Page 4 B
THE CHINA MA
OCTOBER 13, 1987.
WATER SUPPLY DEPARTMENT
Never Run On Strictly Business Basis: Mr. MK Lo
tor of Public Works.
remembered that right selections are the present ans
tisfactory position re-
NCTLY BUSI
an
the water
During last year's Budget Debate I It is a matter of extreme gratifica of the utmost importance, and in this garding the water supply of the Colony
the capital expended” on tion to the Chinese community that direction my Chinese colleagues and has been due to the reluctance, on the set out figures to show that the amount to Iwould be pleased to assist the Hon. part of this Council, in sanctioning the
necessary expenditure. If so, I feel properly attributable for interest the Government has decided not impose additional taxation. This de- Inspector General of Police,
The policy of gradually opening to that the implication should be refuted.
for the cost of maintenance, amounted cision, if I may be permitted, to say
the local men some of the posts hitherto. And this can be easily done by a few works, the amount payable for the an- to $1,700,000.00, as against the estimat so, is a wise one, in view of
On the 13th July 1929 my Honourable ed revenue attributable to water sup- steady rise in the cost of living and hold by Europeans is one that should quotations from Hansard's Reports of nual reduction of the capital loans, and
commend itself to all sections of the the proceedings of this Council. the uncertainty of the future.
The Hon. Senior Unofficial Member community. Not only can substantial has, on behalf of all Unofficial Mem- savings be thus effected in salaries, friend, the Senior Unofficial Member, phes, amouating to $2,499,824.00, re- the pensions and passage, Amaney, but the introduced a motion in Council that sulting in an overcharge of some $700,-
-00
always been
TYPHOON JUNK DISASTER
imperative, in the interests of this gry, in reply to me, referred to figures "In the opinion of this Council it is 000.00 The Hou, the Colonial Secret Colony that all the permanent mea which had not been included in my cal- sures to increase the water supply culations, such as interest and sinking which are referred to in the Report fund on a certam capital outlay, etc. of Mr. R. M. Henderson, dated, the 20th February, 1928, those which have already been com pleted) be proceeded with and com- pleted as soon as possible.”
bers, tendered congratulations to Hon. Inspector General of Police and policy may be considered to be a just to the Force under him on the good recognition of the loyalty and order which they have maintained. It operation which have
to my shown by the Chinese community whe
(other than etc, etc., and stated that if all the ex- is a matter of great pride
cluded items had been taken into ac- Chinese colleagues and myself that in are incidentally, the largest taxpayers.
count, the estimated surplus would times like these the Chinese residents
The typhoon of the 2nd September
have been turned into a deficit. "But as of Hong Kong should have conducted
far as I know, detailed figures showing themselves with such admirable self took a heavy toll of life and property...
· GOVE TO BLAME
capital, expenditure, depreciation etc.. restraint, calmness and dignity, thus While the extent of the damage can vindicating once more their reputation never be fully known, it has been as a peace-loving and law-abiding reported that about 1,200 junks and
sampans were totally lost, and thou After His Excellency the Governor on the one hand, and revenue on the people.
sands of poor people have been render had addressed the Council Sir Henry other, from the beginning to date, have - Indeed I doubt whether they are avail- HAVEN OF REFUGE
homeless. Though subscriptions Pollock agreed to amend his motion, never been laid before this Council. The truth of the matter is that the Wille on this subject I should like ed
express, on behalf of the Chinese amounting to a little over $4,000 have which was subsequently passed
That in the opinion of this Coun- Water Supply Department has never community, appreciation of the policy been received, the sum is hopelessly animously by the Council in the follow able.
cil it is imperative in the interests of been run on a strictly business basis, of the Government in regard to re insufficient for the twofold purpose of ing terms:
this Colony that permanent measures with proper balance sheets, and profit fugees. True to its tradition, Hong giving immediate aid to the sufferers,
to increase the water supply of the and loss accounts. As was shown in Kong has thrown open its doors to and of assisting a large number of all and sundry who have chosen this them in the re-erection of their de- at molished houses, or the replacement placé as a haven of refuge, and the same time is affording protection of their lost junks and sampans. Un- to all without distinction of race or fortunately the resources of the exist ing charitable institutions and of the nationality.
