114 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
31st July, 1930.
PRESENT:―
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR (SIR WILLIAM PEEL, K.B.E., C.M.G.).
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING THE TROOPS (MAJOR GENERAL J. W. SANDILANDS, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O.).
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY (HON. MR. E. R. HALLIFAX, C.M.G., C.B.E.).
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (HON. MR. C. G. ALABASTER, K.C., O.B.E.).
THE SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS (HON. MR. A. E. WOOD).
THE COLONIAL TREASURER (HON. MR. C. MCI. MESSER, O.B.E.).
HON. MR. H. T. CREASY, C.B.E. (Director of Public Works).
HON. MR. E. D. C. WOLFE, C.M.G. (Inspector General of Police).
HON. COMMANDER G. F. HOLE, R.N. (Retired) (Harbour Master).
HON. DR. A. R. WELLINGTON (Director of Medical and Sanitary Services). HON. SIR SHOU-SON CHOW, KT.
HON. MR. J. OWEN HUGHES.
HON. MR. C. G. S. MACKIE.
HON. MR. R. H. KOTEWALL, C.M.G., LL.D.
HON. MR. J. P. BRAGA.
HON. MR. S. W. TS'O, O.B.E., LL.D.
HON. MR. J. J. PATERSON.
HON. MR. PAUL LAUDER.
MR. N. L. SMITH (Deputy Clerk of Councils).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting of the Council were confirmed.
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PAPERS.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. The Governor, laid on the table the following papers:―
Regulations under section 3 of the Industrial Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Ordinance, 1922, on 23rd June, 1930.
Order under Regulation No. 4 of the Emergency Regulations (newspapers, etc.). Notification under section 90 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903. Notification under section 90 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903. Rescission of the Order declaring Bangkok to be an infected place on 5th July, 1930. Regulation under section 3 of the Licensing Ordinance, 1887, on 12th July, 1930.
Regulation under section 12 of the Summary Offences Ordinance, 1845, on 12th July, 1930.
Regulation and direction under section 13 of the Summary Offences Ordinance, 1845, on 12th July, 1930.
Regulations under section 5 of the Regulation of Chinese Ordinance, 1888, on 12th July, 1930.
Rule under section 18 of the Prisons Ordinance, 1899, on 13th July, 1930. Declaration under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899―Cebu an infected place. Regulations under section 3 of the Post Office Ordinance, 1926, on 24th July, 1930. Declaration under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899―Iloilo an infected place. Notification under section 90 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903. Water Shortage Emergency―June-August, 1929, (Sessional Paper No. 5 of 1930). Motor Taxation (Sessional Paper No. 6 of 1930).
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Report of Currency Committee, 1930 (Sessional Paper No. 7 of 1930).
QUESTIONS.
HON. MR. R. H. KOTEWALL asked:―
In view of the prevailing high cost of living, will the Government review the scale of fares prescribed in clause 84 of the Regulations made by the Governor in Council under the Vehicles and Traffic Regulations Ordinance 1912 in respect of public chairs and jinrickshas with the view to making a reasonable increase in such scale?
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY replied:―
The Government sees no reason at present to consider the question of a revision of the scale of the fares in question which, after remaining unchanged for many years, were raised to the present level in 1924. It is pointed out that the licence fee for public jinrickshas has, so far as the Island of Hong Kong is concerned, only recently been reduced by paragraph 3 (d) of Government Notification 376 of 17th June, 1930.
FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. The Governor, laid upon the table the report of the Finance Committee, No. 8 of 26th June, 1930, and moved that it be adopted.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and this was agreed to.
MOTIONS.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.―Sir, I beg to move the resolution standing in my name:
"Whereas application has been made by the Sanitary Board to the Governor under section 167 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903, for the erection of a Public Latrine on the east of Ladder Street at its junction with Lower Lascar Row;
And whereas such application having been duly approved by the Governor and a notification of the intention to erect a Public Latrine at such site having been duly published in three successive numbers of the Gazette a certain owner and occupier of the property in the vicinity has objected to such erection;
And whereas such objection has been duly considered;
It is hereby resolved by this Council that the above mentioned site and the erection thereon of a Public Latrine be and the same are hereby approved."
