August 8, 1908.]
all dise ssions, also to make everyone thorough, ly understand the position we are in, As in the case of the Public Health and Buildings Bill, I am quite confident that this conference would be productive of much good, and I quite believe with the hon. member for the Chamber of Com. | merce that the result of it will repay us. I may say that the views I expressed in September two years ago in this Council I still maintain. I say come what may, and cost what it may we must, upon the broad principle of humanity alone, do something to save these poor Chinese who live on the water and their oraft from devastation by typhoons. And if the cost cannot be found by increasing the light dnes, then it has to be found by the increasing of rates or the assessed taxes of the Colony. The question before the Council just boils down to this: Are the ratepayers of this Colony-the majority of whom are poor-to have their taxes increased by about 70 per cent, or shall we ask the shipping firms to increase their contribution by one cent per ton for a certain number of years? As a representative of the ratepayers there is absolutely no doubt | what position I shall take, and at the same time I quite understand the attitude adopted by the shipping firms. They naturally do not like to have any of the burden falling on them, but in this case I understand that the proposal of the Government is to defray half the cost out of the general revenue of the Colony, and the other half out of light dues. There is one point that was touched on by the hon. member opposite. He spoke of the three lacs of dollars promised by the Government which included $270,000 odd and $80,000 handed over by the Typhoon Relief Committtee. The Government thought this amount should be expended in the erection of a new shelter. Another point was mentioned by the member for the Chamber of Commerce which also deserved attention. That was regard. ing Causeway Bay when the new refuge was at Mongkoktrai. A conferenos might be called on the subject, and I am quite confident the result will be satisfactory.
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Hon. Mr. Wa Yox-I quite agree with the hon. Dr. Hon. Kai, and have much pleasure in supporting what he said,
од
were
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HIS EXCELLENCY-Gentlemen, I think that the course of action which was pursued in regard to the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance which has been alluded to by the hon, member who proposed the amendment now under consideration will prove to you that there is no one who more fully and strongly believes in discussion in preference to sbitrary sation than do. But, gentlemen, the dis- cussions which took place the Public Health sad Buildings Ordinance discussions of a wholly different class to the one we are now having. They were ques- tions of immensity of detail; questions as to how the law could best be applied in various troublesome circumstances. The question before the Council to-day in a clear issue. It is not one, I maintain, in which further postponement or further hanging up can do any real good. If I could see my
way to converting one single person who does not now believe this is the best course, I would gladly postpone it. But I do not. Frankly, I think further disonasion means further friction. We have discussed this matter. The Government has
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. we to wait for fresh ohanges, fresh arguments and fresh men? As I said before, gentlemen, I think any further postponement nothing more or less than culpable vacillation. We have got to do this thing, and we should make up our minds to do it at once. I feel sure that the concensus of opinion in this Colony is in favour of the Government's proposal, and the mover of the amendment proclaimed himself a believer in the moderate proposals of the Government. He said that a new and hitherto unthought of project had been foreshadowed in the last letter from the shipping interests, namely, the idea of filling in about Causeway Bay. That is a fami- liar ides, and has not been unthought of. I had it suggested to me sometime ago and I thought it was not then unknown to the hon. and learned member who I am sorry to see is absent to-day, I had a valuation made. I thought it at first a somewhat admirable project to mortgage, so to say, the land which might be reclaimed, and so to provide funds for this typhoon shelter. But I am advised that the reclamation of a very considerable portion of the bay would only pro- duce a sum of something like $15,000, not one- hundredth of the sum required. I am also myself very strongly of opinion that there must always be a shelter, though perhaps not so large, in the east as well as in the west. It may be possible hereafter to reclaim some portion of the inland area of Causeway Bay, but that cannot at any rate be done until the shelter st Mongkoktani is completed and going concern. That will not, in all probability, happen during the period I have the honour to occupy this obair, and I do not feel I could pledge futurity by any promise that any sum realised shall be devoted to defraying any outstanding balance on the Mongkoktsui refuge. If I am here, and if the reclamation should be carried out and a sum should continue outstanding for the Mongkoktsai refuge I would support myself a suggestion that the sum realised from the reclamation should go towards the outstanding deficit of the Mongkokisui refuge. The senior nnofficial member alluded to the balance of a sum which was subsoribed towards the typhoon relief, also to the pledge given by my predecessor that the Government would con tribute an equal amount to any amount subscri- bed by the community. The balance we have in band of the typhoon relief dommittees, will be partly, I fear, required to meet distress from this recent typhoon, but whatever remains of it will certainly be devoted to the typhoon refuge in accordance with the promise given by my predecessor. As regards the donation by the Government of a sum equal to that subscribed by individuals of the Colony, $249,000, the Government proposes to give half out of the revenues. Supposing we assume that the light dues stand aside, the Government still gives half, which amounts to $750,000. I do not recollect any other point that was raised. I will now put the resolution to the vote.
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The ATTORNEY-GENERAL—A point of order. May I ask the hon. member opposite if his proposal is an adjournment of the debate.
