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Q-With regard to telephones, how many miles of telephones have you to look
after?
A-There are over 150 miles of line.
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Q-And do you find that you yourself are able to look after all that line?
A-When I inform you that there are over 150 miles of line, and that there are 83 instruments, and that you have telephones on the north at Shataukok, on the west at Pingshan, and also at the Peak, I think you will agree that I have enough to do with the telephones, and can hardly carry it through. I have exceedingly hard work.
Q-There are 150 miles of telephone line. How long are the telegraph lines? A-I could not exactly say how many miles, because the telegraph runs out to Gap Rock one way and to Green Island another.
Q-But in your opinion there is sufficient work for one man to look after the telegraph and telephone lines?
A-Yes.
Q-How many hours a day are you employed on an average?
A-I could not tell you. Last month I went over the New Territory, I found instruments were reported bad, and batteries bad, and no communication. I went over there, and it took me five days to go over the whole of the New Territory and repair lines and batteries. A day over there means from six o'clock in the morning till six o'clock in the evening.
Q-You move about the whole time?
A-Yes.
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Q-The distances are from- .?
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A-Start from Tsimshatsui, then to Shataukok, and right round to Pingshan, back into Taipo, and right home again.
Q-You have been in the Public Works Department since November. Roughly speaking, can you tell us how many hours a day you have worked?
A-I have been at it over eight hours a day.
Q-With regard to the question of roads outside the City, have you had any time to devote to them?
A-Yes, I have done the best I could as regards supervising the men at work and seeing what the contractor has been doing, what sort of road he has been making, and how he has repaired the roads.
Q-llave you been able to go over all the roads?
A-I have not been able to devote the time required.
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Q-And you think the staff is insufficient?
A-It is a moral impossibility to do it. I have got a ricksha and a bicycle, and I cannot do it. Pokfulam Road, Aberdeen Road, Taitam Road, Shaukiwan Road-by the time you go over all that, it is very near dark, and you want your meals. Then the telephones are neglected altogether, and you are doing nothing to then, and you can't trust the Chinese.
By Mr. Master. Do you think one man should always be on hand for the telephones?
A-Yes. The fire alarms, for instance--I have got to keep these too.
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