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The objection to which reference is made in this resolution came, as members have been informed by circulation, from the owner of the new "Central Theatre," and was based on three grounds,
(a) that the smell from the proposed latrine might be offensive to the theatre audience and that some obstruction to ventilation might occur,
(b) that the exits from the theatre for use in case of fire would be obstructed, and (c) that fire-fighting appliances might be hindered.
To the first of these objections the Medical Officer of Health has given his assurance that there will be no obstruction to light or ventilation and that there is no fear that the latrine, which is of course to be water flushed, will be offensive.
As regards fire precautions a slight alteration to the siting of the latrine has, since the circulation of the papers, been made and the Chief Officer, Fire Brigade, is now entirely satisfied in this respect.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL seconded.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Sanitary Board By-laws.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.―Sir, I beg to move:
"That the By-laws made by the Sanitary Board under section 16 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903, on the 27th day of May, 1930, be adopted."
These regulations have been under consideration for a long time, in fact as far back as 1925, but it is only recently that it has been found possible to revise them. They are now recommended by the Sanitary Board for adoption. I beg to move the resolution.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL seconded.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
TELEPHONE AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1930.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved as a Government measure the first reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Telephone Ordinance, 1925." He said: The memorandum of Objects and Reasons sets out in the four paragraphs attached to the Bill the general objects of this Ordinance. There is at the end of it a schedule
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of charges, the first 25 items of which represent the existing charges as amended by Orders of the Governor in Council in 1926 and in 1928. The charges in paragraphs 26 and 27, relating to hand micro telephones and automatic dials, are new as representing items which were not contemplated when the original schedule was drawn up. Section B of the Schedule imposes what are considered reasonable charges for removal services borne by the Company, and Section C provides a $2 fee for each three minutes of conversation where a trunk call is made. I beg to move the first reading.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a first time. Objects and Reasons.
The "Objects and Reasons" for the Bill were stated as follows:
1. The objects of the amending Ordinance are to make it clear that the concession given to the Hong Kong Telephone Company Limited by the Telephone Ordinance, 1925, applies to trunk lines laid in the Colony for the purposes of communicating with places outside the Colony and to provide a scale of charges for trunk calls and a means of obtaining security for such charges. Also to make it clear that the Hong Kong Telephone Company Limited is entitled to charge its subscribers for various services other than those mentioned in section 34 of the present Ordinance, such as the removal of lines and instruments, (the provision and installation of extensions and private switchboards), and services of a similar nature and to provide a definite scale of charges in respect of such services.
2. Although it is highly probable that on the construction of the Telephone Ordinance, 1925, as it stands at present the concession granted to the Hong Kong Telephone Company Limited includes the provision of trunk lines for the purposes of communicating with places outside the Colony it appears desirable to specifically include this class of telephonic communication in order to remove any doubts which otherwise might arise. As there is no mention in the existing Ordinance of trunk calls or of any scale of charges in respect thereof a scale of charges for trunk calls has been included in the Schedule and provisions as to the making of trunk calls and for security for trunk charges included in the Ordinance.
3. At the present time the Hong Kong Telephone Company Limited carry out a large number of varied services for subscribers in respect of which no provision either as to carrying them out or as to payment for them is included in the Ordinance and for this reason provision has been made in the new section 34A and the Schedule.
4. This Ordinance also makes provision for the future linking up, on terms to be approved by the Governor in Council, of the system covered by the company's concession, which is a system of wire telephony, with any system of wireless telephony that may be established in the Colony.
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HOLIDAYS AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 1930.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the Holidays Ordinance, 1912." He said: The object of this Ordinance is to give us a new holiday in September and to change the date of the October holiday from the second Monday in October to the 10th of October, unless that date happens to be a Sunday, in which case it is to be on the following Monday, the 10th of October being the day which is celebrated by the Chinese population as the anniversary of the Republic. I beg to move the first reading.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and the Bill was read a first time. Objects and Reasons.
The "Objects and Reasons" for the Bill were stated as follows:
The object of this Ordinance is to make the 10th October a permanent general holiday, and to transfer to the first Monday in September the general holiday at present appointed for the second Monday in October. If the 10th October should be a Sunday in any year the holiday is transferred to the following Monday.
SAILORS HOME AND MISSIONS TO SEAMEN INCORPORATION ORDINANCE, 1930.
