At the meeting of the Council held on the 27th ult. the principal items of interest were the answers given to questions put by the unofficial members. Mr. Whitehead wanted to know what steps the Govern ment were taking to provide for the flushing of the drains and sewers either by erector salt water, and whether they were taking ing tanks on the neper levels of either fresh steps to introduce destructors for the dis-Reeretary said that no sucht provision as ossal of city refuse. In reply the Colonial
that of new tanks on the upper level was necessary. There were now 32 automatic flushing tanks placed in suitable positions, and that the employment dual system, using salt water for flushing, would entail great expense and was impracticable, owing to the varying elevations of the built area. With regard to the employment of refuse destructors the Government had obtained plans and estimates and the subject was now under the consideration of the Sanitary Board. Mr. Belilios then put a_string of questions concerning the Kowloon hinterland as follow:
(1.) The Special Commissioner appoint. ed to report on the newly-leased territory at the back of Kowloon having duly made such report to the Colonial Office, returned to Hongkong, and resumed his duties na Colonial Secretary, will the Government. lay on the table copy of his report and of all correspondence in connection with the extension of the Colony? (2) Will the Government be good enough to state when and how the new territory will be taken possession of? (8) Has any hitch occurred in the negotiations to cotise the delay which has taken place? (4) Will the leased aren become part and parcel of the Colony of Hongkong administered by the existing officials or is it designed to appoint a separate staff of officials to govern the new territory (5.) If it has been decided to make ita separate administration, will the Govern ment say whether any estimate has been given of the cost of such undertaking? (6.) Has the question of Chinese jurisdiction or otherwise in the city of Kowloon been settled? (7.) If Kowloon City is not included in the concession, will the Government state what steps have been taken to relieve the harbour of Hongkong of the supervision of the Chinese Customs cruisers? (3). Are the existing Customs stations on the borders of the Harbour to be set back to the outer edge of the new frontier The Colonial Secretary, in reply said:—In anewer to these questions, I have to state as follows, The answer to the first question is they cannot be laid on the table ut present. The answer to the second question is As soon as the northern boundary has been defined. The answer to the third question is—No. The answer to the fourth question is—The leased area will become part ofthe Colony. The details of the ad-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.