92
already in a position to work out her sal vation on similar lines, as if her treaties were already revised." It is the old, old story, that grows tedious by repetition, but since there is nothing else to say, and some- thing must be said, the outpouring goes on, like a Tibetan prayer-wheel.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNG L.
A meeting of the Hongkong Legislative Council was held on the 6th instant in the Council Chamber.
PRESENT:-
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIR FREDERICK JOHN DEALTRY
LUGARD. K.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O.
Hon. Mr. F. H. MAY, C.M.G. (Colonial Secretary.
Hon. Mr. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Tra surer).
Hoo. Mr. W. REES DAVIES, (Atloruey- General).
|
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
FINANCE.
The C LONIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency the Givernor, laid on the tab's the report of the Financs Committes (No. 1} and moved its adoption
The COLONIAL TRE BURER Reconded, and the motion was agreed t'.
ADDITIO AL CATILE BYELAW.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-Sir, I beg to move the approval by this honourable Council of an additional Byelaw mide under section 16 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinauce. This by law, which is very short, explains itself, and requires no further explanation from m“
The DIRECTOR of PUBLIC WORKS s coud-d, and the motion was agreed to.
The byelaw read is follows:----
The drenching of any animal with any subs nce whatever in a Govern uent Dapôi, xcept with the permission of the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon or of the Inspector on duty, is prohibited.
KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY.
Hoa Mr. OBOR E, parsant to notice asked - Will the Government clus to he published, a report concerning the Canton. Kowloon Railway (British Section covering the period from the inception of the scheme to 31st December, 1907, giving the original and Hon. Mr. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar-amende estimates of cost and such other details General).
Hon. Mr. W. CHATHAM, C.M.G. (Director of Public Works).
Hon. Commander BASIL R. H. TAYLOR, R. N. (Harbour Master).
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, M.B., C.M., C.M.G. Hon. Mr. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C.
Hon. Mr. E. A. HEWETT.
Hon. Mr. H. KESWICK.
Hon. Mr. WEI YUK.
Hon. Mr. E. OSBORNE.
Mr. A.G. M. FLETCHER (Clerk of Councils).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read, and confirmed.
PORTUGAL'S CALAMITY. HIS EXCELL NCY-Gentlemen, Before we proceed with the business of the day I rise to propose the following resolution: That the Legislative Council of Hongkong, on bela'f of the community, records its abhorrence of the crime committed upon the persons of the late King and Crown Prince of Portags!, and expresses heartfelt sympathy with Her Majesty the Queen of Portugalin her bereavement, and with the Portuguese nation on their calamity." There is little for me to add to the words of this resolution which, I think, expresses the feelings of us ail. Portugal has been our ancient ally before the days of the Peninsular war, and our sovereigns have been associated in terms of friendship and intimacy, and quite recently, we know, the King of Portug was a welcome visitor in London. The friend. ship which exists between the two parent states is reflected in our relatious with Macao, the nearest Portuguese Colosy to Hongkong. We have also a large number of Portugue residents in our Colony, who form perhaps the most stable part of the population. In these circumstances I think hon. members will agree with me that this resolution express our most sincere feelings, and I am glad of the opportunity of expressing our sympathy with the Portuguese people and the Portuguese crown in their present calamity, and have also to express our hearty detestation of the abominabl.. orime which has robbed the country of its King and the Heir Apparent.
propriety be made public of finance, route, control, &c., &c., as may with
replied
The COLONIAL SECRETARY Fiu ace-The cash for payment of con- struction of the Railway is bing obtained by advances from the Special Fund for repayment
Are
of
[February 8, 1908,
asked for information both as to the control, finance and r ate of the railway, and also as regards its history, and I will endeavour as fully as I am able to do so, to give the information on each of these heads. You will recollect that in 1905 it was decided to build the railway by means of a loan. It was not a question of whether the undertaking Would by 40 immediately remunerative concern;
not
it was railway
whether a question of
the would pay interest and sinking fund on the ospital expended, or even if it would pay working expenses. It was a question of preserv ing the predominance of Hongkong. It was & a question of seeing that the final outlet of the great railway of China should be at Kowloon, and no other place. I think therefore, it was- with the consent of the whole o›mmunity that the decision was arrived at, a decision which I personally most heartily concur with. The first step to take was to make a preliminary survey, and to base up a it a preliminary estimate. The task was entrusted to an able engineer, Mr. Bruce, and I think we can say it was well done,
Those of you who have any personal experience in railway ccnstruction know it is not practicable to expect that a preliminary survey shall be accurate in all its details, nor in it practicable to expect that there shall be no first laid down when it comes to be examined in alterations found necessary in the alignment detail by the constracting engineers.