HON. MR. C. G. S. MACKIE moved the first reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to provide for the incorporation of the Sailors Home and Missions to Seamen." He said: The Sailors' Home was founded in Hong Kong many years ago through the instrumentality of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co., Ltd., Messrs. Gibb, Livingston and Company and the P. & O. Company; it had and still has for its object the provision of a refuge for merchant seamen calling at this port. In 1925 the Trustees of the Sailors' Home were incorporated by Ordinance No. 5 of 1925 and have since been carrying on under this Ordinance.
The Sailors' Home was self-supporting, but recently, having regard to changed conditions, it has been found to be situated in the wrong part of the town, and was at the time when it was closed down at the end of February of this year being carried on at a financial loss.
The Missions to Seamen is a world-wide organisation and as far as Hong Kong is concerned, is incorporated and carried on in this Colony under Ordinance No. 10 of 1919; it has for its objects the propagation of the principles of the Church of England and the provision of a refuge for seamen of His Majesty's Navy as well as for the Merchant Service. It carries on its operation as a refuge on property erected on Marine Lot No. 295 known as 21 Praya East. The Missions to Seamen is also not self-supporting and has to rely
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in part upon voluntary contributions. Its property, however, is in a more advantageous position for a Seamen's Home, being more centrally situated.
The present Trustees of the Sailors' Home are the senior representative of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Company, the Harbour Master and two members appointed by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, who now are the representatives of Messrs. Butterfield & Swire and Messrs. Mackinnon, Mackenzie & Company.
The organization of the Missions to Seamen in Hong Kong is a Committee embracing not only representatives of many of the commercial firms of the Colony, but also a representative of the Church of England in the person of the Bishop, representatives of the Admiralty in the persons of the Admiral and the Commodore, the Harbour Master, and other representative persons in the Colony.
The Trustees of the Sailors' Home recently surrendered to the Government the site and buildings known as Marine Lot No. 187A in consideration of the payment of the sum of $900,000 payable by five annual instalments of $180,000 each.
The Missions to Seamen in Hong Kong are still the owners of Marine Lot No. 295, but they have effected an exchange with the Hong Kong Land Investment & Agency Company of a certain portion of the Praya East Reclamation to which they were entitled for another portion of the Praya East Reclamation, the property of the Hong Kong Land Investment & Agency Company known as Inland Lot No. 2296, situate in the Praya East Reclamation.
On this site out of the funds obtained by the Sailors' Home from the Government and from the funds of the Missions to Seamen it is proposed to erect a suitable institute to be run by the new Corporation. The institute will be an up-to-date building of the most suitable type and will be fully furnished. The balance of the money is intended to be used for the purpose of forming an endowment fund.
The new Corporation proposes to carry on at the institute the work and objects of the Sailors' Home and the Missions to Seamen.
By the terms of an agreement dated 20th February, 1930, and made between His Majesty The King, the Missions to Seamen in Hong Kong and the Trustees of the Sailors' Home, Hong Kong, the Missions to Seamen in Hong Kong and the Trustees of the Sailors' Home agreed to amalgamate on the terms therein set out and the main object of the proposed Ordinance is to assure the performance of terms of this agreement and the amalgamation of the two Corporations.
You will notice that on the passing of the new Ordinance the old Corporation will be dissolved. I beg to move the first reading.
HON. MR. J. OWEN HUGHES seconded and the Bill was read a first time.
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Objects and Reasons.
The "Objects and Reasons" for the Bill were stated as follows:
1. By the terms of an Agreement dated the 20th day of February, 1930, made between His Majesty King George the Fifth of the first part, the Missions to Seamen in Hong Kong of the second part, and the Trustees of the Sailors' Home, Hong Kong, of the third part, the Missions to Seamen in Hong Kong and the Trustees of the Sailors' Home agreed to amalgamate on the terms therein set out. The main object of the proposed Ordinance is to secure the amalgamation of the two corporations and their work and objects under the name of The Sailors' Home and Missions to Seamen, the Missions to Seamen in Hong Kong and the Trustees of the Sailors' Home being respectively dissolved.
2. The Trustees of the Sailors' Home have for many years carried on the work and object of the Sailors' Home at the premises situate at West Point. The object of the Sailors' Home has been the care of officers and men of the Mercantile Marine irrespective of their religion and also the provision of a suitable home for the sea-faring classes and officers and men aforesaid. Owing to the changing nature of the Colony's needs it has been felt for some years that the Sailors' Home does not now meet the needs of the officers and men for whose use the premises are intended, owing to the distance of the building from the centre of the town. The Trustees of the Sailors' Home have recently agreed with the Hong Kong Government for the surrender to the Government of the property at West Point in consideration of the sum of $900,000.00.
