature, more par ed at the earliest possible date. It is estim-
of Commercǝaddressed the Governmentlast May - ticularly that portion derived from land sales ated that within three years the section on the subject. We pointed out that whatever and from the opium monopoly. At the present from our frontier to Canton will be completed steps may be taken by the Hongkong Govern- moment it is unquestionable that trade and and it is imperative that our portion should
ment can only be of a local and temporary business in general are very much depressed. If be ready at the same time. Those of us who nature. We cannot possibly dimociate our we required any proof of that statement it is have had experience in North China, Japan, coinage from that of the enormous empire to found in the fact that all first class stocks are and Indo-China are aware of the great de- which we are in close proximity, The only much depressed and the assessment of property velopment which follows the opening of rail. real oure is to insist upon carrying out the pro- in the city of Victoria is some four per cent ways and the enormous advantages to visions of the Mackay Treaty so thas all minte below what it was last year. It is very evident | trade which accrues from any system shall be placed under imperial control and that that that increasing expenditure and still fur- of railways in the Far East. We are Coming to the very impor.aut question of publie there shall be a universal coinage for China. ther reductions in the revenue to which Your confident that the early opening of Excellency has referred this year and to which this railway must benefit not only the works, on which a large proportion of our your predecessor referred last year may con- Colony but the Hinterland as well. With revenue is spent, I regret to my that after care- time and that the whole of the finances of this regard to the floating fire engine, the vote for ful and deliberate consideration, I canot con- Colony will have to be reconsidered. There is which appeared in the estimates last year, and sider that the present state of affairs is at all therefore one point to which I particularly wish has been re-introduced this year. I pointed out satisfactory. Year by year we see important
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I have the honour to lay on the table the report of the Finance Committee Nos. 36 to 45 and to move ita adoption.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL seconded and the motion was agreed to.
COMPANIES' ORDINANCE. The ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled an ordinance to amend the law relating to companies.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
THE ESTIMATES.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to spply & sum not exceeding $4,992,953 to the public service for the year 1908.
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