My Chinese colleagues and I express community are already severely strain- the strong hope that the Government ed, and so my Chinese colleagues and will do everything in their power to I are constrained to turn to the Gov- traffic. ernment for help in the name of these We ask that a suppress the evil of heroin The problem is admittedly a difficult unfortunate people. one. In spite of increased vigilance sum of money adequate for the pur- and pose may be specially voted, as was, on the part of the authorities, in spite of the long terms of impri- I understand, done in 1906 when
In conclusion, may I be permitted is sonment imposed by our Courts, the similar catastrophe befell this Colony. traffic remains unabated.
to say how fortunate the Colony CASE FOR FLOGGING
in having at the head of its affairs It seems to us that the time has daring the last six months a man of come when fogging should be tried. Your Excellency's knowledge of China We know how reluctant successive Se- and of the Chinese, sound judgment. cretaries of State for the Colonies have and calmness in face of dificult and been in sanctioning this form of pen trying problems. alty, but where other measures have been tried and have failed, and when the health of the community and of future generations is at stake,
we
have no hesitation in advocating the adoption of this extraordinary measure to meet the extraordinary situation. We would therefore urge the Govern- this ment once more to represent strong recommendation to the Secretary of State.
CHARITIES FUND
2
HON. MR. M. K. LO
The Mystery of Shing Mun Dam
ters.
か
Colony should be pressed on with the paragraph 31 of the Economic Commis sion's Report, $10,000,000.00, represent- atmost despatch."
ing capital outlay on waterworks prior to 1st January, 1937, had been paid for out. of past revenues, and the annual
In the course of a reply to the motion the Colonial Secretary (then the Bon Mr. W. T. Soathorn), stated as fol
lows:-
depreciation of 1% was never ear- "I can well believe, as the Hon. marked or credited to a reserve fund, Member stated in a letter to the but was charged annually on the fall Press, that the Government can rec- capital, and not upon the depreciated kon fully upon the heartiest support capital value, and other items of ex- of all sections of the community in penditure were properly criticisable putting the water supply and distri- from the point of view of accounting. <bution on a permanent and satisfac-
tory basis," but the Government can- not place upon the Colony a load of debt which it might find difficulty in an increase of repaying without taxation."
22
ECONOMIC REPORT
WATER CHARGES
The total estimated revenge" for water excess charges and meter rents for 1938 is estimated at $1,900,000.00 I venture to think that this will prove an under-estimate The estimate for assessed rates for 1988 comes to, rough- To revert to the point that the water ly, about $6,000,000.00, 2/17ths of water supply, situation as disclosed at the beginning which, referrable to of this year came as a surprise to the amount to $706,000.00 odd. This sum, residents, I will make a few further together with $1,900,000., makes the total of $2,606,000.00 odd, as revenue quotations:
Chapter 10, paragraph 11, of the Re- for water, which is some $172,000.00 port of Economic Commission, dated more than last year. February 1935, states as follows:-
as
OBSCURE SITUATION“ "Hong Kong does not at present pos- The Economic Commission Report, sess an unlimited supply of water and we are not, therefore, in a position Chapter 10, paragraph 35, states
"Furthermore, we are of the opinion The Hon. Mr. M. K. Lo said: Your where increased consumption can be re- follow * Excellency: In addition to what has al garded with satisfaction as increased The proposed appointment of
Honourable revere With the completion of the that the present system of aggregating Lady Assistant and three additional ready been said by my
to friend the Senior Unofficial Member of Shing Man Dam the position will be the revenue and expenditure on water female inspectors to be attached the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs for behalf of all the Unofficial Members of altered, but until the advent of that with the general revenues of the Co- the expressed policy of Government mui-tsai work is, I think, a step in this Council, and by my senior colleague happy day prevention of waste is of lony tends to obscure the situation re- the right direction, and. in my humble on behalf of the Chinese Members of equal importance with provision of an garding water charges and to reverse
to this Council, I desire to make some ob- adequate supply."
In a comprehensive review of the that water should not be made a source opinion, it should not be difficult
for servations of my own on various mat- Colours muterworks His Excellency of revenue. We are in full agreement find suitable Chinese candidates
Sir Cecil Clementi" addressed the Coun with this policy and we recommend these appointments.