3. The Missions to Seamen in Hong Kong is a branch of the Missions to Seamen whose head office is in London and whose organization embraces the whole world. The work and object of the Missions to Seamen is the provision of an institute for the welfare of the sea faring classes and in pursuance of such work and object the use of every means consistent with the principles and rites and practice of the Church of England. The Missions to Seamen have for many years successfully run an institute at 21 Praya East, but owing to the development of the Praya East Reclamation this property is no longer on the water-front and as a building the institute is not sufficient for the combined purposes of the Missions to Seamen and of the Sailors' Home.
4. It is intended that the new corporation shall erect a suitable building on a site belonging to the Missions to Seamen on the Praya East Reclamation and shall carry on therein the beforementioned work and objects of the Sailors Home and Missions to Seamen.
5. The proposed Ordinance follows in its main lines other incorporating Ordinance which have been passed from time to time. The Regulations appearing in the Schedule govern the internal Management of the Corporation.
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CHARGES OF THE YEAR 1929.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the second reading of "An Ordinance to authorize the Appropriation of a Supplementary Sum of Three Hundred and four thousand, five hundred and thirty-eight Dollars and eighty-three Cents to defray the Charges of the year 1929."
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded and the Bill was read a second time.
Council went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause. No amendment was made in Committee, and upon Council resuming,
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY reported that the Bill had passed through Committee without amendment and moved the third reading.
THE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
NEW TERRITORIES ORDINANCE.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to amend the New Territories Regulation Ordinance, 1910." He said: This amending Ordinance has been rendered necessary in order to resolve doubts as to the construction of three sections of the principal Ordinance. The nature of those doubts and the measures taken to resolve them, are fully explained in the Objects and Reasons attached to the Bill. I beg to move the second reading.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and the Bill was read a second time.
Council went into Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause. No amendment was made in Committee, and upon Council resuming,
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL reported that the Bill had passed through the Committee without amendment and moved the third reading.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.
ADJOURNMENT.
H.E. THE GOVERNOR.―Council will adjourn until Thursday next, the 7th of August.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
Following the Council, a meeting of the Finance Committee was held, the Colonial Secretary presiding.
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Votes totalling $124,203, contained in Message No. 9 from H.E. The Governor, were considered.
THE CHAIRMAN.―I must apologise to honourable members for the delay in circulating the papers with which we are now dealing. It is unfortunate that they were only received last night, and if members would prefer it we will delay discussion until this day week, unless you are prepared to go on with them now.
HON. MR. OWEN HUGHES.―I received my papers at five minutes past twelve.
THE CHAIRMAN.―It has been an unfortunate set of circumstances which has led to this mistake. If honourable members would prefer we should postpone consideration of the items, they can be left over until to-day week. Shall we continue?
HON. MR. PATERSON.―Is there anything particularly contentious? I am afraid I have not read them.
THE CHAIRMAN.―I think they are straightforward with one exception, and that is not a contentious matter, I think. I do not think there is anything contentious in any of the items. Perhaps we can go through them and I will read them completely in case honourable members have any doubt at all.
HON. MR. MACKIE.―We might leave them over until next week. I do not think there is any hurry.
THE CHAIRMAN.―Is that the desire―that we hold them over? I do not think you will find anything contentious in them.
HON. MR. PAUL LAUDER.―Why not proceed and go through them?
THE CHAIRMAN.―I suggest that would be a better course, and if there is any trouble we can postpone any item desired.
This procedure was adopted, and the Committee proceeded to consider the various items.
Item No. 82: Treasury:―Personal Emoluments, $8,900. To cover salary from 29th May to 31st December, 1930, of Mr. Edwin Taylor, appointed to fill the post of Deputy Treasurer in Hong Kong.
HON. MR. KOTEWALL.―Is this a new post, Sir?
THE CHAIRMAN.―Yes, it is. It is an additional post made by the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
HON. MR. PATERSON.―That is one of the things that I, as a member of the Retrenchment Committee, may have something to say about later.
124 HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE CHAIRMAN.―That is so.
HON. MR. PATERSON.―Anything I say at the moment does not really matter, does it?