Hon. Mr. MURRAY Stewart said it was, and framed his amendment which read That the debate shall be adjourned pending deliberations upon the Shipping Companie's " protest."
On being put to the meeting the amendment officials against it. was lost, the unofficials voting for, and the
101
STHAM: LAUNOH REPAINU, The Governor recommended the Counsil to to vote a sum of one hundred and eight-nine Dollars ($189) in aid of vote, Post Office, A.- Hongkong Post Office, other Charges, Repairs to Steam-Launch.
THE TYPHOON
CAPTAIN PAGN'S FATE,
fate of Captain Page of the s... "Tingking." All doubts are now at 18st concerning the
picked up at Castle Peak, near_the_soene of On Friday night the body of a European was the wreck, and brought on to Hongkong for identification. It was so badly disfigured, how- ever, that nobody could recognise it, but Detective-Sergeant Terrett recognised the watch and chain as belonging to Captain Page. The watch was badly damaged by water, the hands were missing and a considerable quantity of clay clogged the works.
The body was found by the crew of the sighted those on board the launch noticed four steam isunch "Kwong Sing." When first
Chinese in a small fishing craft rifing the European's pockets. The coxswain of the the crew in possession of Captain Page's watch Isanch approached the fishing boat, and finding
and chain, arrested them and handed them charged before Mr. J. H. Kemp at the over to the police at Capeuimum. They were Magistracy on Saturday with stealing the three months' imprisonment was passed on esch watch and chain, found guilty, and sentence of
of the defendants.
Saturday night, a hasty burial being necessary. The funeral of Captain Page toɔk plaos on
The few of his friends who received information followed the cortage to Happy Valley, There the funeral service was conducted, and the terns dimly barning,” remains of the Captain laid to rest, "mid lan-
索要
BETLOATIÐ.
H.M.. “WHITING
been hard at it, night and day, working to
Since Tuesday last the "boys in blue" have
refloat the "
Whiting," which was driven on the rocks at Lyeemoon Pass. H.M.S. "Tamar," H.M.S. "Bramble," H.M.8. Men from
"Thistle" and other warships in port, ander the command of Commander Grenfield, R.N., and Lieut. Issacson, R.N1, were busily engaged removing the guns, coal and stores from the ship to lighten her in every way possible. The operations of lifting and refloating
M
the
Whiting" were under the personal direction Royal Corps of Naval Constructors, and it is of Chief Constructor W. T. Hockaday, of the due to his able management and the energy of the men already mentioned that the torpedo boat was successfully refloated. The Navy men were greatly assisted in their work through the kindness of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire and the Hongkong and Whampoa Dook, who placed their effoient pumping gear at the disposal of the salvers. The "Whiting" when docked, was found to be badly damaged in the engine and after boiler rooms, and it is anticipated that she will be several weeks undergoing repairs.
MISCELLANEOUS,
Divers and salvers are at work on the sunkeri or stranded steamers in the harbour and several of them are expected to be refloated in the course of a few days. Dead bodies are stilĮ being recovered from the water, and the total death roll is likely to be considerable.
MORE TYPHOONS,
The resolution was then put and was carried by ten to two, the Hon. Mr. W. J. GRESSON and Hon. Mr. MURRAY STEWART voting against it.
Almost daily since the great typhoon warn- HIS EXCELLENCY—Council stands adjournedings of other typhoons in the China Sea have sine die.
been received by the American ɩonsulate from the Manila Observatory,
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
stated that it is prepared to make the charge two instead of two and a half cents. Any other valuable sources of revenue such as those proposed by the senior Chinese member must be hypothecated to other necessities we foresee in in the future. In that case, with what object do we meet the signatories to this letter? The Government is in a cleft stick. It is unable to recede from its position when the refuge is absolutely necessary, and when the mininam which we can ask from the shipping interests has been asked. We have nothing to alter. What then, gentlemen, is the use of further discussion. The hon. member of the Chamber of Commerce said a new factor had been introduced by the lesson we received in the typhoon.
Are we to take
more lessons from more typhoons P Are we to sacrifice The Governor recommended the Council to
lives before
We make up our vote a sum of One thousand three hundred and minds what we are going to do in this matter? | sixty-eight Dollars ($1,368) in aid of the vote, He said also that there was a new aspect on Public Works, Extraordinary, Miscellaneous, account of the constantly changing personnel Compensation for the Resumption of Lots Nos. of this Colony, Will waiting bring as any 212 and 711 situated in Demarcation District nearer our end from that point of view? Are No. 6.
more
last
A meeting of the Finance Committee was held after the Council-the Colonial Secretary presiding. The following votes were passed :
COMPENSATION FOR RESUMPTION.
MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY,
FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE
GOVERNOB,
"Your telegram of 80th July, news of Typhoon, received with great regret by H, M. Government, who desired me to convey to Com- munity of Hongkong sincere sympathy at this second disaster within two years.”
FROM COMMODORE TO GOVERNOR.
! Commodore's Oilos, | Hongkong, 19th July, 1909. Your Excellency,-Iṭhave the honour to fer- ward for your information a copy of a telegraj which I have received from Vior Admisil
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