To begin with, I would like to say a
dertaking under Government control My Chinese colleagues and I have few words on the question of Water til at length at a meeting held on the that, to ensure its observance the water noted with pleasure the decision of the Supply. I venture to think that, until 5th September, 1929. (See page 134 supply of this Colony should be re- "The aim of this Government is to and should be kept entirely separate Government to increase the grant to the end of last year, everyone in the et seq.). In the course of his remarks organised as a separate Municipal un- the General Chinese Charities Fand Colony was under the comforting im he stated as follows:--
I do most respectfully concur with by $30,000 a year. The Tung Wah pression that, at all events in the near
and on the mainland, a full supply of Hospital and its associate hopsitals are future, there would be no further res- give every house connected with the from the Public Works or any other the institutions that would most be trictions, in view of the completion of waterworks. both on Hong Kong island Government department
filtered water throughout the year. the above view, and urge that the nefit by this angmented subsidy These the Shing Man Gorge Dam
SHOCK AND DISMAY ...
This should become possible in 1932, whole Water Department may be re- hospitals are finding it increasingly
Within a few months the Colony was when the first section of the Shingmun organised so as to function as a separ- difficult to make both ends meet, for not only have their main sources of shocked and dismayed at finding that, scheme, the Kowloon Byewash reser ate authority, charged with the duty of income, which is derived from property Shing Man notwithstanding, the Colony voir and the new Aberdeen reservoir having proper balance sheets and pro-
enor had to be put upon a restriction basis; will, we hope, all have been complet and mortgage interest, shown mous decreases during the past few it was suddenly confronted with a Re- ed.
to the depress- port on the Water Supply of Hong years owing
In the Budget Debate which took of the property Kong, published as a Sessional Paper ed. condition market, but greater expenditure has during the early part of the year, which place on 7th October, 1936, I referred of water supplied to the inhabitants. had to be incurred on account of the showed the necessity for an immediate to the rumour I had heard as to the large increase in the number of pati further expenditure of some $3,000,000, filtering capacity on the Island, and as I notice that under Head 20 (Police Paragraph 124 of Mr. Woodward's to the carrying capacity of the aque Force), the total vote for this Depart- ents treated in these hospitals. It is
duct along the King's Jubilee tunnel, ment was under 21⁄2 millions for 1935- no exaggeration to say that if the Report reads as follows:-
the over
"124. This Colony has suffered al- but I did not know at the time that it rose to just over 2 millions in Government were to take.
1937 it was $3,280,000.00 odd, and the most continuously from its earliest there could be any question of water 1988: under the Revised Estimates for management of these institutions, the
days from water shortages the rear shortage:
The reply of the Hon. the Colonial Estimate for 1938 is now $3,307,000:00 cost to the community would be in-
sons for which have been mostly creased at least threefold. We there-
grudge any necessary expenditure to "financial". Water being one of the Secretary to these two points is as fol odd. I know what the Colony does not fore venture to express the hope that should the Directors of these hospitals primary necessities of life it is ess
The Director of Public Works has keep up an efficient Police Force, and sential that ample supplies be pro- find it necessary to make an appeal
vided particularly in the Tropics recommended the installation of rapid should like to state that the Chinese to the Government for a special grant
where the dangers to health are far gravity filters at Bowen Boad in place Community has noted with pleasure to enable them to balance, their bud
their re greater than in temperate climates of the existing sand filters but this that Government has appointed 10 Can- for the current year
This cannot be too strongly emphasis quest will receive sympathetic
ed and it is accordingly urged that project has had to be postponed for the tonese Sub-Inspectors. I feel that my favourable consideration,
advised that the aqueduct at Shing under him are to be congratulated on not only should the proposals embo- present owing to lack of funds. Tam Hon friend the L.G.P. and the Force POLICE E
died in this report be put in hand at Man has a capacity of twenty million having successfully put an end to the Another decisi
the earliest possible date, but the gallons per day and has been designed series of impudent robberies which oc which has g
policy of providing water resources to deliver the ultimate maximum draw casioned the community so much con- the Chinese
quirements be adopt of from Shing Man. The size of the cern a few months ago. But from the pointment of
cedure is general tommel was governed by considerations point of view of mobilising, the forces of law and order for the prevention of Alities, and ́such economy of construction.” ab-Inspectors
mber of
dod
It sho
and
The Government
gratification Is the
Cantonese
3
LACK OF FUNDS
Jic may be in a position to judge how fit and loss accounts, so that the pub- far Government has carried out its in- tention of not making any money out
POLICE COSTS PRES
ybave done,
It will be seen that there was not a crime, I have often wondered, as many single "Word to indicate that all
stion of Bring in the
the people in stier
y to whether the time of the Police become camiót be better
Arection