THE CHAIRMAN.―No. This appointment will hold whatever other appointments are made or personnel reduced.
HON. MR. BRAGA.―I would like to know, Sir, if, in the absence of the present holder of the office of Colonial Treasurer―if he retires or for any other reason vacates the Treasuryship ―whether the appointment would still be held by a Cadet Officer or would he, in the ordinary course of events, be succeeded by Mr. Taylor?
THE CHAIRMAN.―Probably by Mr. Taylor.
HON. MR. BRAGA.―So that it would not be, in future, regarded as a cadet appointment?
THE CHAIRMAN.―I cannot go so far as to say that, as there is no general principle laid down.
HON. MR. BRAGA.―If we are out for retrenchment and there is a general desire that the Colony should not be committed to additional expenditure, it seems to me it is hardly right that we should now be called upon to saddle the Estimates for the coming year with an additional officer at a starting salary of £1,200 per annum in addition to other privileges he might enjoy.
THE CHAIRMAN.―I think when the Retrenchment Commission has dealt with this matter you will find that there is no additional expenditure?
HON. MR. BRAGA.―Well, if we have the assurance that the creation of this appointment will not mean additional expenditure to this Colony, then I should have no objection to voting for it, but if it is going to cost the Colony an extra £1,200 a year I should, on principle, vote against it.
THE CHAIRMAN.―I think I can give you that assurance.
HON. MR. KOTEWALL.―May I take it that the real position is that Mr. Taylor is designed as successor to the present occupant of the post and in that event there will not be additional expenditure. The only additional expenditure will be temporary during the time Mr. Taylor holds the appointment of Deputy Treasurer.
THE CHAIRMAN.―Yes.
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Item No. 85: Miscellaneous Services:―Broadcasting, $9,600.
HON. MR. KOTEWALL.―Has the time of the electricians been entirely devoted to the Broadcasting Studio?
THE CHAIRMAN.―Not entirely but in great part. The other side of the wireless work has grown so much that we really cannot afford their services.
HON. MR. KOTEWALL.―It seems to come to this. Instead of the Government giving assistance to the Broadcasting Committee in the form of services, it is now proposed to assist them with money.
THE CHAIRMAN.―You can take it that way.
Item No. 86: Kowloon-Canton Railway:―Personal Emoluments, $4,070. Additional staff and overtime allowance.
THE CHAIRMAN.―I would not ask you to pass this, gentlemen, at such short notice, unless you had seen it in circulation, as it is a complicated affair.
HON. MR. PATERSON.―My recollection is that is pretty well forced upon us and we have no option.
THE CHAIRMAN.―We have none. The Committee that dealt with it before, went into it in the greatest detail.
Item No. 87: Miscellaneous Services:―Miscellaneous Papers, $815. Printing and preparation of a new text book of documentary Chinese for inclusion in the syllabus of Cadet Officers and Police Probationers.
HON. MR. KOTEWALL.―Does the book contain English translations of Chinese documents?
THE CHAIRMAN.―No, I think not. I cannot answer that at the moment.
HON. MR. KOTEWALL.―Otherwise it appears to me, if the book merely contains Chinese documents, the price of $1,215 is too high. Perhaps you would let me know?
THE CHAIRMAN.―Yes, I will.
Item No. 88: Public Works Extraordinary:―Buildings, Central British School. General improvements to necessary requirements to the School, $6,000.
HON. MR. J. P. BRAGA.―May I ask how soon the Government expects to have the big Central British School ready in Kowloon? It
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would appear that if we can hope to have the Central British School ready in a reasonable time, the first three items, amounting to roughly $5,000, might be saved. On the other hand, if the Central British School is going to be longer delayed, there can be no alternative but to vote the recommendations of the Education Board. But, I think I might be permitted, Sir, to venture the remark that while the Government is tinkering with the policy of erecting a Central British School in a central locality in Kowloon, religious associations and private enterprises are forging ahead at a tremendous rate that almost casts the comparative inactivity and slowness of the Government to shame, if I am not stretching the expression too much. We have a building being erected on Prince Edward Road, which is far and away the most important road and will be the centre of the residential district of Kowloon in a short time, that will house at least 800 pupils when it is finished, with immense playgrounds, tennis courts, football fields, cricket fields and the rest of the amenities of a public school.