The estimate made by Mr. Bruce amounted to $1,470,000 to which had to be added the estimate of the boa, the Director of Public Works for a reclamation of a section which awonated to 585, 90, which made the total $5,055,500. This estimate included certain land resump Lions and station buildings, but it did fencing, and I think it included no provision not include suy provision for telegraphs,
for storage godowas. There also bai to 18 added subsequently provision for double bridges. Tuis was undertaken in consequenos of clause 2 of the first loan agreement, and I think that the same is being done on the Canton sectio». The iron work is for a single line only. It may appear to many hon. members that if soy anticipations were formed of the line going to be double in any section, those antiopations be impossible to broaden it on the lining had would mostly apply to the tunnel, since it would
been completed. I am assured by the Chief Control: A detailed Frt into having been
Resident Engineer that two parallel singlə ment, the local e utrol of the work is within the prepared and auctioned b. the Colonial Gorn
line tuuurls only 0.8t some 25 per cent
than
single double tunnel Estimate vested in a. Res d-ut Engineers-l et «l
owing to th space wasted by the height and by th consulting Engineers and serving--
the area of excavation involved. And he tells undr agreement for a fixed pod—for all
me also that even were the lins double through. of the Colonial Gsporument.
of discipline and ace unt as the sorvaut purposes
oat with the sole exception of the tunnel it For instructiona bearing on the technical nature of his work
would cause lit le block or delay if a signal station were at each end. I will turn to the he cou-ults the Consulting Egensers uider history of the railway. The Secretary of State whom he is responsible for us effent and
for the Colonies decided it should be const uct d economical ex-ention. In all other matters
on what is known as the departmental system, including any variations in the east of th through the medium of the Crown Ageats. wishes an obtain the sanction of the Colonia work or any portion of i', he must cousult the
This not the time or placs for m⋅ to oratioisa that system.
The Government that adopted Government. With regard to the rate of progresit claims that it 83 Fes contractors profits; I had boued to lay batore the counei a report from the c.ief R-s.deat Engineer prepared by
that alterations which further examination of the country, or enlarged or altered your Excellency's direction, but it did not resch
views
with- tima be made the printers in time and I hops to lat or lay in
out the ability to contractors which would be before the Council.
incurral if the contract had already been sigo-d. It gives more direct supervision of His EXCELLENCY – I propose to make a
the cost to the Government, and gives it more further statement in reply to the question which discretion as to change. I hese, gentlemen, are stands in the usme of the hon. member at the great advantages. The system as adopted in end of the table. When the resolution regard-practise has also, however, weak points, the chief
of the last loan according as the animal in- stalma's of £110,000 rep ab'e by the Viceroy at Wachang Are received. When these amounts are insufficient temprarily to meet expenditure advances
ob sited
fr .m other funds in the cost dr of the Crown Agents whether bloging to this, or
any other Colony. These adrane s will curse be temporarily recouped after the com- plation of the Railway by the farther rec-ipts from the Viceroy. Int rest is payable on such advances hitherto at the rate of £3 13s. pr cut, out of the tieneral Revenus of the Calouy; but they will be payable out of the receipts of the Railway when it is in working order.
GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI-Sir, Most respectfully and sympathisingly do I secoud the resolution just proposed by your Excellency. Th dasing the expenditure for the current year on the tardly and cruel deed bas excited feelings of intense horror and abhorrence throughout the civilised world, and I am sure that every, honourable member of this Counci', and every person in this cosmopolitau community of Hongkong, is desirous of expressing the pro- foundest sympathy with Their Majesties the Queen Regent and the King, and the great Portuguese nation in their
and bereavement.
FINANCIAL MINUTES.
surrow
The motion was carried unanimously,
The COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of His Excellency the Governor, laid on the tabla Financial Minutes Nos. 3 to 5, and more that they be referred to the Finance Committee.
The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
railway was before the Council the Colonial Secretary proposed that it should be referred to the Finance Committee, This course was a lop sd purposely, in order to give lọn, membus es«ry opputuuily possible for asking for whatever information they reqaird, and also to enable the Government to a-e rtain in what dire tion information was required with a view to providing the it as fully as possible. My boo friend on left assured members that I should be mist willing to give every information in my power. I may go further and say I wlcom this opportunity sine- ou · has not recnally arima to make as full a statement as possible on the subject of the wh de course of the railway. A certain amout of information on the question proposed by the bot, member is contained in the paper which has been placed before you. He
|
|
morg
4
Ca (1
at
one
any
of which in my opinion is that the local Govera- meat is not in sufficiently close touch with the Cosulting engiamors and does not correspond directly with them. Tus Chis! Resident Ea- giaver arrived in March 1996. My predecessor in his great anxiety t push forward with the utmost possible despatch, resumed lands in the neighbourhood of Taipo sad instructed the Colonial Public Works Department to begin In November 1905 the Chief work st Resident Eugineer on arrival, after making a detailed survey, decided to rua the line from the neighbourhood of Taipo somewhat more inland than had been arrang d in Mr. Bruo i'a survey. The former line tad run in that neighbourhood almost complet∙ly over the sea bed which larolrød very costly bridges and some danger from heary alignment was conducted very carefully indeed
GDOM.
SORS.
The де
1
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.