And yet here we are year after year, in spite of the strong recommendations of the Kowloon Residents' Association, and the necessity which is recognised by every resident in Kowloon of a building worthy of its name to house the students resident in Kowloon, called upon to vote a sum of $6,000 for improving a building which is at least obsolete and ten years behind the times. I think I am expressing the wish of every Kowloon resident that the Government should, without any loss of time, push ahead, with the assistance of the Hon. Director of Public Works, with the building of a school which is much too long overdue.
THE CHAIRMAN.―What you want, Mr. Braga, is to get the Government to move as quickly as may be and to know the date by which it is reasonably possible to have the school completed.
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.―We shall have the site ready next year, and if funds are provided, we can get the school ready by 1933.
THE CHAIRMAN.―Under these conditions, do you approve of the vote?
HON. MR. BRAGA.―If it is unavoidable I can do nothing but approve the recommendations of the Education Board. I think it is a waste of public money to vote $5,000 to-day and in six months time vote another $5,000. If we were to push ahead with the Central British School these constantly recurring items of expenditure for patching up such a dilapidated building might easily be avoided.
THE CHAIRMAN.―I think we can take it that the Director of Public Works is going to waste no time in getting on with the building of the school, provided, of course, the necessary funds are voted next year. There is no delay at the moment in the preparation of the site.
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HON. MR. BRAGA.―I do not wish to convey that I attribute any fault to the Public Works Department in the delay of the building. Far from that. I know this hard-working Department, and few people know the extent of the work and importance of the undertakings that have to be handled by the P.W.D., but it is a question of priority of the various public works, and certainly Kowloon British School is one of priority.
THE CHAIRMAN.―That is a question that hardly arises. We cannot go on with the completion of the school for a year or so, and meanwhile these improvements are required to the existing school.
HON. MR. BRAGA.―I approve under the circumstances.
THE CHAIRMAN.―The other question will be taken up by the Director of Public Works.
HON. MR. PATERSON.―The improvements, I take it, are quite necessary.
THE CHAIRMAN.―There is no getting away from that. The Education Board have gone very fully into it and recommended them very strongly.
HON. MR. J. OWEN HUGHES.―Can the Director of Public Works tell us the outside period required for the completion of the new school? Is it going to be three, four or five years?
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.―That depends on the funds voted. The site will be ready next year.
HON. MR. OWEN HUGHES.―Early or late?
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.―Before the end of the year. There is a great deal of cutting to be done. We have a vote this year and we shall want another vote for finishing the work next year.
HON. MR. OWEN HUGHES.―May we take it that the building will be completed in five years?
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.―I have already given the year 1933. It all depends entirely upon how the money is voted.
Item No. 89: Public Works Extraordinary:―Kowloon Buildings: Garage―Disinfecting Station, Garage for motor lorries at Kowloon Disinfecting Station, $5,000.
HON. SIR SHOU-SON CHOW.―What are these lorries for?
THE CHAIRMAN.―They will be used for Sanitary Board work.
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Item No. 90: Public Works Extraordinary:―Contribution by Government towards funds for Reclamation. Final call due to be paid by Government $81,226.
THE CHAIRMAN.―This item is very complicated and if you do not wish to give it your immediate approval we can hold it over until next week, but any explanation you want can be given by the Director of Public Works now.
HON. MR. PATERSON.―Nothing is going to alter the facts that we see in front of us? THE CHAIRMAN.―No, nothing.
HON. MR. KOTEWALL.―I presume the Government contribution is governed by an agreement made with the lot-holders.
THE CHAIRMAN.―That is so.
Item 92: Public Works Department:―Personal Emoluments, Appointment of Water Works Inspector from 1.7.30 to 31.12.30 at $1,400 per annum, $700.
HON. MR. PATERSON.―May I take it that this is a temporary appointment? THE CHAIRMAN.―I don't think so.
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.―That will be for the Retrenchment Committee, I think. This will make a total of 11 Inspectors and there are 8,500 metres. We have recently been asked by the Treasurer to send in our meter returns two weeks after the close of the quarter, which means very rapid reading of the meters and the speeding up of work throughout.
HON. MR. PATERSON.―I can understand that, but the point I raised was whether it was a temporary or permanent appointment.
THE CHAIRMAN.―That point has been referred to the Retrenchment Commission. All the votes were approved.